|
|
Posts: 3147
| out this weekend in Minn very cold below freezing,,all 400s and all 500s just cant hang when its a freezing temp all locked up partners did too, Lexa and saltist fared a lot better. If you use your tranx in this type of weather be very carefull with maintaining your level wind and worm gear and if you run or set them down make sure the level wind is in center of spool. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | Yes. I keep several of the Daiwa Saltists just for freezing conditions, they are bullet proof. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 419
Location: MN | What model Saltist is that? I've had a similar experience with the Tranx - great reel for basically any other muskie casting use. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1415
Location: Brighton CO. | Years ago had a fellow come stay at my house to fish Tigers and he told me of a story fishing late fall below zero air temps and his reel freezing up and locking up and losing a 45 pound Muskie because the fish pulled jointed Depth Raider in two. (this was in the 90's when the Raiders were in there prime). Not sure of reel type or line test. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | nar160 - 11/14/2022 8:56 AM
What model Saltist is that? I've had a similar experience with the Tranx - great reel for basically any other muskie casting use.
Saltist LW 20
(Levelwind)
Black ones are better, silver ones were good too. |
|
| |
|
| When picking up a reel I had in for routine maintenance from Matt's Reel service this spring, I mentioned I had recently purchased a Daiwa Prorex reel with the TW line guide and that I was a little concerned about using it when the weather got cold. He said he had not seen any issues and that he thought the TWS line guide could actually help because the line guide does not get as closed to side plate due to the shape of the TW. He said that is where the ice build up normally starts. Did not test this year, put my boat away a little earlier. But, thought that was an interesting take on that design. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20221
Location: oswego, il | As someone who's done quite a bit of fishing at and below freezing there are many things to consider. Get the driest like possible like 832. The wetter the line the more water you bring into the reel. The levelwind guide also plays a part as to how much water/ice gets peeled off as it comes into the spool. The week spot for reels below freezing temps is the levelwind pawl and gear. I've broken both many times. The best reel for that is the original Garcia reels with the wire line guide. The downside if you catch a fish the spool freezes because there is more water there. A reel that peels off more ice you are constantly fighting ice at the edges of the levelwind travel and you will be frequently picking it out as well as from the hole the line goes through. Once you feel moisture freezing inside the reel stop using it. This is the time of year to have many spares in the boat. I will often swap them out keeping them in my coat pocket to thaw. At 32 slush is coming off the line. At 31 it's soft ice and by 28 it's ice. By the time you get to 25 it's very hard to keep up with the ice forming on the rod and reel.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 224
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | I had the same situation in Minneapolis this weekend. Had the level wind lock up on my 400 and put down the 500 right before it happened. If I did more casting in freezing temps I would for sure look into one of the saltwater shimanos without a level wind |
|
| |
|
Posts: 665
Location: Twin Cities, MN | Pretty sure Matt from Matt's reels did an article in Musky Hunter a couple of years back where he discussed which reels are best for cold weather and it all came down to the level wind system used. I think the Saltist and old Abu 6500's came out best, will try to track the article down.
Paulski |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1270
Location: E. Tenn | Pal - 11/15/2022 7:43 AM
Pretty sure Matt from Matt's reels did an article in Musky Hunter a couple of years back where he discussed which reels are best for cold weather and it all came down to the level wind system used. I think the Saltist and old Abu 6500's came out best, will try to track the article down.
Paulski
Musky Hunter Oct./Nov/ 2019 issue, Pg. 22...
I don't know how to post the article (or even if copyright law allows it). |
|
| |
|
Posts: 753
| FWIW... If you can get your hands on a 700TE (not made any more) it is IMHO the best cold weather reel. I have never had one ice up. I have literally casted for hours in freezing weather and they chew up and spit out ice. I only use them in freezing weather; the 500 is an otherwise superior reel. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 663
| As an experiment a couple years back I tried using Blue Lube or Frabill Sub Zero on the worm gear. That's the stuff you use to lube tip-ups. It seemed to work well and avoided that issue of having the worm gear and pawl freezing up. After the season was over I just completely cleaned that stuff out.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 530
Location: NW WI | That's a great idea Pete. I'll have to try that. I used Reel Snot on my spools the nights b4 I went out, it's not a miracle worker but I did see a reduction in icing. Some more food for thought, my Cashion rods with micro guides faired far better than my Chaos Swat or TI XXH. Those micro guides although take less ice to ice up, they must be better at squeegeeing water off. Also, for those of you that like 832 for freezing, I highly recommend their new 131. |
|
| |
Tranx's just cant handle 32 degrees and minus