Ice Reels

[drewbop]

i need to upgrade my old gmtn reels with something that will work a little better in the cold weather while panfishin'. what would everyone suggest i purchase?

[EBass]

Shimano or Abu Garcia has my vote. 30-40 bucks - I got mine at Thorne Bros, but can't remember the model.

[PerchJerker]

My personal favorites are my Abu Garcias Cardinals and Quantums, I've got a few of both and have been very happy with them. I also got "talked into" buying a cabelas fish eagle reel and really like it, since then I've added another fish eagle and a prestige. All the reels I use are smooth, don't get stiff in the cold, and have easy reliable drags even with 2 and 3 lb line. Can't say that for many of the other reels I've tried.

[kevfish1]

Nothing but tica cetus for me

[Craigums]

Lots of people on this site are fans of the "Tica" line of reels, Ive tried them and they are not bad. However, the best ice reel I've used to date is the Plueger President. Its a blue reel and runs about $40-$50, I will be buying a few more at the ice show!

[lutzy]

However, the best ice reel I've used to date is the Plueger President. Its a blue reel and runs about $40-$50, I will be buying a few more at the ice show!

+1

I also love them for soft water as well. I have 3 different sizes that I use for different applications in open water.

[OnAFly]

I'll second the Pflueger President, very nice reel. Holds up to light line very well. And most importantly, looks nice

[DonBo]

Nothing but tica cetus for me

It's my understanding that the TICA line uses a dry lube instead of oil in it's gears making them a much better choice in cold weather. I have 3 TICAs and love them.

[bobbymalone]

It's my understanding that the TICA line uses a dry lube instead of oil in it's gears making them a much better choice in cold weather. I have 3 TICAs and love them.

what keeps you from cleaning the oil off your reels and re lubing them with a dry lube for cold weather?

[Dark Cloud]

I'll second the Pfluegers also. I have tried a TON of diff small panfish sized reels and really like the smallest Pflueger Trion. For 30$ it is hard to beat. The Presidents are even nicer but the smallest president is a bit bigger than the smallest trion, if your looking for "panfish small"...

I know there are alot of Tica fans out there and maybe I got two lemons, but the drags were good not great...

Last year for a gift I recieved a Shimano symetre and that thing is beyond nice. But they also run 100 bills.

Between my dad and myself we have about 8 Trions and no issues at all...

[DonBo]

what keeps you from cleaning the oil off your reels and re lubing them with a dry lube for cold weather?

Nothing stopping you, but who does?

[slipperybob]

The 20 size president is basically the same as the 20 size trion. Identical spool size from what I can see.

[buzbunni]

what keeps you from cleaning the oil off your reels and re lubing them with a dry lube for cold weather?

The fact that it's a hassle?

Like many of you, I have several different reel types, and have been happy with most. Both the Tica's and the Abu Cardinal reels that I have perform well.

I have several Shimano reels, and I like them for open water, but I don't think I will ever use them again for ice angling.

Last year I purchased two of the "old style" (before the most recent redesign) Shimano symetre 750 reels that were on sale. Nice reels; only one problem: the way that the bail/roller was designed always caught the bobber stop as it came through the roller. Annoying to say the least! Both of these reels have since been re-assigned to open water ultra-light duty, and are performig well in that capacity.

Because of this experience, I now take a good look at the roller assembly of any spinning reel that I purchase; especially those that are destined for hardwater assignment. The Tica's and the Cardinals have performed well thus far, and so I will be sticking with them until further notice.

[bobbymalone]

Nothing stopping you, but who does?

I have when I had a reel start freezing up on me. It's not as huge a hassle as what you might think. Spinning reels aren't that complicated.

[buzbunni]

I have when I had a reel start freezing up on me. It's not as huge a hassle as what you might think. Spinning reels aren't that complicated.

Do you have to pull all the gears out to clean them? Or do you just wipe them clean while they are in place?

What kind of dry lube do you use?

[munchy71]

Nothing stopping you, but who does?

I always do, and so do most others that I fish with. Seemed like standard practice to me. I mean...why wouldn't you, really???

-Munchy

[DTro]

I had a really hard time pulling apart an Abu 100 or 101 or whatever it is to clean up a bit.

Not really built to be taken apart (with all the plastic housing and components). I finally got it, but after the hassle, I looked at my other 4 and said.....meh if it fails I'll buy a new one.

I'm sure there are better reels, but for the price they work good, and remember all we are doing is letting line down the hole reeling it back up.

It's not NASA, and to me the most important thing is a reliable and smooth drag.

[bobbymalone]

meh, if it's built to be put together it was built to come apart.

I have only done it with one reel that was giving me problems. I took it completely apart using an exploded diagram from the manufacturer.

I used some sort of dupont teflon something or another. It's been going strong for a while now.

[Fred_Bear]

I have gander ice reels that froze up the first times using them. I replaced the grease with quantum hot sauce oil and they've been fantastic ever since. I highly recommend the Hot Sauce lubricant.

[buzbunni]

I don't have any real (ha!) desire to disassemble my reels and re-lube them every hardwater season. Like dtro implies, sometimes it just ain't worth the trouble.

No worries with my little (some cheap; some not so cheap) panfish reels and the like.

I have used the Quantum Hot Sauce on a couple of reels (both summer and winter), and it seems to perform well enough.

My only consideration in terms of making sure my reels were lubed properly for sub-zero conditions would be if I were to make that dream trip hunting for trophy Lakers up in Canada or the like.

I lube my reels as needed, but as I am usually angling in the shelter when things get uncomfortably cold outside, I don't worry too much about them failing on me.

There. Now I've officially jinxed myself .

[fishwater]

The 20 size president is basically the same as the 20 size trion. Identical spool size from what I can see.

The microspin 4410 is quite a bit smaller than the trion 4520 - possibly the smaller reel darkcloud refers to? I like the small pflueger reels.

[tsande00]

Hmmmm, I must be doing something wrong because I buy the cheapest darn rod reel combos I can find (HT) and I've never had a problem with one on the ice. I toss them in the bucket in the spring and they sit until winter - zero maintenance. They all crank up line just fine and lower my line down the hole just fine.

Of course it's only been a few years since I upgraded from "jiggle sticks", so maybe I'm just catching up to the times.

I played around with one of the fancy reals at GM and it sure did feel smooth. Might splurge and buy myself one of these fancy reels so I can fit in with the cool kids.

[muc33]

Abu Garcia Cardinal 300U and some 100U's are my go to. Love them.

[harvey lee]

I agree with Mucc33. I have many Tica's and have been happy with them but I like the Abu reels better. They seem to have a smoother drag Not bad on the pocket book either.

I may be lucky but I do not take apart my ice reels and clean them. I use them probably more than most and I have yet to have 1 issue.

[rugbymn]

The Presidents are even nicer but the smallest president is a bit bigger than the smallest Trion, if your looking for "panfish small"...

I read this and it got me curious. I have both and my President is definitely smaller than my Trion. I also happen to prefer the Pres over the Trion by a wide margin.

Not to be nitpicky, but this is how they stack up according to the Pflueger HSOforum:

President Micro (6720X)

- 8 bearings

- 5.2:1 gear ratio

- 6.4 oz total weight

Trion 4520GX

- 6 bearings

-5.2:1 gear ratio

- 6.5 oz total weight

As you can see, other than the number of bearings, they're essentially identical.

Another good ice reel is the Mitchell Avocet II. I like mine almost as much as I like my Pflueger President.