Best Crappie Spinning Reel for <$100?

I just spend a week fishing at a guided lodge, and it made me realize I need to upgrade my gear. I liked the Okuma IA55 I fished with a lot, but I don't know what options are out there.

I want to start with my crappie rig, so does anyone have a quality spinning reel they love for around $100? I was looking at Pflugers but the reviews make them seem hit and miss.

Planning to pair the rod with a 7' ugly stick light unless someone has another great ultralight rod suggestion.

 

Hard to go wrong with shimano clarus 6 foot UL rod paired with whatever size 2500 shimano reel you can afford. I know a guide that swears by this setup. Spool up with 4 pound suffix HiVis and you will love it. You could go with a longer rod if you dont dock shoot.

 

X2

I have a Shimano Symetre with a 6' browning rod and it's great for crappie and bass

 

Phluegar president reels are a great spinning reel. Do not get an ugly stick. Nothing wrong with them just that there are so many more better options out there. Look at Fenwick, Abu Garcia, all star. Go to tacklewarehouse.com most of there stuff is all bass stuff but they can give you some good ideas about what's out there and usually at a better price than bass pro.

 

Thanks guys. I went and tried out several reels and rods - ended up with a Pfluger President ultralight and a St Croix premier UL 6' one piece. Seems to be a good combo, but I haven't wetted a line with it yet.

 

Last summer I replaced my 20+ year old diawa spinning reel with a Shimano Sienna. It was a pretty inexpensive reel but very smooth. I compared it with some others at Bass Pro and it won out as the best bang for the buck IMO. Might be worth a look.

 

That is an epic combo for panfish/trout. Epic combo.

 

My votes goes for a 6ft ugly stick with a Shimano Sienna 1000 reel...can pick up this combo for under $100 if you look around...I bought this setup for my father a few years back for trout/panfish...I personally have a 6ft Clarus with a Symetre 1000 rear drag so +1 for the combo mentioned a few posts up

tight lines