13 Fishing Black Betty or Clam Spooler?

[blackdog1101]

I was checking out the 13 Fishing Black Betty and the Clam Spooler over lunch today at GM. I thought I would like the Black Betty more, but the Clam Spooler seems to have better features with the disk drag. To those who have had the chance to mess around with both, which seems to meet your needs better? Which would you buy again? Thanks!

[Northlander]

I looked at them and wound up getting a few of the Clam ones. Just seemed to have a better drag system and felt better on my new rod.

[DrJuice1980]

Abu cardinal (open water panfish reel) $19.99 cheapo rod. I've played around with those other set ups and see no need what so ever for them. What's the best bite indicator? My index finger.

[Chad Holst]

The horse also was a good way to plow a field. It got the job done. For that matter, i used to catch fish without a flasher. in the end i'll keep using the flasher and most farmers are sticking to the tractor. Even though neither are truelly needed.

As far as the original post goes, it depends on which black betty your talking about. The 2014 BB is hard to beat unless you drop $200 on a beam combo. The low end "black betty" is much cheaper but its still a great reel. The clam is also a pretty good reel, but has a different feel than the betty. both are constructed well. im a bit biased to 13 fishing, as they sponsor our kids and their wicked/whiteout rod/reel combos are great set ups for the money. a high end reel for a mid end price.

if your looking for a great set up, be sure to look at the tear drops this year. Both beam and 13 make an amazing set-up.

[blackdog1101]

Abu cardinal (open water panfish reel) $19.99 cheapo rod. I've played around with those other set ups and see no need what so ever for them. What's the best bite indicator? My index finger.

Why do people chime in with unhelpful answers to questions that were not asked? I've used "in-line" fly reels for a few seasons and like them. My question is looking for informed information about these two reels.

Thanks to the other posters. Hopefully others will respond as well.

[Esox_Magnum]

Majority of my fishing is done with inlines, however no evperience on the cheaper versions I run Okuma 2/3 and BB 6061's for everything I fish...Only spinning gear I still use is a dead stick and slip bobber set ups....The Okuma is my sight fishing reel, after I get past 10-12' the 6061's are my primary reels...

[blackdog1101]

Majority of my fishing is done with inlines, however no evperience on the cheaper versions I run Okuma 2/3...

I've been using a newer Pflueger fly reel for several seasons, but it's not holding up as well as I would have hoped. Older Pfueger reels seem to last forever. So I'm in the market for a new in-line reel. I don't want a multiplier reel for panfishing, seems like overkill for my purposes. Might have to add the Okuma 2/3 to my list to look at.

[TrapMan13]

Ice spooler. My main seller was I could still grip the backside of the reel and turn it because of the cover. The blackbetty exposes the spool on both sides so u have to grip the rod constantly.

[Chad Holst]

trap, they changed that on the new betty's i believe.

[TrapMan13]

Really? That I didn't know, I thought they maybe changed some of the far bills but I though bb was same? Guess that would leave me in a neutral zone.

[blackdog1101]

I went and checked them out again today. The Black Betty has no "back." The spool is open on both sides. Decided I didn't really like either, will stick with the Pflueger for the time being. Probably would have bought the Spooler if it was aluminum instead of graphite. I'm not a fan of graphite reels.