reel recommendations?

Thanks, I do. Just don’t see “ new posts” option.

Avet SXJ sounds pretty hot - I may have to look into that.

I inherited a bunch of old Penns from my dad around 18 years ago, so that's all I used for years.  Caught all my biggest fish on old Penns.

For the past couple of years I've picked up several Penn Warfare's, with line counter.  Nice action for around $100, and I can have a guest use it with ease.  The line counters all turn into "lyin' counters" though, eventually.  Gotta know your pulls.

Anyway, I've never had an expensive reel other than a Tekota that some of the clubmates gave me years ago at GS.  It was good while it lasted, then I had someone tune it up, and it hasn't been the same since...  As a matter of fact I lost a salmon on it the first time I took it out after the tuneup.  The drag got stuck and wouldn't function, and I ended up breaking off the first salmon of the season and didn't get another bite that day.  I haven't used it since, and that was years ago.  I guess I should turn it in to a proper service.

Thanks for the therapy session!   

I’ve got a Komodo and a Lexa 300HD. The Lexa is smoother but the line guide only travels on the retrieve, not on the letting out, which often leads to line coming off at a weird angle from the spool. Those Avets look great. Any issues with not having the line guide?

I’ve got a Komodo and a Lexa 300HD. The Lexa is smoother but the line guide only travels on the retrieve, not on the letting out, which often leads to line coming off at a weird angle from the spool. Those Avets look great. Any issues with not having the line guide?

It's nearly instinctive by now for me to have a thumb on the line as I reel so it lays somewhat evenly.  I've never had an issue with line lay causing anything bad, though.

Avet SXJ for me as well, been running it for about five years no issues. Pretty much totally adjusted to the lever drag and feeding the line back onto the reel. Trolled 24oz all day long no problems thing's bommer, drags sooooo smooth!

Have bought another different reel since then but sometimes wonder why I bring it along.

Avet SXJ is also my favorite. Make sure you get the G2. G1 Clicker design is trash. Reel itself is good tho.

I’ve got a Komodo and a Lexa 300HD. The Lexa is smoother but the line guide only travels on the retrieve, not on the letting out, which often leads to line coming off at a weird angle from the spool. Those Avets look great. Any issues with not having the line guide?

that sounds like something is broken. I was having a bunch of issues with my line guide. I just replaced my pawl, worm shaft, and idle gears B and D on my Tekota's. I had never opened a reel before, and I'm not the most handy of guys (especially compared to the people on this site), and I was able to do it. The most annoying part was ordering the parts! Maybe it could be a relatively easy fix like that?

A lot of reels are designed to not travel the line guide while in free spool. Helps with casting distance - less moving parts to slow down the spool. I have 4 or 5 reels that are like this.  When trolling with those reels, I try to stop letting out line when the line and guide are lined up. On narrow spools like a low profile bass reel, it's not really a problem, but on wider spools like my Abu 6600, it is noticeable for sure.

A lot of reels are designed to not travel the line guide while in free spool. Helps with casting distance

I used a Daiwa Tatula baitcaster for a few seasons for stripers and halibut.  It had an interesting take on fixing this line guide issue.  The eye of the guide wasn't round but elongated horizontally, allowing the line to move left to right within the eye.  Can't say that it worked all that well, it just made the line guide too bulky and gave more chance for a line loop to catch it and cause a break off.

I've used old Abu 6500/6600 (less plastic, more metal) with great success.  With a power handle they can handle the weights for bottom fishing.

Recently decided to give something new a try, the Piscifun Alijoz . Very pleasantly surprised by its capabilities (it can winch) and durability.  Not as easy to self service as the Abu, of course.

Sounds like you need a new reel! Good luck on your search.

I also have a Tekota HG series reel -- I think you should be able to send it into Shimano for a refurb? I understand they're pretty reasonable with their pricing for refurbs. And if your wife asks questions, the Tekota will serve as a backup reel -- given its reliability issues you deffo need a new primary

A lot of reels are designed to not travel the line guide while in free spool. Helps with casting distance

I used a Daiwa Tatula baitcaster for a few seasons for stripers and halibut.  It had an interesting take on fixing this line guide issue.  The eye of the guide wasn't round but elongated horizontally, allowing the line to move left to right within the eye.  Can't say that it worked all that well, it just made the line guide too bulky and gave more chance for a line loop to catch it and cause a break off.

I've used old Abu 6500/6600 (less plastic, more metal) with great success.  With a power handle they can handle the weights for bottom fishing.

Recently decided to give something new a try, the Piscifun Alijoz . Very pleasantly surprised by its capabilities (it can winch) and durability.  Not as easy to self service as the Abu, of course.

I also have a Piscifin Alijoz, in the 300 size. Great reel for the price for sure, and very capable.

My Abu 6600 is a newer one, with a fair bit of plastic inside. Main gears are brass, level wind gear is plastic. Nice reel, very smooth, but the free spool mechanism is it's weak point.  It got a little sticky before, so I took it apart and cleaned/lubed everything, seems a little better now.  I stopped using it for heavy trolling and jigging a while ago - I think it's gonna end up on a freshwater rod with lead core.

Another vote for the sxj, it's a workhorse. I have big hands and lack fine motor skills, so not great at servicing reels. I send em back to Avet for service every few years, they come back good as new in a couple weeks.

Just to mess things up.  I got all my biggest fish on the Seigler SGN...simple reel full on warrior...I use it for anything and mostly slow pitch...

I’ve got a Komodo and a Lexa 300HD. The Lexa is smoother but the line guide only travels on the retrieve, not on the letting out, which often leads to line coming off at a weird angle from the spool. Those Avets look great. Any issues with not having the line guide?

It's nearly instinctive by now for me to have a thumb on the line as I reel so it lays somewhat evenly.  I've never had an issue with line lay causing anything bad, though.

I've now been to Bass Pro in SJ twice, just to handle that Avet reel. While I absolutely love everything about it, I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that I need a level wind reel. When sail trolling, sometimes I need to have one hand on the rudder and the other hand adjusting the depth of the trolled rig. This goes double when conditions are rough and/or trolling through rocky areas with depth changes...

Moo Moo has a review on the Piscifun Alijos vs the Lexa n Youtube. He likes the Alijo which is half the price. Buy 2 for the price of one Lexa