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Message Subject: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

curleytail

Posted 9/19/2011 11:26 AM (#517139)
Subject: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 2687

Location: Hayward, WI

Here's a dumb question...

I haven't done much sucker fishing in the past. Have been doing a little more this year, and have one question.

I've been using an Okuma Magda on one of my sucker rods. This reel has what I think is a pretty light clicker. With the spool tension cranked tight and the clicker on, even a 12" or so sucker can take a fair amount of line out of they really try, and a 16 incher with a couple bell sinkers will pay line out pretty steadily. My solution is to leave the reel engaged, and back the drag off to nothing. It works but is a bit of a pain to have to tighten the drag back down when a fish hits.

I've also used a Okuma Induron. This reel actually has a little heavier clicker, and holds suckers pretty well. Still, I was running an approx 16" sucker over the weekend, and a few times it went scooting down to the bottom, taking maybe 8 feet of line out each time it did this. With this reel, there was still a fair amount of tension with the drag backed all the way off.

What do most guys do when running medium to large suckers? Deal with a sucker taking off now and then? Leaving the reel engaged and use the drag?

I have a Gander Mountain line counter that seems to have a fairly heavy clicker I think I will try next time out...

Tucker

MartinTD

Posted 9/19/2011 11:31 AM (#517140 - in reply to #517139)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 1141

Location: NorthCentral WI

I use back up C3's and very seldom have the sucker take line itself. Once in a while it'll drag bottom a bit, grab a weed, and click a few feet out. Otherwise, never had a problem.

tuffy1

Posted 9/19/2011 11:38 AM (#517142 - in reply to #517140)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 3240

Location: Racine, Wi

If I'm using my Magdas, I usually loosen the drag all the way up and that keeps those suckers from peeling line off. The fish can take the meat with no resistance as well. The only thing is, you have to remember to tighten the drags up before setting the hook though :). The convectors work very nice for meat. They have very loud clickers too.

vegas492

Posted 9/19/2011 11:47 AM (#517145 - in reply to #517139)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 1037

I use my C4's, Revo's, Calcutta TE, Luna, 400B...etc. I found that the clicking on the TE isn't so good.

I usually back the drag way off and set the reel to click. When it gets hit, lock that drag up, put your thumb on the spool and set the hook.

It isn't very hard to do it that way. And for my two cents worth...the Revo has a great clicker. I'll be replacing those C4's with Torros in the near future.

BNelson

Posted 9/19/2011 12:57 PM (#517163 - in reply to #517139)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Location: Contrarian Island

i have a fleet of Convector 20 size line counters on my sucker rods....very loud clickers and you can crank them down well for bigger suckers... 70 bucks on ebay

curleytail

Posted 9/20/2011 9:51 PM (#517488 - in reply to #517139)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 2687

Location: Hayward, WI

Thanks guys. Sounds like it's pretty common for just the clicker to not hold a sucker. It's not a huge issue locking the drag down, but it would be nice to have the drag preset how I want, flip the lever, and nail 'em. I might have to look into picking up a Convector or two next year. I should do more trolling than I do anyway and could justify a couple new reels for that reason.

Tucker

NateOz

Posted 9/21/2011 7:57 AM (#517523 - in reply to #517488)
Subject: Re: Dumb Question - Sucker Reels

Posts: 400

Location: North/Central WI

I use Abu 7000's...I just leave my reel in freespool and tighten the freespool tension if the sucker can pull line. This way you can just engage the reel and set...no need to tighten the drag. I run some pretty big suckers at times and have never had a problem with one being able to pull line when the tension is set properly.

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