$30 Mitchell Avocet II Silver Spinning Combo Review

[MuskieBait]

(09-21-2012 06:58 PM)fishfight Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 08:33 PM)BCLT Wrote:  ......you guys may want to look at the Diawa Regals...........great reels for the money,

I own a Daiwa Regal reel, bought it for $25 at BPS 6 years ago, before all items gotten expensive then. Great customer service at Daiwa, after breaking my bail spring 2 years ago, they sent me part stuff for free. Though the reel claimed to have 10 bearings and had used it to land llots of big Salmon and Carp fish. The drag sticks at times, was not as smooth as my Shimano symetre reel. I have sanded and tried to make the metal and other washer smoother this season by experimenting with different washer leather material or grease. Way smoother now but still lags the smoothness of symetre.

I also notice the factory washer on my Daiwa newer spare spool and my regular spool were somewhat warp, needs to be sanded down to make the drag smoother. Symetre uses Felt washer, my Regal use some kind of black flexible graphite like material.

Not sure if the newer models have improve. Mass produce washer and reel body are not always level.

I always feel Shimano line of reel are way balance and smooth regardless of the number of bearings. I own 8 shimano reel from sienna, sonora, sedona to 5 other Symetre alone. Okuma has good drag system as well.

Shimano Symetre = $100

Daiwa Regal = $25

That's a big difference...you have to compare reels at the same price point.

I mean, why don't we compare a Shimano Stella SW to a Shimano Symetre? Let's try dunking that Symetre into saltwater and fish for 200lb yellowfin tuna and see if it compares to the Stella? They are two very different grade reel, just like comparing the Symetre with the Regal.

I do agree that the Regal is a little bit lacking at times...but you can't expect much from a $25 reel. Reels in the $40 range have a little more to expect from.

**EDIT - the Daiwa Regal Xi is a whole different animal from the Daiwa Regal BRi's...the latter baitrunner is a much better reel...just want to clarify.