ice fishing reels?

[minnesotahusker]

I know this topic has been discussed before, but im having a custom rod made and need a reel for it. Looking thru previous posts, it seems as though the abu garcia cardinal reels are decent. I noticed they were in a flyer for a big brand store with an orange silo. They have them adverised for $25, also gander has has a 75% off sale going. Im looking at the abu garcia, okuma, and tica reels but dont want to go more than $40.

[slim33]

the pflueger trion is pretty good for the price, I think on sale for 20 bucks or so at Cabela's

[BartmanMN]

I have one cardinal and it works well. I just picked up a Schimano Sienna in the 500 series at Cabelas for 29.99 that looks really nice. They have a million of them around the store, so I'd expect some type of special on them at some point.

[Rick G]

I fish a lot, and wear out reels quite often, yes even ice reels The only ones I have found that can handle the abuse I put on reels are the Tica Cetus, I own quite a few of 'em and have only had one go bad. If a reel lasts a year for me it will last most ice anglers their whole life

[Lusid]

I currently run a Shimano Sedona on one of my ice rigs and love the drag system.. It's super buttery smooth.

Otherwise I've heard good things about the Tica.

[Northlander]

I went from fishing with all Ticas to the Shimano Sedonas, Saharas and siennas. I use the Siennas on panny rods and the Sedonas on walleye rods and the saharas on walleye and laker rods. I got some 500 Saharas at the Duluth ice show for s steal from Marine General so I got 4 to put on my TFO rods I got for $20 a piece there as well.

[Scott O.]

I really like the Clam Genz True Blue reels for $25. Smooth turning, line falls off easily thanks to the wide spool, and tough as nails. I've put a few of these on my customs. Love 'em.

[rough_rider]

I am thinking of using my near-$200 Shimano Stradic 1000-size as an ice reel. It's just a tad bigger than I'd like for my panfish noodle rods.

[amateurfishing]

okuma slv in line 2/3.....south American river HSOforum bout $42ish, im not sure you can find a better value and NEVER worry bout line twist, I am totally hooked on these for my ice rods from TB

[solocamzman]

The pflueger trion is garbage. Have owned two of them now. Would be good reels except for one thing. The handle screw cap is made of plastic. The cap broke on my first one and I thought maybe it was a fluke. Was reeling in a nice eye the other week and the cap on my second trion cracked and fell off too. Ridiculous

[zppeterson]

I picked up 2 Shimano Siennas this year, and I'll be back for more. For the $30 price point these reels are hard to beat.

I went from using store bought combos thinking the reels that came with them were good enough, to thinking I need to update almost all of my rods and reels now.

[icefisker]

I like the siennas over the trions too... Was hoping for a little more out of the new black trions, but I was a little disappointed. The sienna is a pretty decent reel for the price. If you are looking at spending a bit more, i would go for the pflueger president hands down. Awesome drag, smooth,good muscle, braid ready and a beefed up line roller.

[Eric_Kruger]

sienna 500 is the best value reel on the market, once you get it, install a carbon drag washer, and clean it. then add some cals cold weather grease or hot sauce to it and you have an awesome reel for 35 bucks. you can also get crazy and upgrade the bearings really cheap too.

[B-man715]

I fish a lot, and wear out reels quite often, yes even ice reels The only ones I have found that can handle the abuse I put on reels are the Tica Cetus, I own quite a few of 'em and have only had one go bad. If a reel lasts a year for me it will last most ice anglers their whole life

I've had the opposite experience with Tica's (wrecked two of them [gears/bearings]) The drag on Tica's also has to be one of the worst out there. The line loads ups, then releases. Not a smooth pull like it should be.

The only other ice reels that has ever crapped on me were cheap Quantums, which was expected.

IMO the Sienna is the best reel for the money. I've switched a bunch of rods to them and couldn't be happier. My go to rod has a Symetre, but if you closed your eyes you probably couldn't tell the two apart...... especially not $70 apart......

[Lusid]

just picked a sienna for 25bux shipped. Going to add it to the 24" easy touch.

[DLD24]

Another vote for Sienna and Sedonas...

[CJH]

I've always like the Pflueger Presidents, seems like a solid reel for the money.

[bobbymalone]

another +1 for a sienna 500.

I also have a garcia cardinal SX something or another. SX20 maybe? I can't remember, but it's the smallest one from the SX line. It's about the same price as a Sienna.

[UPOW]

Where would one find the carbon drag washers for the sienna 500?

[minnesotahusker]

Thanks for all the input guys. I ended up going with the Shimano Sienna in the 500 series. Now I just need my phone to ring saying my rod is ready and get to feel how many fish I actually have been missing. Good luck fishing everyone.

[Lusid]

Where would one find the carbon drag washers for the sienna 500?

you can find them on flea.bay

[Eric_Kruger]

^^^^^^^^yep

[magic_minnow]

imo always pair a good reel with a custom pole. I run the Tica Cetus SS500 - Its ok, nice reel, nice drag but I don't think it was worth the price. My favorite is the Okuma Stinson 10, best drag out there period, only downfall is in super cold conditions it kinda locks up, but most of the time we're all sitting in a nice cozy ice house anyway and it does have to be sub 0 to lock up. Lastly I also own the pflueger presidente. Good all around reel, smooth drag but i still prefer the Okuma over the pflueger. Cheap okumas (sub $20) are a POS, but the higher ends are really nice. Go with the Stinson.

[Valleye]

I have tried many reels from Tica, Okuma, and Shimano. I've Pretty much stuck with Tica and Okuma. The reel that is a bang for the buck and works really well in cold weather is the Okuma Ultralight 10. For about $20.00 you can't go wrong.

The other question to ask yourself is what will you be fishing for and what depth? I specifically fish for panfish so the reel is not as important as compared to the rod. In shallow water I put the spinning reel/rod combo away and go with a stright line reel.