What Reel to Buy?....Budget is $350.00 ea - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

SHARK BAIT · 06-20-2007, 02:20 PM

I like to use avitt, single and two speeds their warrienty is one of the best. they are a little heavy but they free spool for days and they take a beating. they are also in your budget. let me know when you are going to lj, i dont live to far from you so maybe we could carpool.

tylerdurden · 06-20-2007, 02:59 PM

Everyone has different preferences, my arsenal is:

Daiwa sealines 30, 50
Cheap and indestructable. Great for tossing the iron and yoyo. Probably the best all around choice for cheap.

Shimano TLD 15
Cheap, really easy to take apart and clean. Great for trolling live baits and plugs. No problems in a year of constant use, except for the sand injection in baja

.

Avet JX 6/3
expensive. more reel than you need for kayak fishing. The shift button gets a little sticky. I have not had any problems with mine after constant use since February. Great for yoyo and trolling a plug.

Penn 500 and Penn 4/0
Didn't do so well with kayak abuse. The 4/0 did better.

What ever reel you pick, don't dunk them. Don't dump in the surf. When you do launch and land have the drags tight so water doesn't get into them if they get splashed in the surf zone.

dorado50 · 06-20-2007, 03:20 PM

I've wasted alot of money on reels with 5-2-1 gear ratio and lower, You just reel and reel to gain 10 feet of line ! Higher gear ratio 6-2-1 gets the fish to the boat faster .

Corey · 06-20-2007, 03:41 PM

Hey Lenard, I hope to see ya down here sometime soon. Send me a pm or call if you're coming down to fish, man.

My reel experience:
I love my Trinidad 20 for yo-yoing and fishing bait. The adjustable clicker is awesome for trolling bigger macs w/ and w/o weight. The thing is buttery smooth and has 6.2:1 ratio which I love. Also you cant beat Shimano's service. I have found this to be a low maintenance reel as it has only needed service once in its 3 years of yakfishing. When I did send it in for a standard servicing, they completely replaced the crank side of the reel to give me the upgraded drags, etc. I was stoked.

Accurate Boss Magnum 197: This is an awesome lever drag reel for fishing bait or trolling w/ spectra mainline. The reel is tiny, but will hold approx 300 yds of 50# spectra plus a short topshot. The clicker is strong enough to fish macs w/ or w/out weight without having to engage the drag. It also has killer freespool and casts better that any other leverdrag I've used. They make it in 4.6:1 and 6.2:1. My only problem with this reel is that it has very tight tolerances which means that sand & corrosion can gum it up easily. It is not hard to work on, but if it has to be sent to Accurate, they are kinda slow. Although in 4 years I have only had to send it in once for service and it cost $20, but took 2 months to get it back.

Diawa Sealine 40 SHV: Awesome reel for the price as most will tell you. It costs $95 and is bombproof, but does not have infinite anti-reverse and makes clicking noise when you reel. However it has amazing freespool, and takes abuse and works great which is a good feature for the yak. I'm glad I finally listened to my bros and checked one out. I have been using for surface irons and it casts better than my Trinidad 20.

Shimano TLD 15/30 Star: Another $100 reel that has served me well as far as durability is concerned, but casts like crap, even w/ bearing upgrades. The Sealine is a way better reel for the same price.

I also use a few others like TLD 10 for trolling plugs & occasionally bait and calcutta 400 for bait & lighter stuff like Calicos, light halibut, rockfish & lings. etc.

What do you want these 2 new setups to do? bait, iron, all-around? I guess if I had $350 each to spend on 2 reels, I'd get Trinidads, (maybe a 20 and a 16 but I haven't tried the Saltigas. If you want a leverdrag, the Accurates are bitchin'. However I will say that you can definitelty do the same thing and catch the same fish for $100 - 150 per reel.

woolybugger · 06-20-2007, 04:05 PM

The three reels I bring to la jolla
are...

Avet Jx 6-0
for bait
Avet Mxj 4-5-1
for jigs
Daiwa Luna 253
for bass

I love all three of them and the only change I would think of making is a higher gear ratio on my MX

06-20-2007, 02:59 PM	#2
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	Everyone has different preferences, my arsenal is: Daiwa sealines 30, 50 Cheap and indestructable. Great for tossing the iron and yoyo. Probably the best all around choice for cheap. Shimano TLD 15 Cheap, really easy to take apart and clean. Great for trolling live baits and plugs. No problems in a year of constant use, except for the sand injection in baja . Avet JX 6/3 expensive. more reel than you need for kayak fishing. The shift button gets a little sticky. I have not had any problems with mine after constant use since February. Great for yoyo and trolling a plug. Penn 500 and Penn 4/0 Didn't do so well with kayak abuse. The 4/0 did better. What ever reel you pick, don't dunk them. Don't dump in the surf. When you do launch and land have the drags tight so water doesn't get into them if they get splashed in the surf zone. __________________ MLPA, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem Let the Fish and Game Commission know what you think about the proposed maps. Be ready for December 9th and 10th.

06-20-2007, 03:41 PM	#4
Corey Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ...waaaay out there Posts: 794	Hey Lenard, I hope to see ya down here sometime soon. Send me a pm or call if you're coming down to fish, man. My reel experience: I love my Trinidad 20 for yo-yoing and fishing bait. The adjustable clicker is awesome for trolling bigger macs w/ and w/o weight. The thing is buttery smooth and has 6.2:1 ratio which I love. Also you cant beat Shimano's service. I have found this to be a low maintenance reel as it has only needed service once in its 3 years of yakfishing. When I did send it in for a standard servicing, they completely replaced the crank side of the reel to give me the upgraded drags, etc. I was stoked. Accurate Boss Magnum 197: This is an awesome lever drag reel for fishing bait or trolling w/ spectra mainline. The reel is tiny, but will hold approx 300 yds of 50# spectra plus a short topshot. The clicker is strong enough to fish macs w/ or w/out weight without having to engage the drag. It also has killer freespool and casts better that any other leverdrag I've used. They make it in 4.6:1 and 6.2:1. My only problem with this reel is that it has very tight tolerances which means that sand & corrosion can gum it up easily. It is not hard to work on, but if it has to be sent to Accurate, they are kinda slow. Although in 4 years I have only had to send it in once for service and it cost $20, but took 2 months to get it back. Diawa Sealine 40 SHV: Awesome reel for the price as most will tell you. It costs $95 and is bombproof, but does not have infinite anti-reverse and makes clicking noise when you reel. However it has amazing freespool, and takes abuse and works great which is a good feature for the yak. I'm glad I finally listened to my bros and checked one out. I have been using for surface irons and it casts better than my Trinidad 20. Shimano TLD 15/30 Star: Another $100 reel that has served me well as far as durability is concerned, but casts like crap, even w/ bearing upgrades. The Sealine is a way better reel for the same price. I also use a few others like TLD 10 for trolling plugs & occasionally bait and calcutta 400 for bait & lighter stuff like Calicos, light halibut, rockfish & lings. etc. What do you want these 2 new setups to do? bait, iron, all-around? I guess if I had $350 each to spend on 2 reels, I'd get Trinidads, (maybe a 20 and a 16 but I haven't tried the Saltigas. If you want a leverdrag, the Accurates are bitchin'. However I will say that you can definitelty do the same thing and catch the same fish for $100 - 150 per reel. __________________ Last edited by Corey; 06-20-2007 at 06:12 PM.

06-20-2007, 04:05 PM	#5
woolybugger Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel Posts: 14	The three reels I bring to la jolla are... Avet Jx 6-0 for bait Avet Mxj 4-5-1 for jigs Daiwa Luna 253 for bass I love all three of them and the only change I would think of making is a higher gear ratio on my MX __________________

06-20-2007, 02:20 PM	#1
SHARK BAIT Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WILMINGTON CA Posts: 66	I like to use avitt, single and two speeds their warrienty is one of the best. they are a little heavy but they free spool for days and they take a beating. they are also in your budget. let me know when you are going to lj, i dont live to far from you so maybe we could carpool.

06-20-2007, 03:20 PM	#3
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	I've wasted alot of money on reels with 5-2-1 gear ratio and lower, You just reel and reel to gain 10 feet of line ! Higher gear ratio 6-2-1 gets the fish to the boat faster .