Reel for using leadcore line?

[MikeG3Boat]

Hey I purchased some leadcore line that I want to try using for some fall walleye fishing. What kind of reel do you want to use? Spinning? Bait casting? I want to be able to get 5-6 colors loaded. I am thinking my biggest spinning reel may only hold 3 colors?

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks guys!

[aanderud]

I think most if not all leadcore guys use baitcasters. I have to think that you'd want to use a bait caster to keep the line from twisting. My Abu Garcia 6500 reel that I use for channel catfish will hold roughly 150 yards of 30 lb mono (or 200+ yards of 20 lb mono). Since you're looking at 10 yards per color, you don't need all that much capacity. I'd guess your lead core has a 20-30 lb diameter equivalent, so you should EASILY get 10 colors on there if not 15.

Also, I might be wrong here but from what I've read and heard, I think that by the time fall trolling rolls around, the fish are up shallow enough that leadcore is not necessary. I think of late July and August as the biggest leadcore months, trolling out over sand or mud flats on LOW and Mille Lacs, for instance.

[TrollnDrift]

I have my leadcore on a baitcaster with a built in line counter, I don't pay attention to colors just feet out. I think leadcore would work well on a spinning reel at all.

[smduke]

I use 4 27 lcb daiwa line counter reels. They hold 10 colors and are made for lead core. You will want a line counter if running lead.

[B-man715]

Fleet farm usually sells the Okuma line counter and rod combos for around $50 this time of year. You can get 10 colors of 12 lb lead on a 20 series, or 10 colors of 18 on a 30 series. Look for a medium action fiberglass rod (Okuma classic series rod).

It's an awesome combo for the $$$$$$

As mentioned, lead is mostly fish in the hot summer months, but I use it from ice out to first ice to put any size crank at any depth I want. It's not my go-to all year, but another tool in the toolbox.

I get some funny looks at times, but if the fish are hitting it I don't care

Last spring on the Rainy river jigging was slow one day. We broke out the lead and caught fish after fish after fish. More than one guy said they never even thought about it and their trolling rods were at home collecting dust, not catching fish

[vman11]

I run Okuma 30s and haven't had any issues. I'd buy them again. I have had issues with JM rod durability. Don't know that I could recommend them to anyone

[TrollnDrift]

I think leadcore would work well on a spinning reel at all.

I meant don't think it would work well. Hard to see on these phones!

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I like line counters like okuma vs depthmaster for leadcore.

YOu CANNOT use a spinning reel. You'll destroy your leadcore almost instantly.

Use a GOOD swivel. Let's say your crankbait starts spinning and you don't have a good swivel between your bait and leadcore...You'll be respooling your leadcore.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Meant daiwa - accudepth, not okuma.

Much better reel than the depthmaster.

They need to move the zero button on the depth master reels b4 I'll buy another. Hit that button all the time on accident.

[solbes]

I bought a Cabelas Depthmaster III combo a few weeks back when they were on sale for $60. The 30 series reel holds a full 10 colors of 18#, not sure if the 20 series would or not. Seems like decent quality so far, time will tell.

[Northlander]

I either use Diawa Sealines or Accudepths in the 47 size.