The fish gods must hate me (reel suggestions?)

[JeannaJigs]

Today I decided to dig out my Salmon gear in preparation for some fishing later this week. I've been targeting steelhead since December, and before that it was Coho, so I've been using really light gear, and haven't even seen my heavier reel since...well, it's been about a year if not longer. I have taken excellent care of it, and always clean it before putting it away, wrapped up in it's original box...etc. Only to take it out of the box today and have the chunk on the side of the bail fall off in my hand.

Turns out my brother used it and broke it, and didn't have the cahones to own up to it...until 10 months later when he's back on his base in Virginia where I can't strangle him to death with the 17 pound line on the spool that is now useless.

So I find myself with a broken rod, and a broken reel to match. Fantastic. At least I have a back up rod, sort of.

So now, I need an inexpensive spinning reel that will handle 15-17 pound line, any suggestions? I just need something that will survive from now until July, and will never be used again after that, I'll be donating it to whomever wants/needs a reel, as I'll be out of state a few years and won't have any need for it collecting dust in a storage unit I really don't want to pay for and probably won't be getting. I'll get all new gear when I get back to Oregon, along with a new boat but until then...el cheapo is where I find myself.

Oh yeah, my day off is this Thursday...so I only have until Wednesday.

 

[1aB]

Hows about $25 for a Daiwa Crossfire 4000? 3 BB, spool big enuf to hold 200 yds. 15#, spare spool included.

Cabela's -- Daiwa Crossfire® 3iB Spinning Reel

 

[Raincatcher]

Pawn shop?

Pawn shop?

JeannaJigs;
Sorry to hear about your bad day yesterday. As for the reel,there must be a pawn shop in a college town. I'm sure they will have some and if they are like the ones up here they might be willing to give you a break. Hope you can get your hands on one before Wednsday night. You need a good day on the water!
Be safe.
Barb

 

[Shadelady]

JeannaJigs- did you ever find out about getting your gift card squared away?

 

[madoc]

If you have a Joes going out of business down by you, you might be able to find a halfway decent reel still - the one near me had Shimano Symmetres, which is the reel I have on my steelhead/salmon rig. It comes with two spools.

Normal retail is about $75.

 

[OneMore]

Ive got a Daiwa Crossfire 4000 and its been a pretty good reel. There is two models one with 3 ball berrings and one with one ball berring. I think the one is 15 bucks and the 3 is 25. Thats my vote or the pawn shop also sounds like a good idea.

 

[JeannaJigs]

JeannaJigs- did you ever find out about getting your gift card squared away?

I did! They will accept it! So, actually, I'm going to be down there next month, so I'm going to use it in the store Excited about that! I have a list a mile long of stuff I need to get now that I don't have Joes 5 minutes away, so it won't be a problem spending it.

 

[JeannaJigs]

If you have a Joes going out of business down by you, you might be able to find a halfway decent reel still - the one near me had Shimano Symmetres, which is the reel I have on my steelhead/salmon rig. It comes with two spools.

Normal retail is about $75.

They didn't have much selection, and what they did have were primarly bait casters, which isn't happening. They had a couple of spinning reels, but they were pretty light, the largest one maxing out at 10 pound line capacity, and I didn't have much confidence in the bail design.

So the search continues.

 

[JeannaJigs]

Ive got a Daiwa Crossfire 4000 and its been a pretty good reel. There is two models one with 3 ball berrings and one with one ball berring. I think the one is 15 bucks and the 3 is 25. Thats my vote or the pawn shop also sounds like a good idea.

I'm lookin' for one locally, the search is on.

 

[JeannaJigs]

JeannaJigs;
Sorry to hear about your bad day yesterday. As for the reel,there must be a pawn shop in a college town. I'm sure they will have some and if they are like the ones up here they might be willing to give you a break. Hope you can get your hands on one before Wednsday night. You need a good day on the water!
Be safe.
Barb

There's a few pawn shops, I always forget about them. I will investigate. Thanks for the suggestion Barb! I better toss the skunk in the river and come home with a big 'nook Thursday for all the trouble this trip is causing

 

[Raincatcher]

Got get 'em gal!

Got get 'em gal!

JeannaJigs;
That is really good news about the card! Hope you get all you want with it. I am always stalking the pawn shops here. They are worth checking out.
Get yourself a 20+ pounder and let us see it!
Be safe.
Barb

 

[JeannaJigs]

Haha I'll do my best, I haven't targetted the 20 pounders in two years! I'm stoked to be going

 

[ArcticAmoeba]

Geez, you can't even get that 40% discount online! These guys are tryin their hardest to squeeze every last dollar outta those places! Haha!

 

[Shadelady]

I did! They will accept it! So, actually, I'm going to be down there next month, so I'm going to use it in the store Excited about that! I have a list a mile long of stuff I need to get now that I don't have Joes 5 minutes away, so it won't be a problem spending it.

hey i am so glad to hear that. when i orginally was asking you about it i was hoping you hadnet thrown it away thinking it was worthless.

today's box score:
hooked 4 landed 2 kept none

 

[Hook]

Jenna, Good to hear about the gift card! I still need to use mine up, but going to do it soon before the medford store folds.

 

[JeannaJigs]

hey i am so glad to hear that. when i orginally was asking you about it i was hoping you hadnet thrown it away thinking it was worthless.

today's box score:
hooked 4 landed 2 kept none

Haha I almost had, but it was still in my wallet that desperately needs to be cleaned out..Hadn't got around to doing so yet!

 

[JeannaJigs]

The reel hunt is over. Friend of mine bought me a new one It's just a bi-mart special shakespeare agility but it's pretty similar to my quantum catalyst in design, just can handle a little bit heavier gear, and all it has to do is survive 2 months of use. Can't beat free!

plus I quit procrastinating and fixed my rod....Sooo I have my baby back and a new reel...All I need now is a nice big fish and the picture perfect moment will be complete.

Thursday is when it's all going down. Mr. (Or a Mrs. full of eggs would be nice too) Chinook, is going to jump on my line and go home in a spacious cooler. That's my master plan, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Chromatose]

Hi JeannaJigs
Hopefully you have not gotten rid of your Quantum. I read this a bit ago

"Only to take it out of the box today and have the chunk on the side of the bail fall off in my hand"

So now I have registered and can give you this link.

Welcome to Tackleservice.com - Home Page

There you can find your reel with a complete schematic and a numbered parts list. Replacement parts are very affordable, especially for a great reel IMHO.

 

[JeannaJigs]

Hi JeannaJigs
Hopefully you have not gotten rid of your Quantum. I read this a bit ago

"Only to take it out of the box today and have the chunk on the side of the bail fall off in my hand"

So now I have registered and can give you this link.

Welcome to Tackleservice.com - Home Page

There you can find your reel with a complete schematic and a numbered parts list. Replacement parts are very affordable, especially for a great reel IMHO.

I tossed it in a a bout of fury. It wasn't my quantum, my quantums are my coveted babies, and are in excellent condition, they're my steelhead reels though, not quite heavy enough for a springer. It was a cheap shakespeare thinger that came with my rod, you get what you pay for I suppose. Thanks for the link though, I will bookmark it when I get home for future reference!