Folks, are there any decent line counter reels under $100.00 other than the Daiwa 27 series ?
Looking to upgrade from a pair of Cabelas reels.
Thanks!
Lope
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Folks, are there any decent line counter reels under $100.00 other than the Daiwa 27 series ?
Looking to upgrade from a pair of Cabelas reels.
Thanks!
Lope
Ditto's With Madd Matt. I have the Okuma Convectors and the Magda pros. You have to get them spooled right so the line count is accurate but they all are this way. Several seasons no problems.
Not to take business away from the site but fishusa has some great deals.
I am also looking to pick up a couple of combo sets looking at cabelas they have have quite a few models rod lenth - action med -heavy what would you recomend realy have no budget just want to get the right set up thanks guys
We run Diawa's for walleye on Erie & for Salmon on Ontario. If they can stand up to the 1st run of a 20-30lb King Salmon they can handle a 7-12 lb walleye. I live within 1 1/2 hours of Cabelas in WV. And I've seen too many of their Cabelas line counters in the "bargain cave" that it makes me a little on the cautious side to purchase one. If you're going to spend the money for a Cabelas, what's a few extra dollars? We used to run Okuma's & they ran good. The only problem was their life expectancy didn't seem to last over 6-8 years. After that we would start to see problems with the drag sticking, line counter not working & so on. Even with tearing them down, cleaning & regreasing them regularly.
Pimple Pounder, I have a few Magda pros in my mix as well... I started with the Magda pros and then started slowly switching to Convectors. They are both good reels. However, when you have been reeling in on Convectors all day, and then grab the rod with that Magda Pro it is night and day difference and you notice right away. I finally bought enough Convectors to get all 18 rods switched over and use the Magda Pros as backup. I like both of them.
-Matt
I started with Convectors by a high recommendation from a MI retailer that knew a ton about trolling. Not having used others, I can say I love mine. Use them for pulling off shore boards on mono, up to small spoons for shallow salmon early in the year. I have bigger 40 series ones for lead core, and like them all. After hooking up with say a big brown trout on ten pound mono, and having a board out 120', the 30 series can be a little small feeling… but only when compared to the bigger 40's. Biggest thing, run them nice and full. Gives you better retrieval speeds, and if all kept the same, more accurate measurements for multiple lines out.
I use Okuma Classic Pro GLT Downrigger Rods in medium light 7'6" for everything. Seems light, but I can run dipsies, light walleye gear or whatever, and they are like $30 each.
My first choice is of course Tekota 300 by Shimano, I realize those are out of your desired price range. I also have 4 Okuma Coldwater reels that I use when there are 3 or more on board. They are very nice reels that can be had for around $90.00. I have had 0 issues with the Okuma reels.
Before the Coldwater reels I used the Convector reels for several seasons. I sold them when I got the Tekota reels and the Convectors were every bit as reliable as the Coldwater reels. They are still in use today as a friend of mine bought them. So for the money I don't think you would be disappointed in the Okuma line. I just cannot recommend the Okuma Magda Pro reels as they fit in on the bottom of the starter reels.
I run the Ugly Stix GX 2 model # USCA701M by Shakespeare, I have 8 of these and have no complaints. I run 4 with the Shimano Tekota reels and 4 with the Okuma Coldwater reels.
http://www.uglystik.com/uglystik-rod...6.html#start=2
I have been told that Okuma makes/made Cabelas line counter reels. True/false ???? They look an awful lot alike.
Just like you I have heard the same thing! They remind me of the Magda Pro line of Okuma reels. I know that at one time they did not repair them if they went bad, but replaced them if they were still under warranty. I stayed away from them years ago when I first bought line counter reels. My first set of line counters were none other than the Magda Pro's. I used them for a few seasons and upgraded to the Convectors, there is no comparison between the 2. Daiwa makes several models of the Cabelas brand spinning reels and they all seem to be an excellent product for the money. So with that being said we still don't know any more than when we started.
Matt,
You are right about the Convector's being better. It sounds like you have a lot of rods to keep filled. I do not troll very much when by myself or with a couple of my die hard fishing buddies, but when I take some out who do not fish to much or just want to get some fish to eat you can't beat it. I know it takes a lot of skill to be good at trolling and know how it all works together. I use a lot nicer reels for baitcasting and spinning. That would get pretty pricey filling 18 rods with $300.00 reels. :)
Kent
Okuma 303D reels. End of story
I use the daiwa accudepth plus adp17lc reels and the okuma convector 20lc reels and I have nothing bad to say about either reel. but I did replace the paddle handles on the daiwa reels with the power handles. the convectors I bought came with both handles. but either reel is below 100.00. I also have the daiwa sealine sg17lca reels and they've been bullet proof.
I have all Daiwa line counters 2 old black sides 4 accu depth silver 27- 6 47sl line counters never had any problems some are at least 14 yrs old. I use US cal 1102 and cal1100 m for everything, when the Ugly Stik cal series was being discontinued I bought 6 for $21.99@from Shakespeares site.I would buy Daiwa accu depth 27lc again I don't know anything about the others.
Diawa used to make the Cabelas depthmasters. Had both and they are the same. Diawa Sealines are better
My two cents:
I have purchased several Pinnacle set-ups from Cabela's. Both spinning and bait caster, also fish eagle rods which I liked. From looking at them and comparing them I could tell they the reels were Diawa products with slight variations. Upon a year or so though I would find that Cabela's would no longer support parts for the reels, and I also found that they were slightly different than model numbers that Diawa offered so the parts were not quite the same either. It made it difficult to know if you were getting the part you needed for sure. It happened to me enough that I will not buy another Cabela's named reel ever again. They are priced pretty good from the start, but after the series warranty is gone my experience is you will be buying another one because of a spring, screw, bushing, etc. is "No longer available" If you look at Diawa brand equipment most of their items are supported in parts much longer.
Kent
All of my trolling rods are Cabela's Brand with Cabela's Depthmaster Reels. I have 6 sets, 5 with mono/fluorocarbon and one with leadcore. I also have 3 spare reels ready to go. I bought all nine reels in the Bargain Cave in Dundee over the years. I've only had one crap out (its one of the three "spares") I keep it around for parts. I've had to fix a few now and again, but with all 9 reels, I've never paid over $25 for a single reel. For the rods, in some cases, I bought the combo in the cave, but most cases, I've bought the rods separate. Usually about once or twice per year, the cabelas depthmaster rods go on sale and that's when I've grabbed them.
I only troll 4 rods at a time out of my boat as I only have an 18' Polar Kraft, anything more starts to border on a Cluster.... So I rotate my equipment. In addition, I only get out to the Big Lake a couple dozen times per year for trolling due to job, kids, smallmouth bass in N. Michigan, etc... . If I were a full time pro or a charter captain, I'd definitely go with upgraded equipment.
Therein it says it all!
You rotate your equipment so none of it gets used all the time, fewer trips also means even less use per setup so it lasts much longer without issues and at a much reduced cost! Each outfit cost less than a stand alone reel purchase of higher quality and that is without the cost of a rod. It leaves more fun money available for other more pertinent equipment such as cranks if you use them, more harness components and or more spoons if you use those as well as divers and wts.
A very good use of resources for the amount and type of fishing you do. Good advice on, if you fish allot more then upgraded equipment might be the best investment. So newbies and part timers take note this man has it together.
Not sure about that, more like the consummate cheap @zz, but thanks for the compliment:cool::cool:.
I swung through Cabelas this evening on the way home. There was one Cabela's Depthmaster reel in the bargain cave for $18.50 labeled as a return. It had a few scuffs on it, but otherwise worked fine. There were two Diawa line counters marked down $20 to about $87 and one Okuma counter, but I forgot what the price was. I didn't see any trolling rods in the cave, but the Depthmaster rods in the fishing dept were all between $42-$46.
Polar Eyes
I call it like I see it!
Believe it or not you gave some very good advice for those who don't get a chance to fish the big lake as often as other people do. The idea here is to get out on the water no matter where it may be and have fun, success is measured not in what you use to have fun with but being thankful for the opportunity to have that successful outdoor experience. I am sure the fish do not have any idea that they were caught with a $25.00 reel or a $175.00 reel. I also know who ever catches their limit could care less how much that reel actually cost, it is about the fun and experience.
I am trying to say that no one should ever be ashamed to use what ever fits their circumstances, be it budget, preference or needs. I know fishermen that have to have the best of everything just to keep up with the Kardashians. It does not make them better fishermen or more successful and they do not have any more fun than the next guy. What puts fish in the cooler is experience combined with some luck while having fun!
It took me 3 years to switch all the reels, and I must admit that the last 4 I bought used from a charter captain that was switching out Convectors for Okuma Coldwaters. I keep that many rods so when I tangle one side of the boat I can bring the line in the boat, cut it off, put those rods in the rocket launchers, and put the new ones out... lol. I can't troll 18 rods... well, I "can" but I might as well just go buy a 1,500yd spool of PowerPro 30 and throw it away!
-Matt
Oh i didnt figure you trolled that many. What you do makes perfect sence. Get a mess sometimes its much easier to just pull them in and send out another. You can fix it later.
HMMM, Kinda like, " I only use the fine china when we have company " syndrome !!:o