Picking a spinning reel with ken mah by Jody Only

Picking a spinning reel with ken mah
by Jody Only

®

PI C K U P , PR I C E POIN T & P O SS I B I LITI E S

Story & Photos

BY JODY ONLY

picking a

wKeitnhMah

I

n the last issue of WesternBass, tournament pro

Ken Mah took us through the options to con-

sider when wading through the large selection

of available baitcasting reels. Here, he follows up with a look at choosing the right spinning reel.

“Throughout this article and in the accompanying

video we feature Shimano product as our examples;

however you can apply the basic information given

here to any brand that you are looking to purchase,”

said Mah.”

BUDGET

Like most other brands, the Shimano family of reels offers a spinning reel to fit any budget. Thriftier anglers can find the

Sonora, the Spirex and the Sedona for less than the cost of a tank of gas on most tow vehicles today. Options in the median price point, ring up at a few hundy per reel. Still other choices like Shimano’s iconic Stella can set an angler back about $800.

“Just like with most products, fishing related or not, cost is a huge contributor when making a purchase,” said Mah. “You cannot spend what you don’t have. So, once your budget is determined, you can decide what features are important to you and shop accordingly.”

INCHES PER TURN

“When you compare baitcasting reels, gear ratio is an often talked about feature, but gear ratio is

not as common of a topic with spinning reels” said Mah. “There can be a price difference in higher speed baitcasting reels, but in the

12