NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Zone => Gearing Up and Rigging Up => Topic started by: NowhereMan on January 05, 2024, 08:26:48 AM
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I'm looking for a baitcaster reel, primarily for use in freshwater, but I'd also like it to be able to multitask for, say, sabiki-ing in the salt. I had one of these
https://www.tackledirect.com/abu-garcia-orra2ins-orra-inshore-baitcasting-reel.html
and I thought it was great, while it lasted. Unfortunately, it didn't hold up well, and became unusable after only about 1 season of light use in saltwater.
I don't want to spend a fortune, but $200 or a bit more would be OK for something that will last.
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What kind of freshwater fishing you planning on doing with the reel? What kind of rod you pairing it with?
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Check out Shimano Tranx
Your mileage may very
Super fave! That thing whips. Feels like a toy until you hook up then something changes and it cranks that mo’ in…I’ve handle big stingrays with the 4000… :smt006
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What kind of freshwater fishing you planning on doing with the reel? What kind of rod you pairing it with?
Fishing: Trout and kokanee.
Rod: This is the rod I've got:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Rx-c-701m-Reflection-Rod/34743149
It's 7' and say "8-17lbs 1/4-5/8oz". It paired great with my now-deceased Abu Garcia baitcaster.
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Check out Shimano Tranx
Looks good. I'm a big fan of Shimano reels.
It looks like it comes in different retrieve ratios. Any opinions on that aspect?
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Retrieve ratio probably wont matter for trolling, well couldn't hurt :smt044 For trolling trout and kokanee I really really like a line counter. The most awesome one that I've bought is the Abu Garcia DLC, being digital it has some neat features others do not. https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Profile-Baitcast-Fishing/dp/B08DDGK178/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N90WQL8XYCTL&keywords=abu+garcia+dlc&qid=1704477833&sprefix=abu+garcia+dlc%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-1
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What kind of freshwater fishing you planning on doing with the reel? What kind of rod you pairing it with?
Fishing: Trout and kokanee.
Rod: This is the rod I've got:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Rx-c-701m-Reflection-Rod/34743149
It's 7' and say "8-17lbs 1/4-5/8oz". It paired great with my now-deceased Abu Garcia baitcaster.
I have gone through a lot of baitcasters in the salt, they just don’t last and the anti reverse bearings can’t hold up to that much abuse. Spending more money won’t necessarily get a longer lasting product. Too much plastic in even the more expensive ones. A saltwater tranx is very different than a light kokanee reel. Keep your freshwater baitcasters exclusively to freshwater. Baitcasters aren’t the greatest sabiki reels because their anti reverse will eventually start to stick and the drag won’t come out smoothly so you will break off sabikis/pull hooks. No real advantage to using a baitcaster to sabiki either. Just buy a freshwater only baitcaster from whatever reel brand you are confident in, lews, okuma, shimano etc. They all look the same on the inside and probably come from the same factory.
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I've never owned or even used a low profile baitcaster. Maybe because my Abu Ambassadeurs are all still going strong with 10-20years on them?
(Not that there's anything wrong with that...No..)
Bushy
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I have gone through a lot of baitcasters in the salt, they just don’t last and the anti reverse bearings can’t hold up to that much abuse. Spending more money won’t necessarily get a longer lasting product. Too much plastic in even the more expensive ones. A saltwater tranx is very different than a light kokanee reel. Keep your freshwater baitcasters exclusively to freshwater. Baitcasters aren’t the greatest sabiki reels because their anti reverse will eventually start to stick and the drag won’t come out smoothly so you will break off sabikis/pull hooks. No real advantage to using a baitcaster to sabiki either. Just buy a freshwater only baitcaster from whatever reel brand you are confident in, lews, okuma, shimano etc. They all look the same on the inside and probably come from the same factory.
That sounds like good advice. I might have to give up on my dream of a multitasking reel...
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Retrieve ratio probably wont matter for trolling, well couldn't hurt :smt044 For trolling trout and kokanee I really really like a line counter. The most awesome one that I've bought is the Abu Garcia DLC, being digital it has some neat features others do not. https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Profile-Baitcast-Fishing/dp/B08DDGK178/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N90WQL8XYCTL&keywords=abu+garcia+dlc&qid=1704477833&sprefix=abu+garcia+dlc%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-1
That's a nice price. Have you used it in saltwater?
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No, it's tiny and it stays on my downrigger rod. But I do use this one for ocean fishing, it's lasted two years but then I lost it overboard this year and had to replace it. Still, very good price, and a Line Counter, and it's fairly light as well:
https://www.amazon.com/Coldwater-Profile-Linecounter-Right-Hand/dp/B00LDYIRJS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NSZW9LSPSO11&keywords=coldwater%2Bline%2Bcounter&qid=1704481535&sprefix=coldwater%2Bline%2Bcount%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1&th=1
Caught halibut lings and salmon using it trolling on my 8ft lamiglass and really like knowing how much line is out for deep fishing and trolling. Makes it easier to reset the same way each time.
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Retrieve ratio probably wont matter for trolling, well couldn't hurt :smt044 For trolling trout and kokanee I really really like a line counter. The most awesome one that I've bought is the Abu Garcia DLC, being digital it has some neat features others do not. https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Profile-Baitcast-Fishing/dp/B08DDGK178/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N90WQL8XYCTL&keywords=abu+garcia+dlc&qid=1704477833&sprefix=abu+garcia+dlc%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-1
That's a nice price. Have you used it in saltwater?
Oh but I forgot, they do make a Max version, that would be the salt water version. I've been tempted to buy it, but this Okuma has done me well.
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Find an old JigMaster for your sabiki..virtually indestructible..I bet Senior Bushy could help you with that !
Bushy ..Jig Master ….
Hey no pun (or Penn) intended..
Get it !
Nyuk nyuk nyuk!
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If double duty is a must, I’ve had good luck with the Daiwa Inshore and Penn Fathom low profile, meaning I own em and have fished both fresh and salt with them for a couple years with little to no maintenance other than a freshwater rinse. I haven’t used it a ton but the Okuma Komodo SS is also a decent reel, although doesn’t feel as refined in the hand. All reels were designed for fishing fresh and salt; so internals/parts etc are made with materials that will hold up better than a traditional fw bass reel. I have the most miles on the Penn Fathom 400, it’s landed all the local species (minus salmon) and halibut, wsb, sand bass and calicos down south. No issues so far.
While I don’t think the dream of having a double duty reel is out of the question, I second the notion of separation, if for nothing else, less maintenance and zero corrosion. I have a small army of shimano curados that only see action in FW. They have a long reputation for being the workhorse, balancing decent performance with longevity. I got about 5 years on my current set and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. A couple thousand casts every weekend and a few drops of oil in the spool keeps em smooth.
Ratios are like any other gearing consideration; lower gear for torque, higher gear for speed, with each trading off the other when you get to the ends of the spectrum. I’ve found 6:1 to be an ok compromise but the ratio should reflect the predominant technique you’ll use. I use mostly 7 or 8:1’s for bass fishing as I need a lot of quick pickup for punching, frogs and reaction baits. I’ll move to the 5 or 6:1 for crankbaits, slower presentations or fishing high resistance baits. If you’re a numbers geek, the other metric people like to dig into is Inches Per Turn (IPT) and the impact the rate/cadence of cranking has on the bait or presentation. Personally I think it’s nonsense as I fish alot on feel and sight, so I adjust as I go.
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Al beat me to it. Abu Garcia Max DLC for Freshwater and the Max Toro DLC for the saltwater. These reels are awesome!
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I would second Spiffy's recommendation of an old Jigmaster or even a 209 or senator 2/0. They're indestructible, easy to maintain and repairs are simple due to minimal parts. Best of all, you can pick them up off ebay for $30 all day long or even cheaper if you happen upon them at a yardsale. I've got fancy low pro baitcasters and conventionals for the salt but I never leave the docks without atleast 2 poles rigged up with the old, trusty penns. My penns get serviced once a year whereas the other reels with A/R bearings get broken down and serviced every 3 months if fished hard in the salt.
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Okuma cold water low profile. The newer version is the coldwater SS. Very similar to the Komodo reel. Very hard to kill. Spool with 30lb braid and the top shot of your choice to catch everything. As long as you aren’t casting. If you are casting get something else.
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Any thoughts on this model (assuming it's restricted to un-salty water)?
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/abu-garcia-revo5-x-baitcast-reel
I was in Bass Pro, and of the moderately-priced reels, this one spoke to me...
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I really like Piscifun reels. I have 4. They are inexpensive yet well made. Good for salt too. They have a few options for gear ratios and handle type. Moo Moo did a review on them a while ago. They usually have sales and are $80-90 now:
https://www.piscifun.com/products/piscifun-alijos-size-300-low-profile-baitcasting-reel-aluminum-frame-casting-reels?
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I've done tons of Koke trolling with my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels. For that 'ultra light' feel, the 4600 and for anything else, 5600 or 6600 (I prefer the left-handed reels. That way I can cast and reel without swapping the rod over) You can get with a line counter, but if you downrigger, that already has a counter on it. I always get the clicker though. For top lining, it's the cat's meow, allows you tod do other things while trolling and waiting for the click-click-click Jaws-lick clicking on the reel telling you someone is come a knockin'.
Instead of a line counter, I used colored braid. PowerPro Depth-Hunter Multi-Colored Braided Fishing Line in 20 lb test with a 6 lb fluorocarbon topper.
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I've done tons of Koke trolling with my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels.
Looks tempting too. Decisions, decisions, ....
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I've done tons of Koke trolling with my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels.
Looks tempting too. Decisions, decisions, ....
If you lived closer, I'd loan you one of mine. Something to consider: there are lots of these out there on the second-hand market. Check out eBay and Facebook Marketplace as well as Craigslist. I bought one a couple weeks ago for $20 of eBay, a 5500 C3. This one didn't have a clicker, but I plan to use it for bait casting lures for bass mostly.
BTW, the difference between the C3 and C4 is the number of bearings with the C4 with 4 bearings, C3 with only 3.
https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/266555151163?item=266555151163&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m145235.l2565
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Something to consider: there are lots of these out there on the second-hand market. Check out eBay and Facebook Marketplace as well as Craigslist.
Thanks for the suggestion. The local Craigslist has an older "Ultra Mag XL-1" that looks very tempting...
Btw, how are you doing, Ski Pro? I recall that you had a bad run-in with Covid and were out of the fishing game for a while...
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Any thoughts on this model (assuming it's restricted to un-salty water)?
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/abu-garcia-revo5-x-baitcast-reel
I was in Bass Pro, and of the moderately-priced reels, this one spoke to me...
They used to make a Revo Inshore model that held up really well in the salt for me. Don't seem to see it anymore, but it was similar in size/specs. I bet you would be plenty happy with that purchase. Still I urge you to look at the neat features of the DLC, no other reel has as many neat features in it.
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Lots of good recs here. I have the Abu Ambassadeur SX 6601 (lefty model - for same reason and Jerry). I think it is a step down from the C3 or C4, but it works really well for inshore duty. I bought for about $100 a few years ago, can be had online for less (brand new) now.
I also have several Piscifun reels, and feel they are all really well made, especially for the price point. The Alijoz 300 is a beast of a low profile, the Torrent is great low profile for freshwater, and the Chaos XS is a really nice alternate to the Abu Ambassadeur.
For sabiki work, this last season I used an 8ft medium light Ugly Stick bigwater spinning rod with a Piscifun bait caster reel. Worked very well for that, plus served as a backup/second rod if needed. Really flexy tip picked up smelts and anchovy hits perfectly, but also has plenty of backbone for halibuts and rockfish use too.
If you noticed, there is a theme with my gear - for kayak use, I go inexpensive. I'm clumsy, haha. I've lost setups over the side before, and at least with an Ugly Stick and Piscifun combo, I'm out less than $200 and don't have too much heartbreak about it.
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Something to consider: there are lots of these out there on the second-hand market. Check out eBay and Facebook Marketplace as well as Craigslist.
Thanks for the suggestion. The local Craigslist has an older "Ultra Mag XL-1" that looks very tempting...
Btw, how are you doing, Ski Pro? I recall that you had a bad run-in with Covid and were out of the fishing game for a while...
Thanks for asking. I'm 2 years "clean" after chemo and fully recovered from COVID pneumonia. I stay busy all day, every day, outside by 10am and I don't come back in until dinner time or dark if it comes sooner. I've built a big outdoor raised garden area recently after successfully growing heirloom tomatoes this year. Gifted almost all my kayak and salt fishing stuff and bought a 30 year old used boat I've restored. Been working on refinishing the log exterior to the house and even put in a back yard in March. See? I'm never at rest. That hospital stay, and oncologist's assurance that my type of cancer will return has me living every day to the fullest I can. Now we got some snow last night, so headed out tomorrow to ski.
Oh, and I've decided to teach myself how to weld. Bought a oxy/acetylene as well as a MIG welder. Ha! Here's a link to some photos of these projects:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3P53NZn7pENFvqx79
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OMG! These are BIG projects... Thanks for the pictures Jerry.
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Ha! Here's a link to some photos of these projects:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3P53NZn7pENFvqx79
Holy home improvement projects! I gotta make sure that my wife doesn't see these pictures!
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Amazing photos! Well done Jerry!
NWM - didn’t you fix the roof after a tree fell on the house and broke into the kitchen? What should fall on the house for proper recognition? An elephant?
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NWM - didn’t you fix the roof after a tree fell on the house and broke into the kitchen?
Yes, but that took me 10 months. Compared to Ski Pro, I'm a slacker...
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NWM - didn’t you fix the roof after a tree fell on the house and broke into the kitchen?
Yes, but that took me 10 months. Compared to Ski Pro, I'm a slacker...
:smt005
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Daiwa lexa 300/400 is all you need
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I ended up getting Abu Garcia Ambassadeur SX from here:
https://fishermenssource.com/products/abu-garcia-ambassadeur-sx-round-reels
Partly I got it because that site had it listed for $49.95 with free shipping and no tax, while it was at least $80 everywhere else online ($99 at Bass Pro). Actually, I bought 2 of them at that price. Now, they've got it listed for $69.99, which is still cheaper then any place else that I can see, but not as crazy super-cheap as it was.
Unfortunately, they sent me left-hand reels, when I wanted right-hand. They say they will exchange them with no shipping charge, and I'm debating whether to exchange 0, 1, or 2...
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I ended up getting Abu Garcia Ambassadeur SX from here:
https://fishermenssource.com/products/abu-garcia-ambassadeur-sx-round-reels
Partly I got it because that site had it listed for $49.95 with free shipping and no tax, while it was at least $80 everywhere else online ($99 at Bass Pro). Actually, I bought 2 of them at that price. Now, they've got it listed for $69.99, which is still cheaper then any place else that I can see, but not as crazy super-cheap as it was.
Unfortunately, they sent me left-hand reels, when I wanted right-hand. They say they will exchange them with no shipping charge, and I'm debating whether to exchange 0, 1, or 2...
That's a score! I like mine - it casts very smoothly. Hope you get the left/right situation sorted easily.