CRAPPIE SPINNING REEL

[ksdog]

Wanting to buy a nice little spinning reel to pitch small jigs. I'd like the reel to be smooth reeling and casts well with 4 lb. test line. Any suggestions for say, under 50.00 category ?

[CrappieJohn]

Pitching small jigs....first offI'd recommend something with a spool that is quite long from front to back so line doesn't cut into itself so easily. And then I'd look at retrieve ratio. I personally like something in the 6.0/1 range. Weight becomes a balance factor...too heavy a reel on even a 300 dolar rode will make it feel like you are fishing with a telephone pole.

My choice for years has been the Shimanos without the fast-cast feature. I prefer the front drag models, too. The Sahara, Sedona are both excellent mid-priced reels and you'll be wanting to look at the 1500 series. The 750 series may be more to your liking weight-wise, but you give up the retrieve ratio for the smaller size.

Jr's Tackle offers some dandy spinning reels in the small sizes with a bit slower retrieve rates, but are smooooooth with the higher count in bearings. The instant lock-up feature makes these another fine consideration for the jig angler and the front drags are very well put together. I am currently using two different models of these reels: a four bearing and an 8 bearing. The retail on the four bearing is $14.95 ad the 8 bearing is $21.95. JR's is a site sponsor and their products can be read about and ordered from their web site at www.jrstackle.com or thru FishingMinnesota by clicking on the " our sponsors" link.

When shopping for a small reel to handle very light lines, worry about the drag and not the cost. I have seen some products on the market that cost a c-note per reel and the drags are pure junk. At the same time I have seen a lot of reels in the so-so catagory that work like magic when you get to the drag.

List everything you want in the reel and then go find some place that retails a ton of reels that has sample reels out to play with....and start at the cheap end and work your way up. You may be surprised how soon your search ends.

[rangr]

ksdog, look at www.midwestrodandreel.com they have a 7bb reel with anti-reverse and a lifetime warrenty for 29.99 its called the M-7. They also have a Okuma TP15 that has 9bb that is very smooth for 49.99. I use the M-7 for ice fishing and I know the owner Bill at midwest uses it on a light weight rod.

[Guest]

also bought the 7bb M-7 reel from Midwestwest and very happpy with the reel.very smooth for a inexpensive reel.

[lars0926]

This will be the first time in my life that I've recommended a Zebco, but here it goes . . . Zebco has a new spincast reel that runs $19.99. Perfect weight to balance out an ultralight for crappie. However, where it gets really cool is that this reel has a built in function for depth memory. In other words if your jigging or pitching into a place and you want to remember how deep your jib was when you got the nudge or hit, you can set the reel to release line to that same depth.