Reels

[R22]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the board. My family has a house on the lake and we come nearly every weekend. I have read your posts during the past 6 months and find your posts intriguing. I have been bitten by the bug. I have decided to jump in an try my luck at stripers. From the equipment side of the board, you have been very helpful. I have contacted Outcast and ordered some boards, bought a half dozen rods but I am a little confused on the reels. I know it it personal preference but I need some guidance.

If you only wanted to buy quality equipment from the start and you were buying 6 reels, what would you buy? Would 2, 3 or all include the line counters? Would they be different brands or all the same.

I genuinely appreciate your responses.

[mwardncsu]

If your boat is big enough to fish 6 downlines then I would start with line counters as you can use them for down rods / free/lightlines or planers. Later you could add some non-line counter reels

Lots of Okuma Magda-pro 20DX used but the drag can be hit or miss and they will wear out sooner than others - but like Catsnstripers was telling me Tuesday, he's caught a LOT of fish in those reels. Seems like they can be had in the $60-$80 range if I recall. A step up would be an Abu 6500LC or Shimano in the same price range. Some folks are not having great luck with the current Abu's - Shimano makes good stuff. You're in the $120ish range per reel here.

If you only plan to run 4 downlines max, and want some dedicated planer board reels then the shimano if the same class as above without LC's would be a good choice - or if you can find some gently used Pfleguer Trion 66's.

I'm sure others have some good recommendations as well - let's hear them!

[hotdog]

I started with Penn 320s, used from e-bay. They do the job and you can count the level wind passes instead of having a line counter. Each pass of the level wind (with 30 lb mono) should equal 10 ft of line out. I think some consider them over kill but I've never had a 320 fail me.

[ready2fish]

I started out with the Okuma Stratamaster SM-20D from BassPro & they've done a great job for me. Their up to $60 per reel now. For the avg weekend fisherman, its all you need. If money is not an issue, I recommend Shimano Tekota Levelwind Line Counter Reels TEK300LC. $180 per reel.

[striperjohn]

If you're looking for quality, endurance and performance look at ABU Garcia 6500's. I've got 14 of them. Ten of them are 20 years or older. Every three years I break them down and clean them up. Every spring and fall I oil and grease them. All they do is work. In all those years I've had 2 worm gears (they run the line guide) go out that I easily replaced. The 6500's have been around a long time and just do the job.

[BentRod]

I like Shimano reels nowadays. The new Abus are garbage if you really put them to the test. I stripped the gears out of two of them that are only two years old and I rarely even use them. My Shimanos are holding up better and have seen 3x the use.

Line counters are great, but can be bulky too. Usually from one side of the level wind to the other is 10ft (except on Okumas). So really you can do without the line counter and be just as accurate.

My advice (if you can afford it and expect to have a fair amount of use) is to buy quality up front. I've wasted several hundred (prob more than that but I dont wanna hurt my feelings) dollars trying to save a buck. In the long run it cost me more replacing junk reels every two years instead of just buying quality in the first place. My problem was being poor. Ready2fish has great suggestion of the Tekota line. Awesome but expensive reels. Get what you pay for.

[BentRod]

Just noticed what hotdog wrote. What he said!

[R22]

Thanks for the help. I feel a little more confident. From what I am reading I am thinking I will get a mix, I am thinking maybe two the Okuma brand with the line counters. They are cheap and get decent reviews from those of you that use them. If I am hearing the other recommendations correctly, there are several good recommendations but I am thinking the Shimano Tekota.

I am doubtful that my fishing experience will take me anywhere beyond SML. Not saying money is not important but I would much rather look at the purchase as long term investment rather than a short term purchase.

The Okuma reference was the Okuma Stratamaster SM-20D. Is this the preferred model?

Seems like a mixed opinion on the Abu Garcia but nothing but good for the Shimano. With the Shimano Tekota, Is there a particular model that the group would recommend?

Thanks Again. I appreciate all the help.

[BentRod]

The 300 Tekotas should be fine on SML. You could go with the 500 but nothing bigger would be needed on SML. The Okumas are a good value at $40ish for your average weekend angler, but they're made cheaply.

[catsnstripers]

Okumas magdas are cheap. In price and quality. Im only using them bc im to poor to afford new. And i really want new! They have lasted longer than the new model abu 6500s though. I only have them on downline rods though. Okuma has some awesome reels in the higher end models. The isis round baitcast is awesome and so is the coldwater linecounters... abu has turned to junk with the new models.... if you find some older abus on ebay, they would be worth the buy.

Shimanos tekotas are awesome. Im replacing all mine with tekotas. But cant afford to right now. I have 16 bait rods rigged to go on the boat... so thats big doe at one time.

[jon]

Not sure how they are now but I have a few BPS cat maxx reels that have held up pretty good. The finish isn't that good but mechanicaly they have held up. I even used them casting when they were new because of how smooth they were.

Which shimano are you using without the line counter Bentrod? Have yall found a good place to purchase them? I was looking into getting a few magda 20 down line setups with the linecounter, now I might have to look into the tekotas.

Jon

[BentRod]

I use the Cardiffs for my boards, floats, etc. they're a great value at around $99/reel I think. They're probably at the bottom of their top tier of reels. The Calcuttas are hard to beat but $200+. The tekotas come without line counters as well. They're $150ish maybe.

[R22]

If they all cost the same, what would you buy?

[mwardncsu]

Calcuttas

[BentRod]

Calcuttas for planers. Tekota line counters for downrods. Accurate leverdrags for the bay. Ill take 6 of each..thanks!!