That was fun, excellent explanation between the difference of the expensive reels to the inexpensive reels. If I may add, I have gone the route of the inexpensive reels and got the Ozark trail 5000 for less than $20 and 2 weeks ago reeled in a 65 pound blue no problem from the reel. I have had these reels for almost 2 years and have not had a problem with them and if I do I'm happy to throw them away and buy another one. I definitely got my money's worth out of it. 👍

I have a couple of Penn 209's from my Dad that I know are at least from the 60's as I used them as a kid fishing Puget Sound and the Pacific Coast in Wasington State. They are still in great shape and I still take them out catfishing occasionally to take a memory of Dad with me.

I do alot of fishing, go just about every weekend religiously, when its not bad weather. Most of my rod/reel combos are the more expensive Walmart options, but still cheap compared to some of what you see at Bass Pro and so forth...never had any issues with them and I definitely use em alot

My Ancient Mariner 7000’s have been awesome reels so far. The conditions I fish tend to be very hard on gear, and they’ve exceeded my expectations for the price!!

I decided to try out baitcasters with the cheapest reel I could find. Bought a Sougayilang warrior on clearance for $18. I've had the reel 3 years and caught a couple of 50 lb blues and hundreds of smaller ones. The level wind has developed an occasional hitch finally, but that cheap little thing has been tougher than anything but a zebco 33 from the 70s lol.

Just bought my first 3 ancient mariners at CatCon 2024....hope they do good!! 90.00 a piece!!!!

Great video Dieter ,cool info on reels, nice fish. Thanks

I've gotten rid of my abus and switched exclusively to the lews and piscifun reels. I've got lews reels that I've had for 6 yrs and other than oiling em,haven't had to do any maintenance. I've had abus that didn't last a year. I'm really happy with the piscifun chaos 60s and have just ordered 4 more.

Another good, informative video! Agreed on going in with eyes open and expectations in check. I’ve used abu 5500’s the last 3 years but am converting to penn fathom 2’s this year for increased line capacity and drag capacity. If I wasn’t on the water as much as I am, I would consider some of these alternatives and the value of them is off the charts

I take out first responders and veterans out on a local lake, at no cost to them. I run cheaper reels for those trips so if one breaks, I'm not out a lot and some people cannot cast a baitcasting reel, so it is a win, win if you can afford different setups for multiple people. I do run more expensive reels and I have cheaper one and they both work great for me.

that kayak catfish bit made me laugh so hard 😂

The new MAD KATZ Reel XALT 6550 is at good price and lifetime warranty

Thank you for the video on inexpensive reels. That's my price point. Any comments or thoughts on kasting Rover reels?

If the paw or worm gear wares out, can't get replacement parts, no problem just take out the level wind mechanism and go straight conventional.

Great video and tips witch one do you think is the best between the catfish pro and abu garcia spinning reels my spinning reel is not working so good anymore and I love to fish enjoy your catfishing videos and tips thank you

Caught a 50 on a $200 Tekoma and a 58 on a $45 piscifun 5000 today. Both 3 years old

My best catfish fishing reel has been the 3000 sized Lidl bait runner spinning reel I got for $15 brand new from Lidls. I use it for bank fishing and landed many a big blue, channel, and bullhead with it. Even pulled in my pb 34 lb blue from Lugoff Dam area even with four turbines going with locked drag.

One of my first bait casters was a Shakespeare Walmart special and it's probably well over 20 years old now and I keep it around if any of my friends want to go out fishing with me and don't have their own gear. I definitely fish on a budget and staying in the middle ground is where I stay. My most reel is a Penn Warfare 30LW I got on sale I think for 80 some. As long as it works.

All of my round reels are Abu, my newest one is 250. From my experience with cheaper reels, I found they don't cast as well and bird nest more often, especially with the low profile baitcasters. I have some reels I need worked on one took a dive in a sandy creek and doesn't cast well anymore it a 200$ Pflueger Patriarch baitcastersl.

I fish the bank on the Mississippi around st. Louis and I've found the cheap ones to not cast nearly as well and wear out much faster but I'm in crazy current and sometimes making crazy casts my favorite is anything penn non level wind