Line counter reels

[pollock-a-lope]

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

[Madd Matt]

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

I prefer and use Okuma Convectors. There are plenty of boats running Okuma, and plenty running Daiwa.

-Matt

[pimplepounder]

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.

[jdff21]

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

[Madd Matt]

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.

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

[cycleguy]

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.

[pimplepounder]

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

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

[Madd Matt]

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

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

[sherman51]

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.

[RIPNLIP]

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.