Reel Question for the group

Whats wrong with the Torium and Tekota by Shimano?
PK

Newell P220!!! 

Man, that looks like just the sweetest reel...  200 yards of 20lb test, 5:1 gears, no level wind, Jigmaster drag.... and left handed models are available, John.

No easy takedown screw, but I can live with that.

Newell doesn't get a whole lotta love up here but like I said, mine has been beat to hell and still performs well with little maintenance.  Plus they are light.

My only gripe with the squidder is the backreel function that turns it into a knucklebuster...I've accidentally hit mine a few times at the wrong moment...not pretty.  If I remember correctly Penn just swapped out to narrow spools/frames to increase casting range on the 500.  I'm not sure how big that niche is considering the number of other options on the market and kits available to change a standard 500 into a 501.  They're not available in left handed versions because well.......people should learn how to reel the right way 

Where's the love for the Cardiff 201A - I've still got mine and it works. It's very light and the thumb bar is convienantly placed. Great for jigging. Did everyone else's crap out?

My love is for the Shimano Toruim or the Daiwa Salist at this moment in time.

Ken kickfish

Whats wrong with the Torium and Tekota by Shimano?
PK

if you are going to hang that bait out there, I will bite, 

well, nothing is "wrong" with them, but they might not be optimal for retro-minded kayakers
who want

cheap
lightweight
corrosion resistant
able to be fixed if broken
retro-cool.

they are
1. expensive.
2. sort of on the heavy side.
3. they have many bearings to corrode.
4. shimano does not supply parts for old reels.
5. c'mon,  .

J

Newell P220!!! 

Man, that looks like just the sweetest reel...  200 yards of 20lb test, 5:1 gears, no level wind, Jigmaster drag.... and left handed models are available, John.

No easy takedown screw, but I can live with that.

yeah, that is my choice too. I recently got hold of 3 used left handed newells, 2 235's and a 338.

for some reason I can rationalize 3 used reels that I don't need but not 1 new one that I don't need,  .

but I want a 220, and since the parts to convert the 235 to a 220 would cost the same as a used reel
I am buying a used right handed 220 and swapping the spool, bars and baseplate.

then I will sell the right handed 235 that is left over (or that is the plan, anyways).

But maybe it's just an excuse to take some reels apart and frankenstein them?  .

however the newell is not theoretically perfect for the nor-cal inshore kayak fisherman.

look on this site for alan tani's rebuild of a 220. a lot of screws and screw holes to corrode.

so it looks like you have to take it out of the box, take it apart, grease a lot of it, replace the
drag with a jigmaster ht-100 greased carbon fiber drag.

The stock drag is not water-invasion friendly, nor can you grease it.

If you pick one up and use it, it feels very 20th century, not like a progear or avet which feel
distinctly 21st century.

of course this is why I like it and foofy guys like bill and mooch ( ) prefer the avet.

But it is my favorite for a kayak reel one step above an Ambassadeur.

which of course I don't even need since it's not like I'm catching fish that I can't pull up with
an ambassadeur,  .

eric, if you want a new reel the reel that chuckE likes a lot seems a good choice,
the daiwa sealine 20 high speed version. (a little heavy and no left hand available tho).

John

Greasing it up and replacing the drag sounds like it wouldn't take long, then you have a reel that is good to go, light enough for plugging, and strong enough for anything we're likely to hook up on the west coast.

Besides, if you're anything like me first thing you do is take your new purchase apart... am I right?

not like a progear or avet which feel distinctly 21st century.

Try an old school Progear like a 255  ...  Basically 501 guts, win a 1 piece aluminum frame.  Or a 251 ... 500 guts ...

I have a few of these and am looking to pick up more.  Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have said anything until I finished off my collection.

BTW, what happened to Progear?  Are they out of business?

-Allen

not like a progear or avet which feel distinctly 21st century.

Try an old school Progear like a 255  ...  Basically 501 guts, win a 1 piece aluminum frame.  Or a 251 ... 500 guts ...

I have a few of these and am looking to pick up more.  Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have said anything until I finished off my collection.

BTW, what happened to Progear?  Are they out of business?

-Allen

supposedly they are coming back. But that high end market seems pretty glutted. penn made a good comeback with the torq.

I'm sticking to hotrodded ambassadeurs, newell, and shimano spinning reels so the progear ebay market is yours to corner allen, 

John

I have a Newell P229F on the way.  My first new ocean reel.  Seems pricey, but I fully expect to be using it the rest of my life. 

Thanks for all the advice and comments.  I learned a lot in this thread!

So many toys- so little money........

John,

Retro?  are you still using a Macintosh Apple?  I don't think so.  I have had newell and Abu.  I just think there is something better.  I just retired reels I don't used anymore.  Sorry, Alan T.  Becuase if I where to get the "fish of a lifetime"...I don't want a reel...that may not do the JOB.

Ken kickfish

Maybe better for a powerboat. but I think simpler is better for a kayak. after the first two spool bearings the rest are diminishing returns.

maybe if they make the bearing races from titanium and the balls from "ceramic" so they never rust.

the newer reels could fail on that fish of a lifetime because they are over-engineered and susceptible to failure.

but hey, use what makes you happy Ken, it's all for fun after all.

J

Ken, no sense in having a reel graveyard....you can float those old newells and abu's right over to my pad and I'll resurect and return them to the glorious fish killing machines they were designed to be   

I ain't gonna lie, if I had the expendable cash flow and fished long range often I'd probably own a quiver of custom sticks paired to custom annodized and cnc'd reels.  Not really the lifestyle I live.........yet, so I go with whatever will get the job done or is fun to use. 

John I'm down with the retro movement.  Any f*****g monkey can go down to fishermen's wharehouse and blow a month's salary on new rods and reels but style cannot be bought