downrigger reels..what to buy?

[Islandgirl]

I am looking to buy some new salmon reels for my boat. I want a drag system on them. Any suggestions?

[Roe Bags]

Islander's

Big Bags

[kelly]

I like those daiwa mooching reels and they are pretty cheap 75$!

beachcomber NANOOSE

[wolf]

Shimano 4000 cheap and they last long but if you have the money of course islanders or theres a new reel on the market by trophy called a tyee i have used them now for about month nothing wrong with them so far but its still isnt proven for a time line yet let you know of any problems i was told first to take it apart and grease the clicker which i did so far no problems time will tell
Good luck wolf

[Rodbender]

If you want an easy-to-use unit then look at the Shimano TR Charter Specials-the TR1000LD is easily big enough, built like a tank and very well engineered-smooth as butter on the drag.
The price has recently dropped and the lever drag makes downrigging a breeze.

If $C220 apiece is too much then look at the TR 100G it's a star drag unit like that a friend of mine owns-again well built and economical with very smooth operation.

The single action models as recommended here are to my taste clumsy and old fashioned as well as tedious to use when downrigging.

http://www.shimano.com

[Eagle Eyes]

level winds take half the skill and most of the fun out of landing a nice slab- I know because my friend has one and all you do is wind. It's nothing compared to those reel handles screeming out and it is just a more fun experiance for me. after all if we wanted salmon just for food you can just go buy it- a lot cheaper then getting all the gear.

[Steelheadman_04]

level winds are horrible they are the worth things ever they should not exist... the shimano 2000 and 4000 mootching reels are definatly the way to go, and yes if you have the money get the islander ones there gold!

[wolf]

There are several problems with level lines up here in canada
First problem: As a person who fishes alot the level winds cannot take the abuse of use that i put them under they just simply blow up and I know wash them with fresh water every day and lossen off the drag! yada yada yada.
Second problem: With us using barbless hooks when you "PUMP" the rod I see so many fish lost because of it I find it rather amusing when I see all these americans come up here and use them and lose lots of fish kudos to them
Third: Its tradition up here to use a single action reels dating back to the old peetz reels days it doesnt take long to master these reels its just practise they also are not clumsy once you know what your doing and i personally think its way more fun to reel in a fish then with a coffee grinder (sorry rodbender)
Now having said that I think using a level wind for halibut are the only way to go I use the penn 340 because of its gear ratio, different fish needs different reels bringing a halibut up from 250 ft down on a single action reel of course would be hard they also come up from right under the boat where salmon are from way back from the boat totally different angles. On swiftsure i dont even take the rod out of the rod holder your there for one reason catch your fish and get going I know not sporting but its the truth people cant handle it much more than that with Cod,dogfish,hali they get tired easily.
Just go out and see how many level wind reels there are to single action reels along the west coast i bet you it would be 95 % single action
Good luck Wolf

[mr.dean]

Carol:

A couple of years ago I happened to forget 2 of my rigs at home, allready well into my trip I stopped into Wally-World for a look see. I ended up buying a couple of cheep combo,s. The rods I didn't care for at all but the reels worked just fine. I can't recall the exact names of them but they're the mooching type w/ the fancy drag system simular to the Diawa M-1's I left at home. I liked them so much they now replace those M-1's in the rod holders. the 3rd season using them and no problems just a little grease now and again and 2/4 M1's are failing(drag systems not working properly),someone told me they need new washers. They are only a few months older with half the use. The name is Royal something or other, they're dark brown and hold 495 yrds. of 20 or 25lb. test(the decals are all worn off). Level winds, I have several different makes, they dont seem to like water much. Most every year I need to replace washers in them but novice fisher-persons like them for the no-brainer aspect, so therefor I keep them on the boat. The Wally-World specials are priced under $70, probably the cheapest out there but I'm not sure.

Good luck

Good luck and greater fish'n.

[kelly]

I agree with eagle eyes you cant feel fish with level wind. There is no better feeling than a big spring taking off with a knuckle buster screaming<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

beachcomber NANOOSE