Ice Reels

[Dark Cloud]

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.

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My bad. I didnt think Pflueger made the president down to a size "20". Maybe it's a recent addition but ive never seen smaller than a 25 at Gander or Cabelas, and certainly not at any of the local mom n pops...

I know last year when I picked up my dad a Trion 20 for christmas, I remember seeing a president 25 and thinking that would be awesome on a ice walleye rod. As I run mostly President 30's and 35's on my open water rigs and love em!

I have some trion 20's to wear out before needing another ice spinning reel, plus im running alot of fly reels lately on ice. They are about 4 1/2 ounces and have butter smooth drags.

[pulleye16]

pflueger president again

[slipperybob]

Those 20 size Presidents are pretty hard to come by. Just like those Microspin 4410. I've seen one once, but didn't see much size difference in the store package. So I've passed it up.

The 20 size supposedly run about 105 yards for 4# mono and the 4410 runs about 100 yards for 4# mono.

If one wants to save a few more bucks, look at the Shakespeare clones of the Pfleuger reels. For example an Agility 20 size. A Synergy 20UL at 5.6 oz. in the equivalent of the Microspin 4410 size at 6.0 oz.

[Woody61]

I'm kinda the odd man here as I don't have any high dollar reels. I have 2 ABU's which are pretty good but really like my HT 104's and 106's. No problems with line tangle and they have a nice drag system.

[rugbymn]

Those 20 size Presidents are pretty hard to come by.

So you're saying I should have picked up more than one when I found them in the bargain bin for $20 last year?

Yeah, I'm kicking myself too.

[fishuhalik]

i really like my shimano symetres. They're pretty spendy at $75, for the old ones, i'm not sure what the new ones are. I've had mine for 7 years of hard use now and they still work awesome, drag's flawless with minimal line twist.

[JoeB]

DARK CLOUD

I like your comments, I also have tica's and a 25 president for outside R&Ging. I would like to move onto the fly reel thing and would appreciate some help in what you use and costs. Thanks in advance

Joe

[Dark Cloud]

Joe - Iv'e used a few diff fly reels but really like the Okuma SLV and I also run a Ross flystart. They both run 60$. The Ross as landed a ton of trout in the spring and summer plus two winters of panfish and rouge bass and the drag is as good as new. The Okuma is a tad tighter and feels a bit "warmer" in the hand but I havnt gotten the chance to really beat on it yet. I do know a bunch of people that used it last winter with no issues. One nice thing with the SLV is that you can silence it and keep the drag. Some reels you cant silence and that can get bothersome. My Ross clicks on the retrieve but its not very loud.

Heres a few picts...

There are a bunch of diff ways to grip the rod/reel that are real comfortable. Some guys mount the reel way back on the handle, I prefer somewhere around the mid-point. Then I can grip it like a pencil...

Getting a fishing rod out is a car magnet! He loves when I put a feather on the end and play...

Or i'll grip it with a hand on top style, this is nice for quick hooksets and putting a finget on the blank. Also balances out great too.

Thorne Bros offers the Okumas spooled up with backing, line, and ready to go. Or if you live close stop in and handle some.

I grew up flyfishing and love to get "winter use", lol. Plus there are some fun benifits. They are not for everyone or every situation but I find myself useing these rigs alot...

[Rope]

I'm with you Dark Cloud.I like the way the line hangs staight too.I run Ticas also.

[Ed Carlson]

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.

Bingo..I do the same Fred. Nice reels at a fair price.

Another top pick out is the new FRABILL Bro Series Reels, nice system, love the quick fold handles and the option of the two separate depths of the arbors in the spools. Very reasonably priced too.

Designed with ice fishing guru Brian "Bro" Brosdahl.

• 5 plus 1 ball-bearing reel

• Application specific spools (shallow and deep), one for finesse fishing line weights of 1- to5-lb.

and the other for meatier 6- to 12-lb. test

• Infinite anti-reverse

• Multi-disc, front load drag

• Machined aluminum spool

• Sub-Zero® lube for smooth operation in coldest temperatures

• Tapered drag knob for reducing line catch

• L/R ambidextrous handle

• Deluxe quick fold handle

I do the same here too, Re-Lube with Quantum Hot Sauce, slick and smooth at -40...no worries.

[bobbymalone]

lol at the cat dark cloud. i have to go into a locked room if i need to monkey with a fishing pole because the cats go crazy as soon as they see one.

[buzbunni]

and the option of the two separate depths of the arbors in the spools.

Now that is a great idea that's been a long time a comin'

No more loading up the backing on the 2# test spool.

Nice.

[Ed Carlson]

I was wondering the same....what toy he had rigged up on that other rod....just to torment the cat with?

LOL!

Now if he rigs up his Vexilar from the ceiling he can also watch the cat on it...practice time.

HA!!

If I had a cat....admittedly...I would be messing with it too.

Nearly as much fun as jigging for Toads with hookless ice jigs on the sidewalk at night in the summer...man that's a hoot...they never give up...makes me laugh every time watching there fat-[PoorWordUsage] and legs kick'n and then they drop off....and do it all over again..and again..and again.

[Dark Cloud]

The cat(Mack) could be sound asleep anywhere in the house and if I pull line off a reel so the drag makes a click or two, he's right there in seconds.

He likes a small tinfoil ball on the end and thats fun because it is castable. But his favorite is an archery feather on there!

[OnAFly]

Dark Cloud - Ever tried spooling the reel in the reverse direction? I'm trying this this year so that the line comes off the top of the arbor instead of the bottom. I noticed there was quite a bit if friction between the line and the first guide when the rod was loaded heavily. Letting the line come off the top of the arbor reduces that angle and reduces the friction.

I do have to end up reeling backwards, but I figured I'd give it a try this year. If I hate it, I'll switch it up.

[fishguy21]

I agree with you the shimano reels, but I do like them for open water.

[Dark Cloud]

Dark Cloud - Ever tried spooling the reel in the reverse direction? I'm trying this this year so that the line comes off the top of the arbor instead of the bottom. I noticed there was quite a bit if friction between the line and the first guide when the rod was loaded heavily. Letting the line come off the top of the arbor reduces that angle and reduces the friction.

I do have to end up reeling backwards, but I figured I'd give it a try this year. If I hate it, I'll switch it up.

Never tried reversing the line... that would take some getting use to after reeling the "right" way for so long.

When I build my own ice rods I always used a longer framed guide for the first one to cut down on that angle. Now I mostly use Thorne Bros rods and they use a similar type guide.

[erickol]

I dug out some fly reels end of last season, one made it on before ice out and worked great, no line twist. I have a couple of smaller flyreels that are going to be recruited for ice this season. I have a Lamson lp1 that even has a decent drag, perfect pannie reel

[JoeB]

Dark Cloud

Thanks for the reply, think I'll go with a thorne bros set up in either the okuma or cortland, $10 difference in reels, guess that would buy some line.

Joe

[Eric_Kruger]

i had the line reversed on one of my fly reel setups and it was nice, only problem was it was hard to get used to and i kept feeding the fish line instead of pulling them in, so i switched the guts around again and ran it the right way

EK

[OnAFly]

I have the feeling that's what will happen with me too. I used a smaller arbor reel last year so it wasn't a problem with severe angles, but the drag wasn't the best. I switched to one of my better reels, but the arbor is bigger, so the angle is worse. If all goes down the toilet, I'll switch back to the old reel and palm it. I only used these for sight fishing in my porty anyway.

[palisade1kid]

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!

Me too ,but that was after trying so many other reels.

Now that I've been using those presidents in the 6720 & 6725 I've never had any issues like with those other reels.

I fish a lot and for them to stand up year after year....it's what I suggest to others that are looking to get a real dependable reel.

[quijibo]

Aren't the Gander Mountain Tournaments just rebranded Presidents, I'm talking about the UL ice fishing ones?

Adam

[slipperybob]

Aren't the Gander Mountain Tournaments just rebranded Presidents, I'm talking about the UL ice fishing ones?

Adam

From what I can tell, they kind of are. Just not the same quality.

[Northlander]

I think 1 model was at one time but Im not sure now. I have a few different Gander models and most were junk! Only 1 lasted more than a season. I like the Shimano 500 size Sedona and the president as well as Ticas on my smaller panfish rods.