Retreiver, or 808???

[Neighbor_guy]

Ok, here is the deal. I have several retrievers. All of them are right handed. I picked up an 808 @ wallytown yesterday for $17. Figured it was a steal, marked $44. Anyways I pulled the line off of it and spooled it with the standard line that comes with a retreaver. With a reel seat I have a rig for a lefty should that arise.

Who has used both? What are the advantages/disadvantages you see. Is one better than the other? What are your thoughts?

I like the retriever, it has worked very well for me, and if I did not get such a deal on the 808 I wouldn't have the ??'s I do.

Any thoughts???

[so haaad]

What kind of retriever? Are you using the AMS? The big 808 works well, but in my opinion doesn't work as well as the AMS. The cons of a reel is that they seem to twist line a little more, which can cause tangles inside of the reel. There's also a few more moving parts in a reel that have more tendency for failure. The pros of the 808 is that you can fight the fish using the reel/drag, if that's something that interests you. I would check with AMS to see if they sell a left handed retriever.

[glenn57]

i am not sure what a retrever is but i did the old bear wrap it up by hand thing, then i bought the 808 reel and love it. when you miss(ok you can take your shots now) reeling the line in faster to shoot again. never had issue with twisted line. only one problem i got dont get enough time to do more of it.

[so haaad]

Forgot to add that if you do use a reel like an 808...make sure to push the button before you shoot!

[glenn57]

good idea, i also set the drag as loose as possible, just in case.

[ghotierman]

The point of playing the fish with the drag is noteworthy. Watch several of the 'big fish' archery videos, and you'll see them employing spinning reels for that reason. The simplicit of the AMS bottle reel is nice though. And they do make a left hand model (that's how I shoot!). But, hard to pass up the clearance price you got on the 808!

One thing you'll want to check on it: is the pick up pin on the reel metal or plastic? Some early 808's had a plastic pick up pin that would snap off under pressure. I believe the later one's went back to a metal pickup.

[ec30_06]

Of all the types that I have used I liked the ams retreiver the best. No buttons to push=less arrows flying back at me. I have not had any problem fighting fish with it either, and I have taken two carp over 40#.

[HUNTFISH69]

The ams is the only reel i'll shoot with, like ec said no buttons to deal with. It reels in good, i saw my buddy pull a 35lb carp in through the weeds last year and it had no problem.

[Neighbor_guy]

Now this is what I like, open conversation. I think I will stick with the retriever for my set up. It has never failed me in the past 6 years, I just wanted to know everyone elses oppinions.

Like I said above, mainly it was an idea for a lefty back up.