What is the best way to maximize your fishing fun? I would suggest the answer is using top performing fishing reels. Time and opportunity is enough of a limit to angling let alone cheap equipment letting you down. We are going to look at three excellent reels that cover a wide range of angling options. These fishing reels are ideal for fresh water or saltwater fishing. Out of the three reels, two are made by Shimano and one by Daiwa.

First up is the Shimano Sustain FE 5000. The Sustain spinner weighs in at a lightweight 13.9 ounces. A whole series of Sustain reels are available. If the 4000 is not quite right for the type of fishing you do then check out the other options in the range.

The stand-out thing about the Sustain reel, once you get past its quality look and strong construction, is the smoothness of its operation. At the end of the day, what an angler is looking for most in a reel that is a pleasure to use. After all the very essence of fishing is casting the bait and hauling in the fish and if a reel does this well its game on! Thanks to the propulsion spool lip design plus an innovative titanium coating, the line seems to float effortlessly off the spool. You immediately notice how much extra distance you get on a cast without having to whip the rod forcefully. The next best thing about this fishing reel is the drags. Operation of the drag is defined by its smoothness. There is no shuddering and no binding. When the fish makes a run the reel keeps pressure on it while releasing line to prevent tackle breakage.

You won't experience any line twist problems either and the bail arm doesn't close unexpectedly. Combine this with good seals to stop the moisture getting in you have eliminate a lot of the things that can spoil your fishing experience. Handle strength is maximized by machining from a single piece of aluminum. This reel is not cheap at around $270 but the quality and fishing satisfaction it offers make it well worth the price.

If your preference is for the popular drum type of reel but you still want to cast with it, then the Shimano Calcutta 400 is well worth a look. This beauty is a bait caster that is compact without comprising line capacity. And although it is light it does not lack power. It weighs in at a light 12.8 oz and costs around $450.

Not only is this a handsome looking reel, the fine finish is designed to resist scratching and to clean up easily. While looks are nice, function is even more valuable. Although this is a completely different style of reel to the Sustain it lives up to its bait casting label. Its a beauty to cast and makes you feel and look good. Pretty good in the drag department as well with the Dartanium material providing smooth, controlled pressure. With 16 lbs of drag available it has an impressive power to weight ratio. This makes the reel really enjoyable to fish with as it removes the common frustrations. When you get hooked up to 45 pounds of fighting fish you will know that your money was well spent because the reel is up for this kind of workout.

So even though the price is at the top end, the performance and quality is certainly there to match it. Long-term durability along with high performance should provide for enduring enjoyment of the Calcutta.

Last up is a reel that is in a different class to the Sustain and Calcutta. If you are in the market for a big game fishing reel then the Daiwa Saltiga 6500 Expedition is enough to make your mouth water. It its grunt that you are after this reel has it with 66 pounds of drag. This beastie is the big boy of spinning reels. Anyone into hunting big fish will be interested in this product. Equally at home hauling a monster fresh water bass, or a marlin out in the salt water this reel gets the job done well. The strength of the Saltiga comes from the powerful gears that utilize a cast marine bronze gear that has been precisely cut via a digital process. This precision cut gear feature provides a perfect matching of the gear surfaces. The reel body has been cleverly designed to seal out water. This has been accomplished by making the aluminum housing very rigid to eliminate flexing. Additional longevity benefits are provided by super corrosion resistant ball bearings, extra strong handle made form a single piece of aluminum and a high performance drag protected that is sealed to keep out saltwater.

The setup of the handle and gears gives powerful leverage to haul heavy prey and the drag is full up to the strongest test - some say 'the smoothest in the business'. On top of that Daiwa have produced a reel that is fully washable for saltwater use. Thanks to a special duct underneath the reel, water is able to be flushed through. This will provide less maintenance and longer service. Even though the Saltiga reel has performance to die for, it makes it easier to part with your money when you know a lot of trouble has been taken to make sure it is going to last the distance.

That's it in a nutshell. Three of the top reels in the game to maximize your angling success and provide the most fun possible.

If you would like further information about these reels, or for online secure purchasing and free delivery to your doorstep, check us out at www.bigbitefishinggear.com