reel recommendations?

I've been using a Shimano Tekota 500HG for a few years, and the release lever has started to stick, sometimes requiring so much force that I'm surprised I have not yet broken it off. So, it seems that might be time for a new reel...

I mostly troll, and don't want to be overmatched when I catch that 50lb+ sea monster that is in my future (I'm an optimist by nature). I need something soon, so local (San Jose or Santa Cruz) would be best and I would like to spend, say, $250 or less.

Disassembly and lubrication out of the question?

I'm a big fan of vintage Penn reels. Tough, affordable, easy to service and modify, and fun to fish with.

avet sxj or sx if u want more line.

 great gear ratio, all aluminum, takes saltwater dunks really well, super easy to maintenance since there’s really few parts that make up the reel.good videos online as guides.

i don’t rinse mine after trips, take it apart a few times a year, internals are great even after literally hundreds and hundreds  of trips and with many splashes, dunks, etc.

i really can’t say enough about how good of a kayak reel this is

avet sxj or sx if u want more line.

 great gear ratio, all aluminum, takes saltwater dunks really well, super easy to maintenance since there’s really few parts that make up the reel.good videos online as guides.

i don’t rinse mine after trips, take it apart a few times a year, internals are great even after literally hundreds and hundreds  of trips and with many splashes, dunks, etc.

i really can’t say enough about how good of a kayak reel this is

Huge +1 to this.  I do rinse mine, but every time I open it up for annual maintenance, I am reminded how extraneous that is.

Disassembly and lubrication out of the question?

The older Shimano Tekota is certainly user-serviceable, and I've done everything in this tutorial to both of them that I have owned:

https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=357.0

However, the "HG" is a much different beast, and while I will attempt to lube it, I think I need to be prepared in case that doesn't work. Besides, I convinced my wife I need a new reel, so I have to strike while the iron is hot...

avet sxj or sx if u want more line.

 great gear ratio, all aluminum, takes saltwater dunks really well, super easy to maintenance since there’s really few parts that make up the reel.good videos online as guides.

i don’t rinse mine after trips, take it apart a few times a year, internals are great even after literally hundreds and hundreds  of trips and with many splashes, dunks, etc.

i really can’t say enough about how good of a kayak reel this is

Huge +1 to this.  I do rinse mine, but every time I open it up for annual maintenance, I am reminded how extraneous that is.

I've actually salivated over that model at Bass Pro before. It's good to hear that it holds up to kayak use, and the price point is very reasonable...

I'm a long time avet sxj user

Penn Fathom 8 SD. 

I just bought a Tekota 500HGLC today from https://bottomdwellerstackle.com/ for $195, free shipping. Seemed like a pretty good deal.

I've heard great things about the Avet's and would love to try one. And may have bought one instead, but I was tired and didn't feel like doing deep research to try to figure everything out, so I just went with what I know (the Tekota).

It can also hard to buy stuff online without playing around with it in person. Some of the specs for the Avet's look amazing (8 bearings!!!!), but it's hard to fully understand the implications / appreciate it without feeling it.

Also I like that that Tekota 500 has 24 pounds of drag - I can notice a difference vs the Tekota 400 I have that has 20 pounds of drag (although that reel is also on a smaller rod, so there are other variables at play). I believe the Avet also has 20 pounds of drag, but I don't know exactly how drag compares across manufacturers (and also it is a lever drag vs star drag, and I don't know if that impacts the feel of it).

Jigmaster 500

Jigmaster 500

Yep - love mine!

I just bought a Tekota 500HGLC today from https://bottomdwellerstackle.com/ for $195, free shipping. Seemed like a pretty good deal.

I have no complaints about my Tekota 500HG, as I've gotten a ton of use out, and you are getting a great price. I rinse it every time after use, but otherwise I've done no maintenance. I can't remember exactly when I bought it, but it's more than 5 years ago...

Not to hijack conversation, but how do I start a post on For Sale? New at this. Sorry, but Thank you.

Not to hijack conversation, but how do I start a post on For Sale? New at this. Sorry, but Thank you.

I think you need 10 posts...