Wide spool spinning reels

[RoadToad]

I've read some good reviews of US Reels Supercaster 230XL, so I asked about them last time I was in BPS. Dude there acted like I was an idiot for even inquiring about it, and said their BPS Extreme reel is much better. I'm just looking for a reel I can spool with fluoro and not get terrible line twist, and I like the concept of a wide-spool reel. I'd appreciate any input you all might have on whether wide-spool spinning reels really do perform as billed (reduce line twist, superior casting, etc.), and which one you'd recommend for $100 or less. Thanks!

[CMIDD]

I do not own one, however my fishing partner (a.k.a Dad) owns several. He is very pleased with the performance of them. They do seem to cast a bit farther, and I have never seen him have any trouble with line twist. I believe he has both the US Reel and a BPS or two. Wish I could be more help, thats pretty much all I got.

[BASSKING]

i cant comment on US reels but i have two BPS extreme spinning reels and i like them as well as the 2 high end shimanos i own. i think the wide spool is very helpfull with reducing line twist and smoother cast. IMO for the price you cant beat it.

[Harley]

right now the Johnny Morris Signature Series is on sale for $79.98. I have one of those, 2 of the Pro Qualifier's and 1 of the extreme's. I like all three but that JM Signature with 11 ball bearings is just sweet and well worth the extra money for it. It comes with 2 spools. IMO, the wide spool does make a big difference.
The signature series is well worth $30 more than the extreme.

[Harley]

One more very important thing, I found out the hard way that the 1000 version of each of those reels does not have the wide spool on it. It's just a normal UL reel.

[CCBricker]

I purchased one for the same reasons from BPS a couple of months ago. Spooled it with 12lb fluoro and still get the same (maybe a little more) line twist coming off as a normal size spool. I always close the bail by hand on tight line to try and prevent it but no luck. When the line does not twist it does cast great. Hope it helps.

[LarryG]

Some wide spool reels have problems with over filling. Line twist is something that is very hard to control, no matter what size spool you get.If you are using flouo memory may be the culprit.I have found through sorry experience, that over filling is the one big problem with most reels.All the ball bearings do is make it easier to reel, I have a few reels with only bearings that work as well as the one i have with nine.I have three diawa light reels that are over 29 years old, and find myself using them more often than some of the newer ones because they have wider spools.And besides, i need the exercise the fewwer bearings provide! As for line twist and memory, ever think about braid, no memory, and line twist is a lesser factor. Casting light jigs and watching them spin through the air, made me switch to more and more braided line.

[MrSplitshot]

There's no need for wide spool spinning reels, IMO - Switch to braid. My Sedonas, Saharas, and Stradics handle it sweetly.

PowerPro (my choice), Fireline, Suffix, whatever. I went to the darkside a couple of years ago, and except for my crappie sticks and a couple of Float-N-Fly rigs, I've got braid on everything I own. In the proper diameter for what you're doing, I do not feel that the 4/15 and 6/20 braided line that I use is a detriment at all as far as largemouth, smallmouth, and spots and their ability to see the line or be wary of it. If you think it is, no biggie, and slap a floro leader on the end. You'll cast farther, miss out on the line twist problems, feel everything, etc.

[davidsa]

I have had the US Supercaster spinning reel since it came out. A fair reel, better then any BPS reel I've ever owned, but 10# pure FC will jump off that spool faster then you can say an ugly term

I prefer a stradic to the supercaster.

My fishing line of choice in a spinning reel is 15# braid. If I'm drop shotting or in rocks fishing the shaking worm, I will change to 4# yozuri hybrid (breaks at 8# of line). For the most part though, I stick with the braid.