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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | OK, I know everyone has a favorite. I have been using the Shimano Sedona's for so long I did not think there was another manufacturer of reels. J/K They simply do the job I ask them to do. But like all things, maybe there is better out there?
What do you use? Been looking at them all and quite frankly cannot see spending a ton on a reel. The 50 to 100 dollar range seems to have plenty of quality.
Can you give a short advertisement on the reel you use? What it is and why you like it?
I use the Sedona's because of the solid anti-reverse and the drag system. What I don't like is when you are closing the bail with the handle, if its in the wrong position, it is very hard to lock the bail quickly.
Just so there are no questions, it must be versatile, jig, pitch, cast. Do it all reel.
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| I personally only use daiwa reels, especially spinning reels. All shimano's i have had, Symetre, Sahara, and sedona, all took a crap within a season. My daiwa capricorn and laguna's are still working fine after 2 seasons of use and are just as smooth as the day i got them. Great drag and the long cast spools really help, plus, I don't like the fact that shimano spinning reels seem to go off balance when reeled fast, where as daiwa's do not. I'll never again buy another shimano reel, baitcasting or spinning, for the money i'd much rather buy a daiwa, year after year they have given me much better results and hold up much better than shimano. Just my $.02 |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I think you'll find this interesting.......
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4... |
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| The Abu-Garcia reels I have been using have been great and I've been spending $50 or less. The center drag system model works very well and the 100% anti-reverse system has stood up well too. I've used some of the less expensive front drag models too and really banged them around. Chris, (known as "Critter") at Wolf River Sports in Winneconne is probably the smartest guy I've ever met when it comes to fishing reels. He knows not just how many bearings but the difference between ball bearings and roller bearings and how they are used in each reel. He mans the "reel counter" at 7 or 8 sports shows a year so he really gets a lot of "discussion" about reels and what people like and dislike, price point, smoothness, durability etc. A freind bought a Pinnacle and Chris knew the exact reason he didn't like it without even meeting him. (The handle "winds" on to a working position and can come loose when backreeling) He sells Abu-Garcia, Shimano, Pinnacle and a few other's. Worth a visit to Wineconne or one of the sports shows Wolf River House is at. They do Arlington, Rosemont, Madison, Green Bay, Milwaukee and a couple of other smaller well known weekend shows in the Chicagoland area.
Very competative prices too. I knows it's been a "plug" for Critter's but he IS such a great and honest source of information on fishing reels. |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Thanks Dennis, that was good reading. Just hoped for some more input on the various reels. |
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Location: appleton, wi | I too use the Shimano Sedona and had it for awhile, no major problems--my Brother loves the Shimano upgrade, the Stradic.
Another question to add---What rods do you enjoy, without breaking the bank??
Also, what is your best ice fishing rod/reel combo to use pulling up those nice walleyes  I use a Shakespeare Pro-Tech Ice now, looking to expand.
GO PACK!! |
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Posts: 1406
| Stacker, If your looking for the best wolf river set up you won't go wrong with a Shimano Stradic 1000, no need to say any more! Light weight, smooth and extremely dependable for me so far! I'll coin a phrase that someone here told me although I can't remember who, but I think I can feel them walleyes fart with this setup! I don't think there is another one out there that compares when looking at price! Package it with a 6' to 6'6" Medium Light extrafast Loomis or croix and you have the perfect weapon for jigging the wood or current breaks on the Wolf/Fox!! I would go a different route for a crank bait pole and up it to a 2000 reel.
Good Luck
Tyee |
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Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Tyee
how smooth, I.E. the binding, of the turn of the handle when you are at the "sweet spot" that some of the others just make you take your other hand off what it is doing on a 2nd rod and twist harder to engage it? Or is it always a nice smooth engagement with a slight turn of the handle. I guess that is what I am looking for the most as I think about it.
Does this make sense? LOL
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Tyee,
I told you that I could feel the walleyes fart on my line when we were together on the river. I collect royalties now on that one along with "Ice is for mixed drinks". You now owe me a beer!   |
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| Ahhh, Yes How could I forget that one! Wasn't that the discussion while contemplating the Croix vs. the Loomis?????? maybe it was the braids vs, mono!........ either way I was laughing then and am laughing now, Beers on me anytime bud!
Stacker, I know what you mean about the "spot" on the reel when winding, The stradic does not have one! It is smooth throughout the turn! Now if you're real brave the stella is the way to go, that thing virtually reals itself! Try it sometime, centrifugal motion with rod in hand keeps it going!!!! Good Luck Whatever your choice!
Tyee |
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Posts: 1656
| Stacker,
Been a Shimano fan all my life....with that said. I know what you speak of as far as the Sedona's being a bit tougher to engage. While I haven't used them much in a casting situation to notice that as a problem. I have my Sedona's on Slipbobber rods. To me I'm very satisfied for their application.
My vertical jig sticks are just "cheap" AX500 reels. I prefer light as light as you can go when holding a rod all day in the boat. I believe 90% of the job is in the line and rod and you,as the fisherman, to set the hook, reeling is secondary.
I purchased a Symetre this last season specifically for picthing light jigs. To me this is a great reel in that 50-100 dollar range. Very smooth and a little less tougher to engage....I will admit I do tend to flip the bail by hand. I flip the bail by hand more often cause when flipping the bail I can "feel" the line to know if it's fouled before reeling. Also I tend to close by hand just to avoid the clinking noise that can be associated with some reels, specifically when fishing shallow water.
OH, I'm still anal about my rear drag reels.
Good luck in your perfect reel endeavors
Edited by Jayman 1/4/2005 6:35 PM
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Posts: 279
Location: Rockford MN | what did you do to these reels to make them "crap out" on you? I have all shimano spinning reels and have never had any problems. I use only Daiwa line counters and bait casters. ALL reels should be cleaned at the very least once a year! I do mine twice running a light weight lube in early spring and heavier lube in the summers heat. I cannot see how you could ruin a Shimao reel unless it was full of sand and under water for a week before you used it. |
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Posts: 145
| I'm still using the Daiwa SS Series prototypes that I got when I was repping Daiwa in the late 70's.....still going strong.
I also use some Quantums.
Beaver |
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| The only thing I did to make the reels go bad was use them, and no i did not abuse them. The sahara was the worst of all, half way through the year it turned into a coffee grinder. |
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Spinning reels.