Author Topic: Best Ice fishing reel  (Read 30375 times)

Offline darkwater777

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Best Ice fishing reel
« on: Dec 06, 2010, 11:05 PM »
Im looking for a good ice fishing reel....any suggestions? I dont want cheap crap that seizes or falls apart.

Cheers!!

Offline SNAGGER

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #1 on: Dec 06, 2010, 11:17 PM »
  Had good luck with the older St. Croix reels, Fluger trions and an ht reel called accucast, got 9 rods with those reels on them, the model from 2 years ago, i fish without a shanty, they will all lock up if you set them down in water. my trick is i leave my reels outside in below freezing temps, learned that trick being a steelheader, if they heat up on the ride to your spot let them set in a snow free environment for a bit til there cold again, then the snow won't melt on them...

     When my guests come in for lunch after steelhead fishing, I have pvc pipes in the snow banks, they put there rigs in them, that way they don't warm up in the lodge and lock up later after going back fishing in the cold. ;)
ONEIDA LAKE NORTHSHORE DIEHARD'S

Offline Aaron072

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #2 on: Dec 06, 2010, 11:41 PM »
i like those ht accucast they have a longer shaft for gloves
for the price they are pretty good
is it wrong to be turned on by an icehole?

Offline lake snake

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #3 on: Dec 07, 2010, 12:56 AM »
 Tica Cetus

Offline slipperybob

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #4 on: Dec 07, 2010, 03:20 AM »
I'm brand biased so I'll say Shimano.  ;D
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Offline jimmygunns

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #5 on: Dec 07, 2010, 04:09 AM »
Tica Cetus.  Any model but the LV500.  The GV, SS, SB, & SE all are great.  I own almost a dozen now.

Offline blufloyd

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #6 on: Dec 07, 2010, 05:11 AM »
Slater cane pole reels. No twist. Much like schooleys.
I fish better with a lit cigar; some people fish better with talent. ~Nick Lyons, Bright Rivers, 1977

Offline princecraft

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #7 on: Dec 07, 2010, 05:56 AM »
Shimano for me
Fisherman's Prayer
   I pray that I may live to fish
          Until my dying day.
And when it comes to my last cast,
       I then most humbly pray:
When in the Lord's great landing net
           And peacefully asleep,
      That in His mercy I be Judged
              BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP.

Offline sig

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #8 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:39 AM »
Accucast is my choice, love the long shaft for gloves and the angled reel face lining up with the first guide. I have all my rods equiped now (7) and the price is right too.
[img width=218 height=80]http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt331/431-s

Offline icejunky

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #9 on: Dec 07, 2010, 07:25 AM »
I use Tica Cetus almost exclusively. Great reel

Offline walleye wacker

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #10 on: Dec 07, 2010, 07:53 AM »
for hardwater -cetus never freezes!

"We have to go NOW!!!"  ......."HOLD ON JUST ONE MORE!!!!

Offline wileycbii

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #11 on: Dec 07, 2010, 08:46 AM »
Accucast.  6 ball bearing.  Great price. 

Offline evobassfish

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #12 on: Dec 07, 2010, 09:14 AM »
If you don't want cheap lookin reals that are not going to fall apart on ya and has an excellent drag, then go shimano.
shimano sahara 500FDor 1000FD
shimano symetre 500FJ or 1000FJ
both of these reels are better than the ticas IMO :o

Offline Layne

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #13 on: Dec 07, 2010, 09:17 AM »
Just picked up a Pfleuger presedente 10 bearing reel and its amazing, you need to remove most the grease so it doesent freeze up on you but other than that it is a fantastic reel.
"your like a Perez Hilton of the ice fishing blogging world" - dreamcatcher

Offline icecube

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #14 on: Dec 07, 2010, 09:39 AM »
 I use Tica Cetus, Pflueger, and Shimano. And like them all.

Offline Tainterslayer

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #15 on: Dec 07, 2010, 10:04 AM »
I'm using an Abu garcia cardinal and it works pretty good. Bought it for trout fishing but it crosses over quite well.

Offline SkeeterJeff

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #16 on: Dec 07, 2010, 05:57 PM »
Another vote for the Tica Cetus.  I have half a dozen GV500's and love them.  Smooth as silk all the time.

-Jeff

Offline ran7ger

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #17 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:03 PM »
 you're gonna love el presidente layne.  i just took mine off my summer jig rod and have been using it as is in the pop-up without any freeze up issues.  the price is right too.  going to pick up a couple tica cetus' in the near future though as i've read very few sour reviews.

Offline Frabill 44

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #18 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:07 PM »
uglystik

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #19 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:12 PM »
ive had goood luck with the st croix reels that come on the premier rod packages, i also have a pfluger president, the old man uses shimano's never had a problem

Offline Lobes

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #20 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:28 PM »
I'd think what you get would depend alot on what you're fishing for. Also up there in Saskatchewan you deal with some hardcore cold so even with a quality reel you probably need to give consideration to what is the best lubricant to use that won't gum up. Regardless in a really harsh enviornment like you folks deal with, a quality reel will require more than normal maintenance to remain reliable.

                                       :tipup:
NBG

Mecosta County / Lakeview, Michigan

Offline BigDynamite

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #21 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:38 PM »
Currently using all Pflueger Trions (20 series on lighter/smaller setups and 25 series on the larger stuff).  Have heard nothing but good things about Tica Cetus in the many posts I have read.  I plan on Teca's probably next season 'cus I have already spent too much this year and I haven't even gone to the Ice Show yet.  That's sure to be a few bucks before i'm out the door.
 ;D

Offline craigthor

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #22 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:39 PM »
I'm a fan of the Tica Cetus LE 500 series reels. Comes with 2 metal spools and super smooth. Got them on my 5 poles fror the ice.

Craig

Offline bassrat

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #23 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:42 PM »
so far this year...REALLY loving the ross and powell fly reels i put on a couple rods...absolutely NO TWIST, and as good or better drag as compared to my _____ spinning reels (insert, tica, shimano,abu, or pflueger here- i've got em' all)   ;D

Offline craigthor

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #24 on: Dec 07, 2010, 06:51 PM »
got pics? I thought about going the fly reel route but I haven't convinced myself yet, especially since I have 5 main rods I use.

Craig

Offline Sullymon

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #25 on: Dec 07, 2010, 08:01 PM »
I have owned many different HT, Frabill, Pflueger, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Pinnacle, Okuma, Tica, Fin Nor, Quantum ... but now I will only put my money on Shimano, hands down my no.1 favorite.  The Shimanos outlast every other brand I have (or more like had!) 

For most of my ice fishing, I use mostly Sahara 500s and 750s, Sedona 500s, and occasionally a Symetre 1000 and 2500. 

Open water I use mostly Stradics and Sustains in the 1000, 2500, 3000, and 4000 sizes.

Offline Tailchaser

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #26 on: Dec 07, 2010, 08:18 PM »
Fly reels are real good to use for pan fishing. No line curl. The ones I used many years ago were metal. they would conduct a lot of cold. I picked up one at Cabela's a few weeks ago with the employee discount , 14.00. It's a sweet Cabela's 4,5 wt. composite material with a real decent drag. I mounted it on a St. Croix legend. It's a little bit wider then the old Schooley's, but, very smooth. It won't be long, I'll have a chance to check it out. Good luck to all ,& travel lite first ice, Don.

Offline PIRATE PERCH

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #27 on: Dec 08, 2010, 07:25 AM »
I use the tica sb 500 on a few of my rods also the Pflueger Trion4520 gx, and the President 6725 all great reels in my opinion.
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Offline Buckeye John

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #28 on: Dec 08, 2010, 07:47 AM »
You can't go wrong with the Sahara 500s and 750s, Sedona 500s, if you want to spend some serious money the syemter 500 will set you back about $100. All great reels.

Offline jjc155

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Re: Best Ice fishing reel
« Reply #29 on: Dec 08, 2010, 07:57 AM »
The Tica Cetus line is hard to beat for qaulity and price. I have them on all but one of my rods and when that reel craps out its getting replaced with a Cetus.

J-

 



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