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Teardrop ice reel:


fisherman-andy

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Here we go again. Some of you that didnt dig the design of the Black Betty 6061 may like this...

Specification details:

The New Teardrop Ice Reel delivers everything Ice anglers asked 13 to design. A ultra sleek light composite body surrounds the narrow spool, and Japanese high spin bearings deliver even the lightest ice jigs to the bottom with ease. The push button thumb bar free spool release is easy to use and familiar for any angler that has fished open water. Instant anti-reverse, oversize line window to reduce ice build up, and a ridiculously smooth carbon drag system are all featured in this inline zero line twist design. Join the Teardrop Revolution!

Material: Composite Construction

Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

Drag: Carbon

Anti-Reverse: Instant Stop

Total Bearings: 8BB including 2 Japanese High Spin Spool Bearings

Design: Teardrop Shape

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I sure hope the back side of that reel has an opening otherwise, backlash city...

Why don't we just redesign the rods with spiral wraps and use a decent $50 baitcaster????

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Why don't we just redesign the rods with spiral wraps and use a decent $50 baitcaster????

I've been thinking that very thing,Pacific Bay has an ultra lite handle

and use a graphite or cork straight handle so you can use it in a rod

holder. The spiral wrapped guides would be way kool. Plenty of mini

baitcasters around. whistle

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6.2/1 means pretty fast and not much torque. I would guess 27" per turn or better. Which is not really needed when vertical jigging IMO.

The drag system better be out of this world for that kind of money.

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Anyone actually use these yet? I played with one in the local retailer yesterday and was fairly impressed.

I was all hell-bent to buy the 6061 last year, but after trying it at the ice show last year I was not impressed.

The new model 6061 I tried yesterday was not plagued with the same "issues" I hated in last years model so obviously they fixed those problems.

The teardrop seems like a neat concept, but the price is steep. I tend to prefer spending more money on something if it is superior, but wanted to hear from someone who has actually had a chance to use one of these.

I dont really think there will be an issue with backlashes there is a friction adjustment and its not like you are casting and dealing with wind so I wouldnt be too worried about that.

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The backlash is the one thing about this reel that still has me skeptical. Using the tension adjustment to slow your lure drop down does not seem ideal to me. The whole reason for having free spool on the reel is to get your bait back down quickly. Adjusting it to slow the thing down seems counterproductive. I might just as well pull the line off be hand.

Where I see backlash being an issue is when you get distracted while dropping your bait down. Say you're putting your jigging lure back down and your bobber goes. My natural reaction would be to set the rod in my hand into a holder and grab the bobber rod as quick as possible. By the time I got back to the first rod I'm thinking I might have a big mess. Curious to hear what those running the Teardrops have to say after they've used them awhile.

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If you stop and think about what causes backlash I don't think some of the "flaws" hypothesized will be a real concern. Backlash is caused by the spool spinning faster than the lure is "flying" so to speak. A lure dropping through the water isn't the same as one flying through the air. Your not casting the lure, so that eliminates the biggest cause of backlash, a poor casting technique!I mean a jig/spoon etc is only going to drop at a given rate based on weight and shape/design. Having to adjust the tension so the spool doesn't spin faster than the lure drops isn't going to cause that lure to fall any slower, provided the tension isn't over tightened. I also don't think thee will be a whole lot of adjustment needed if your going from 1/16oz to 1/8oz to 1/4oz. ya know the average size ice fishing lures many of us use. Spool speed cant be that much slower or faster with that small of weight increase, at least I wouldnt think it would.

The one thing that does concern me some, is that if you were to get one, that front window seems pretty small to try picking it out! Thats where it could turn into a pia!

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interesting reel, I like the concept no line twist my question is what does it weigh? high speed gears are not necessary for ice fishing unless you a fishing really deep, could be a problem as far as fighting fish for some as it may be too fast. I would like to try one of these though.

I looked at a fly reel a DH Custom Rods yesterday that was pretty impressive. it had a multiplier like the black betty 6061 but had an aluminum spool. price was also high on this one as well.

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I pre-ordered the teardrop, took it in to have line put on, they said they couldn't spool it in an appropriate amount of time (but I don't think they knew the side door(?)comes off/opens) so I took it back home and did it myself. There is a release button on the side that allows you to remove the entire spool and spindle. It took me about 4-5 minutes to get approx. 300 yrds of line on the reel. So I'm thinkin even if you get a backlash you could be back fishin in a few minutes, as for the free spooling, I put a 1/64th oz. jig head on and let it drop to the floor, after a couple of adjustments to the magnet control knob there was no backlash when the jig hit the floor, it's so far a sweet reel....should be good for my style of fishin anyways... but I need to get it wet to know for sure...

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I see 2 problems. One, you might as well use a baitcaster. Two, being on the bottom like a spinning reel, yet made for your left hand like a baitcaster, it will be very awkward to use. A spinning reel is such a perfect tool for ice fishing, your going to have to do better than hang a fly reel or bait casting reel off a short ice rod.

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I see 2 problems. One, you might as well use a baitcaster. Two, being on the bottom like a spinning reel, yet made for your left hand like a baitcaster, it will be very awkward to use. A spinning reel is such a perfect tool for ice fishing, your going to have to do better than hang a fly reel or bait casting reel off a short ice rod.

They come in righy and lefty I'm sure I'll add one I love my 6061's

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Shark have you handled one yet? If not do so before commenting. I played around with ine in the store and They are no more awkward than a spinning reel. Just use a baitcaster? Well I hate using a casting rod and don't want the line guides on the top because sensitivity sucks. That leaves a spiral wrapped rod as the best option well those are not readily available. For his I or most people hold a rod its ridiculous to consider a traditional baitcaster. I used one for years and it was a PITA. I am going to ask a sales person at scheels to spool one up and give it a trial run like Camozkool did. I honestly don't think back lashing will be this big problem.

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A lure dropping through the water isn't the same as one flying through the air.

Backlashes definitely happen when dropping a jig and not thumbing the spool on a baitcaster. Let it free fall, the spool will keep spinning when the jig hits the bottom. That's where you will see a backlash.

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Yeah I guess I figured most would be smart enough to stop it before it hits bottom and sits there. Guess I dont do that with my spinning reels so wouldnt do it with this one either.

I suppose those fishing without electronics may want to stay away from it if its a concern.

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I guess if you think this strange looking reel performs just like a spinning reel you have a lot of learning to do.

Line twist alone is a major difference. The drag should be considerably better since its a carbon matrix system. Its a lot of money but I will probably give it a shot.

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I'm still not sold on line twist. On my open water rods, my bait caster has just as much line twist as my spinning rods. The reel isn't what does it, a spinning lure does. Generally I find that spinning reels have better drags than an equally priced baitcaster. I do love carbon drags, all my reels have carbontex drag washers from smoothdrag.com. Its like $5-$10 a set.

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Interesting posts to read on here... haha. Has anyone actually used this reel for fishing yet? I know most areas are just starting to freeze over, but I actually used this reel for jigging this fall off the side of the boat. EXCELLENT REEL! It is great for 1/32 jigs all the way to heavier buckshot jigs that I used. I caught everything from sunnies to bass to walleye while jigging, and it handled every fish flawlessly. The 12lb CARBON drag system is soooo smooth, and can handle any fish of decent size. (Handled a 26" walleye with ease) Everything is easily adjusted (Tension, drag, magnet).

As for everyone concerned about the backlash issue: I had one, and it was my fault. I pulled the line off the reel instead of letting the weight of the lure pull the line off. If you're calm and SMART about it, then it will be fine, just don't yank the line off the spool. Lures can sink fast enough without. You can adjust the tension so your lures do not rocket to the bottom, but the back is open to thumb if needed.

For Line Twist: It is a common issue with spinning reels because of the fashion that the bail pulls the line in. When reeling in fast it creates a whiplash on the line. I have reeled while recording the action and viewed in slow motion. The line whips and curls on its self. That is the cause of line twist. When using the teardrop, I had a camera with me and looked at my jig under water = Zero twist/turn. Line was perfectly straight!

Handling: It is perfect for a pistol grip style while holding it. It does not weigh much more than a spinning reel. You can get LH or RH retrieve so get whatever fits your style.

This is just my experience, and I hope everyone else has the same.

Good luck this season, everyone!

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