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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | I am looking to spend significant time developing my trolling skills next season. I plan to do a mix of planer and down-rod trolling at speeds ranging from very slow up to over 5mph. Line capacity by itself is not much concern. Which of these reels will give the best bang for the buck? Any of them you think I should stay away from?
Daiwa Sealine (27 vs 47?)
Shimano Tekota A 500
Daiwa Lexa Line Counter (300 vs 400?)
Okuma Convector 30
Okuma Convector Low Profile 354
Thanks! Always appreciate those with experience that chime in here!
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Posts: 341
Location: Western U.P. | All of the reels that you have listed are solid products, and you wouldn't go wrong with any of them. The best bang for your buck would probably be the round Convectors, followed by the Sealines. I've used Convectors, and they work fine. I currently use 17 & 27 Sealines. Some people prefer giant trolling reels, but in my opinion, the 40 size and up aren't really necessary... even for big deep divers. I've never had problems pulling Plows with a 30 size troller, but if it makes you feel better... go bigger. I've been looking at Okuma Coldwaters for a while, and will probably pick one up to run this year. You don't have that one on your list, but it's worth considering. I also know several people that use Okuma Magda's, and swear by them. They're inexpensive, and seem to be a solid product. If you can, get to one of the fishing shows this season (or a good Musky shop), and hold as many as possible to see which ones fit best... in your hand, your budget, where and what you'll be trolling, etc. Good luck. |
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Posts: 20180
Location: oswego, il | All good but yuu only need a 27 sealine and a 20 convector. |
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Posts: 1203
Location: Walker, MN | Any of those will work fine. I like the Coldwaters. |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I had good luck with Penn squall 20’s. I have one more I would sell. It was new, I put line on it for a spare and put it in my reel case in the boat. |
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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | Thanks for the advice and information, folks. The reason I listed the ones I did is that they are the ones to which I have ready access. You've put a few others on my radar.
Others are welcome to chime in as well, if there are more opinions out there. Again, I really appreciate people offering their insight and experience. |
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Posts: 2236
Location: SE, WI. | It appears your going to get a lot of opinions here. I love my Shimano ;Tekota’s……500. Bit pricey, but in my opinion worth it! I’ve used magdas and sealine 47 lc’s, and had issues with both. Rarely a problem W/ Shimanos. I guess; it will depend on how much time you spend trolling, as to how long the reels hold up. Will you troll 35 hours a season, or 500+??? My Tekotas held up well over the years! JD |
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Posts: 426
| Oakuma cold water or I've had good luck with 6500c3 line counters also. Plus with the Abu Garcia is parts availability. Oakum are great but had problems getting parts last season |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Okuma parts are always hard to come by. There are very few places online that carry them. Penn reels are owned by the same parent company so their availability is similar. Shimano parts are the best for availability and pricing. Abu is a close second. Daiwa ran really long lead times before Covid. |
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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | jdsplasher - 1/11/2022 2:43 PM
Will you troll 35 hours a season, or 500+??? My Tekotas held up well over the years! JD
For reference, my log says I fished a bit over 400 hours total last season. I estimate I will troll about 1/3 of the time next season. Maybe that gives a little idea of the durability I would require…
Thanks again! |
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Posts: 82
| If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel. |
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Posts: 20180
Location: oswego, il | Steve Le Maitre - 1/12/2022 1:38 PM
If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel.
And round ones too. |
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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | Steve Le Maitre - 1/12/2022 1:38 PM
If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel.
I'm a Folbe guy. |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Folbe holders are awesome. I run 6 in my boat and have never had one problem. I fish about 150 days a year. I don’t count hours. |
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Posts: 82
| ToddM - 1/12/2022 1:51 PM
Steve Le Maitre - 1/12/2022 1:38 PM
If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel.
And round ones too.
If the reel fits in I don’t struggle at all and there are plenty of reels to choose from.
Also some say a Down East chews up their cork ! I find that strange because the cork should never come into contact with the holder. Do these people know how to use them properly? |
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Posts: 20180
Location: oswego, il | Steve Le Maitre - 1/13/2022 1:06 AM
ToddM - 1/12/2022 1:51 PM
Steve Le Maitre - 1/12/2022 1:38 PM
If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel.
And round ones too.
If the reel fits in I don’t struggle at all and there are plenty of reels to choose from.
Also some say a Down East chews up their cork ! I find that strange because the cork should never come into contact with the holder. Do these people know how to use them properly?
I find all reels and rods hang up in them. I know how to unload them too. Lost fish using them. |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | ToddM - 1/13/2022 4:43 AM
Steve Le Maitre - 1/13/2022 1:06 AM
ToddM - 1/12/2022 1:51 PM
Steve Le Maitre - 1/12/2022 1:38 PM
If you are intending to use Down East holders bear in mind you might struggle with a low profile reel.
And round ones too.
If the reel fits in I don’t struggle at all and there are plenty of reels to choose from.
Also some say a Down East chews up their cork ! I find that strange because the cork should never come into contact with the holder. Do these people know how to use them properly?
I find all reels and rods hang up in them. I know how to unload them too. Lost fish using them.
Same here. A famous Mike Hulbert phrase comes to mind when someone brings up the almighty pot metal rod holders… |
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Posts: 82
| Strange you have a problem getting a rod out of one Todd. How about a Plow on the deep setting- no problem but there is a knack in taking the pressure off as you lift rod out. Yes Oxidation can cause some sticking with them, pop the stainless pin out and remove the cam and whilst you are at it file these small ramps down flush ( these are designed to help open the cam wider to facilitate rod removal as they raise up against the stainless pin, they do nothing ) the bits you then need to polish will be pretty self explanatory. After that they perform like silk.
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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | RyanJoz - 1/12/2022 3:50 PM
Folbe holders are awesome. I run 6 in my boat and have never had one problem. I fish about 150 days a year. I don’t count hours.
I really like my Folbes, but I haven't used any others so I don't have a point of comparison. When I got my first one on order, I was surprised by the material. I expected a more flexible plastic from how people had described them, but it is rigid and robust as hell. So I drove to Thorne Bros and got a second one the next day. The aluminum mounts I attach them to flex more than the rod holders themselves. No problem with Headlocks up over 5mph this past year. I don't really have any baits that pull harder than that (I don't throttle up that high on Mattlocks), so I figure I should be good.
Nothing against Down East at all. I hope they work well for those that use them. But I'm really happy with my Folbes so far. |
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Posts: 60
| I have run the Tekota 500LCs for several years, the prior version round silver/grey color ones before Shimano came out with the current blue color ones with a higher gear ratio. Good reliability and drag control, only complaint is the clickers aren't very loud.
I have used a couple of the Okuma Convector 30D reels for two years, good reliability so far, good drags, nice loud clicker, and large line capacity. More plastic than the Shimano's but the price point reflects that too.
I am in an area where I'm usually trolling baits 10" and under, so I don't have much experience with the 12"-14" baits on those reels. I use the Shimano TDR trolling rods, they have held up well and are inexpensive. I put X-wrap shrink tube over the foam handles and grips on those rods, and it has worked well for durability for in/out of rod holders. Can buy the X-wrap easily on eBay or Amazon, and use a heat gun to shrink it on the rod handles. I'm pretty sure I picked up that tip on this forum, so thanks to others for the info. |
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Posts: 63
| The Sea Lines and Convectors have done well for me but I like the clicker on the Okuma Cold Water.
As for the rod holders - I broke three Down Easts 2 years ago and switched over to Folbe. I've never had an issue with the Big F. |
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Posts: 43
| I use Tekota 500 LC with 8' Denali Bottom Feeder rods ($50.00 a piece) for most applications. I also use a Tekota 600 LC with Thorne Bros 8.6 trolling rods for harder pulling baits (i.e., 12" Headlocks). I too am looking to spend time developing my trolling skills next season due to an upper-extremity issue. I plan to do a mix of in-line planer and using a mast (just picked up off e-bay) w/big boards this season. I am also from Twin Cities area but mostly fish Bemidji area lakes. |
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