The spinning reel market would have to be the largest and most competitive market among reel manufacturers.
This is great for the consumer and the angler, as there are some very good spinning reels available on the market today, at very affordable prices.
So with such a huge market for these reels, how what do we look for in a good reel?
Brand:
Every angler has their favorite brand of reel. You can't go wrong with the major brands such as Shimano, Daiwa, Penn etc.
It comes down to budget, and what you're prepared to pay. All of the major reel manufacturers produce reels across a huge price range, so you should be looking for the best value for money.
However don't just limit yourself to the major brands, shop around and see what other customers have to say about the reel you may be looking at.
Line Capacity:
If you're fishing inshore saltwater then I recommend that you start with a reel with a line capacity of 220-350 yards.
This will give you the ability to fish a wide variety of depths, and have plenty of line to play with when hooked to a good fish.
Drag:
You not only want power from our reel, but you want it delivered smoothly.
So any reel that has a powerful yet smooth drag system is worth looking at.
You will want an absolute minimum of 6lbs of drag. Anything less, then you will be limiting where and how you can fish, and you won't be able to maximize the strength of your line.
Bearings:
People often get sucked into the idea that, the more bearings a reel has, the better it is.
This is not necessarily the case.
Instead of focusing solely on how many ball bearings a reel has, you should focus on the placement and the quality of the bearings.
A high number of low quality bearings will simply rust over time, making your reel useless.
However well placed and shielded bearings, made of a quality anti corrosive material, will be of much more value to you, and provide for a longer lasting reel.
Automatic Vs Manual Bail Arm:
This is purely a matter of preference, and is only something you can figure out over time.