fs Reel to use with 1-3 oz of lead 12lb line rod in hand

Well I am driven crazy with the options. I realise there are similar topics but a few specific questions if anyone has advise. I want a reel to match greys bze 12 6 and a daiwa sts 115 for strolling clean beaches with bait rod in hand targetting bass. I want a good reel up to 150 euro.say. A tackle shop recommended i buy several cheap reels yesterday as you will be throwing it away after a year! I think he was a game angler and i was a bit like that myself! But a lot of reels i like the look and sound of seem to be carp big pit reels. eg shimano ultegra 5500 looks great and love sound of retrieves a metre per crank of reel. But is it foolish to use a freshwater reel in the sea will i throw it away after a Year? I think a baitrunner would be great too for this type of fishing but is it a freshwater reel will it stand up to the sea? I see some abu cardinal reels specifically for sea ? I use Penn surfmasters for the tripods and with regular cleaning work fine and have stood up to the salt for me. I suppose its finding a reel for more subtle fishing any thoughts appreciated pat

Hi Pat,

I can tell you this for certain, if you rinse your reel ( of any kind) under the tap of leave in a bucket of water after each trip to the beach you will have it forever! Stories or reels falling apart after time with rust etc are as a result of being used and thrown in a bag or tackle box until the next trip and never cleaned.

I have reels over 10 years old which got regular use and are as good as the day I got them.
Rinse them after every trip!

I would agree that regardless of the reel you need to really look after them. I've got an Ambassadeur 6000 I've used steadily since 1975 and an Ambassadeur 7000 I got from the Svangsta factory during a visit in 1976 that I've heavily used ever since. No problems other than surface scratches, etc. Rinse out with fresh waster AND use WD40, and reoil. or whatever other lubricant applies, once a season.

That said, there are other factors to consider - the quality of manufacture, materials, etc. There can be a lot of wear and tear from sand, sea spray, hauling big weights, etc., etc. I'm not sure if there are different sealants used for sea reels either. Read the manufacturers instructions (e.g., I am pretty sure the manual for the Okuma Magnetix 20CS says do NOT immerse completely in water after use, but spray it).

On balance, I'd say a reel from a reputable manufacturer, well made, and if looked after and maintained according to instructions and a bit of common sense, will do ya in salt or fresh water... worth buying the very best you can afford...