What are your favorites? I am looking at picking up one or two top notch reels after remembering how much I do not like the cheap ones I currently own....

Oh...I am also going to try a Thorne Bros rod...cannot wait for the ice fishing show...

I don't know if mine qualify as top notch for price standards or by much other than pure working reliability. Almost all of my reels are Abu Garcia's 100 series. I have a 300, but for my favorite my sight fishing rod and all my panfish rods carry nothing but the Abu Garcia Cardinal 100U. I simply love it. And will continue to use them till one fails me.

I run Abu 100's, Shimano Sedona 500's and started using Mitchel Advocet 500's, none have failed me yet.

Sedona 500's Tica's and some Abu Garcias for spinning reels.
Baitcasters are Ganders, Abus and Shimanos as well.

Whatever you get make sure they don't get stiff in the cold. I Prefer Ticas, they are reasonably priced and smooth when cold!

Tica's and the Abu line is also a good reel.

I also have some Tica's, good reels! I also have a nice Pinnacle, a Shakespear,a Cabela's, and an Abu Gacia that all work really nice for me. Bang for the buck I would say the Tica's are tough to beat!

I'm trying out the Mitchell Series 500 gold this year. Used the Silver model this past summer and really like it. Only difference with the Gold is it has 8 bearings.

I'm a big fan of the Tica Cetus line of reels. I also like the Shimano AX-ULS for overall weight, price and durability.

I also plan to use some of the new 500 series Shimanos that are coming out...

The Abu Garcia Cardinals are very nice too. Both the 100 and 300 sereis are excellent reels...

Pflueger reels. I have been using them for years.

Wavespin DHxL.

Hands down to the Tica's. My Sedona 500 is great but my go to panfish reels will be Tica's.

Get the bomb: Tica, Tica, Tica.

I have been running a mix - helps me grab the right poles when I am in a hurry based on the reel!

For walleye - Caridnal 100U
For Perch/Crappies - Tica
For Sunnies - Pflueger

If I had to pick a favorite it would be the ABU Cardinals.

I actually use my Sustains 1000 along with my Stradics 1000 and Sahara 750. My Symetre 750 somehow isn't quirky.

I've been considering going the baitcaster route. Been using a Shimano Coriolis 100E for a past few seasons.

(first thing first, I need gas powered auger)