Fishing Reels

[adsm08]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good LD panfish reel? I got a Zebco Micro33 trigger release reel cheap about a year ago and I really like it, but it locked up just in time for my "big" trip. I don't use this rod for anything heavy, and I'm not real big into fishing. I have a canoe that't been in the family for almost 40 years, and a few rods. Go maybe 3 or 4 times a year, but I do want a reel that will last. Just looking for some opinions on ones you guys have used.

 

[Curious Hound]

Reel?

Last time I went fishing (12 years ago) I used a cane pole, about 10-15ft of line, a small bobber, a hook and a box of live crickets. Actually, I was teaching my girlfriend's 5 yr old daughter how to fish that day.

The girlfriend eventually got away.

This message composed solely of recycled electrons. Go green!

 

[Dirtman]

Switch to a spinning reel and get out of dark ages lol. Just kidding. But seriously check out the tica cetus ss\sb 500. Ive had 2 for 10 years or so that have had the crap kicked out of them and still work great. They are perfect size for panfish but can handle much bigger fish, ive caught some impressive trout on mine. They are fairly cheap as well. Think I only paid 30 each for mine.

 

[Craig0320]

Anything Quantum spinning reels.

 

[adsm08]

I would prefer to stay away from any sort of open faced or spinning reels. I really don't like them much. I understand the various advantages of them, but all my various attempts to use them over the years have ended in failure.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I only use open spinner reels now.

My current one (probably 10 years old by now) is a Mitchel.

I had a lightweight Shakespeare combo that was all enclosed during my Boy Scout days. I loved the rig but it got to where it would only cast like 4'. I caught my first trout on that pole. I was going to pick up a new reel for for it but snagged a lightweight spinner on sale for $10 at Cabelas.

I like the open ones, much less to go wrong for casting and it is basically a winch to real them in. And if you have a kerfuffle it is all open and exposed to deal with it.

My last Zebco (going back a long ways now) loved to turn itself into a rats nest under the cap. Not coincidentally it was also my last Zebco.

 

[adsm08]

The problem for me, with open faced reels, is that the require a level of coordination that most people take for granted, but that I cannot achieve.

The other thing is that they don't seem to lock down as well. My dad has only open faced reels, and we both usually just hook our hooks on a guide, reel it tight, and put the pole back in the car when we head home. Mine are always still tight, unless something hits my release. His are always slack when we get home.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I hate snagging crap with hooks so I just cut the lure off and use the little holder thing on the spool.

 

[adsm08]

I hate snagging crap with hooks so I just cut the lure off and use the little holder thing on the spool.

Yeah, I try hard not to cut my stuff off the lines because re-tying my lures is also very difficult.

 

[adsm08]

Well I ended up getting a Shakespear reel that is superficially very similar to the one I am replacing, but the mechanism inside seems to be much better built.

I guess I'll see how it works in a few days. Tomorrow is probably going to be spent sanding a new project for paint, most of Friday will probably be spent on the lake.

 

[91stranger]

Sounds like you need to do some more fishing if you cant operate an open face. I could see struggling with fly fishing or bait masters but open faces are really simple and have a lot let problems than the cheap push button zebco's. I've had a few open face poles for 12+ years with no issues. restring them every year and a little oil and I catch everything from largemouth bass to big catfish.

 

[adsm08]

Sounds like you need to do some more fishing if you cant operate an open face. I could see struggling with fly fishing or bait masters but open faces are really simple and have a lot let problems than the cheap push button zebco's. I've had a few open face poles for 12+ years with no issues. restring them every year and a little oil and I catch everything from largemouth bass to big catfish.

I've been using one I had with an open face reel. I am getting the hang of it, but still having some trouble.

This year has kind of sucked with the heat. I am kinda concentrating on other stuff right now, getting my work done, and I'll get back to fishing when it cools off at the end of September.

I did restring that screwed up Zeb with a heavier line, and it seems to be working again.