Author Topic: black betty 6061 VS. eagle claw (Read 5270 times)

sjord89 · « **on:** Nov 14, 2014, 11:10 AM »

is it worth it to spend the extra 20 bucks on the black betty, or is the eagle claw just as good?

alaskaruss1 · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 14, 2014, 11:39 AM »

Anxious to see the replies as I am getting ready to purchase my first in line. I have heard that people have been having problems with the drag on the Black Betty reels. Anxious to hear people's experiences before I make my purchase.

Icer for life · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 14, 2014, 11:51 AM »

i found some Code Blue #8 inline reels for 10 bucks.......always wanted to try the in-line (zero twist) so i figured i would get a couple a try. I mostly fish 10-20 feet for gills and crappie, for 10 bucks, had to give it a try!

sjord89 · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 14, 2014, 12:34 PM »

the #8 ones dont have a regular drag... i bought one last week and returned it. its just a nut which makes drag, but also puts that same tension on the reel handle which doesnt work for me but may be nice for pan fish

Icer for life · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 14, 2014, 05:57 PM »

yes, the drag in nothing - i mostly hand loop them up and i do not fish in a shanty, so it works for me. i just keep reading and reading about line twist....any way, anxious to give it a try.

bigbuckmiddaugh · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 19, 2014, 05:53 AM »

Not a cure for line twist. Cuts down on it

filetandrelease · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 04, 2014, 12:43 PM »

Quote from: sjord89 on Nov 14, 2014, 12:34 PM

the #8 ones dont have a regular drag... i bought one last week and returned it. its just a nut which makes drag, but also puts that same tension on the reel handle which doesnt work for me but may be nice for pan fish

I thought they all had a star drag except for the BB 1:1 retrieve

Gills-only · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 04, 2014, 01:11 PM »

I have a CGI #8 and it has a star drag. Havent used it yet though!!

matzilla · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 04, 2014, 01:15 PM »

Quote from: sjord89 on Nov 14, 2014, 12:34 PM

the #8 ones dont have a regular drag... i bought one last week and returned it. its just a nut which makes drag, but also puts that same tension on the reel handle which doesnt work for me but may be nice for pan fish

That is the scrubber brake for the free spool feature...no8 has a star drag

acmarcus · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 04, 2014, 03:32 PM »

I just got an eagle claw. Seems nice. However lack of ice is preventing me from using it. But for $20, it seems feels good.

nicjohnsrud · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 05, 2014, 01:01 PM »

I purchased the Eagle Claw one last year and think it works great! Great free spool, solid construction, smooth reeling. But it is my first in-line...

Kyle_J · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 05, 2014, 01:14 PM »

I love my black betty 6061 and would recommend it ive never tried the eagle claw though so i wouldnt know if it is better or not.

matzilla · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 05, 2014, 01:39 PM »

its the same reel, just plastic with a different drag washer

filetandrelease · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 05, 2014, 06:18 PM »

Quote from: matzilla on Dec 05, 2014, 01:39 PM

its the same reel, just plastic with a different drag washer

sorry but the specs say different about the 6061, bearings 5+1, 2.7:1 , and 19" per revolution and the drag is very smooth I can't say about the 2015,s , I have had the eagle in my hand IMO it's not smooth enough for big eyes and lakers

matzilla · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 06, 2014, 02:46 PM »

open them up and look inside, same parts

Townie · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 06, 2014, 03:25 PM »

Eagle Claw= plastic junk. I tried one last year & was not impressed. 6061 has far better materials but still a subpar, jerky drag for the money. HELLO FISHING 13!

spoonfeeder01 · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 06, 2014, 07:21 PM »

I bought 2 of the cheaper e.c. Reels last season, first the reels were never lubed from the factory, they needed to be stripped down and lubed completely, next the star drag system was screwy and I eneded having to find the sweet spot and pinning the star to the reel handles with a plastic rivet so it wouldnt loosen up on me any more. Next the clicker for live baiting or drag noise broke off both reels on bigger fish. I ended up completely smoking 1 of the reels about 4 trips, still have 1 rigged and ready but went the 6061 for this season, ya get what ya pay for.. Frabil also has some nice inlines to that are affordable, eagle claw also has one thats a step up in price with an aluminum spool. Clam has the new Dave genz ice spooler elite that looks decent and Ht has the polar fire inline for 120 bucks, any type of jigging creates a certain amount of twist as does line coming off the drag on a standard open face. My inlines are used for tungsten and plastics and using them for a finess presentation works awsome.

coldwillie11 · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 06, 2014, 07:26 PM »

Bought and return3d 2 E.C. inlines last year, junk. Now have several 6061 black bettys and really like so far, however time will tell. Have several friends who have either returned the E.C. reels or taken them apart and rebuilt to make work. Omly my opinion.

fishinnut · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 11, 2014, 12:33 PM »

Picked up a couple Eagle Claw Inlines. Look/feel well made. Sportsmans Guide has them on sale with free shipping now.

http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Line-Ice-Reel/dp/B00CJJ99TS

APJ · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 11, 2014, 12:46 PM »

Used the EC reel all last year caught over 200 fish not one issue with it . flouro line is best..

Hawkeyefish · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 11, 2014, 09:26 PM »

Quote from: Kyle_J on Dec 05, 2014, 01:14 PM

I love my black betty 6061 and would recommend it ive never tried the eagle claw though so i wouldnt know if it is better or not.

I'm in this camp. Haven't tried their other Cgi brand one, even though it looks nice with that fender. Just seems like the 6061 gets it done, kind of an if it ain't broke don't fix it situation in my bag at the moment.

tracksnorth · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 11, 2015, 08:54 PM »

I have two of the eagle claws and I like them but I sure wish the drag was a little better.

iceman10 · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 12, 2015, 05:48 AM »

I was wondering this same thing last year, so I bought and spent the extra $ on the BB as I have a couple of wicked combos I like . The reason I spent the extra $ was everyone was out of the aluminum spool EC and local bait shop had the BB in stock . I purchased the BB took it home & put it on a rod and the reel would not in gauge so I took it back and showed the bait store owner and he exchanged it for another . The next day I hit the ice and start catching some gillz on my new combo when I hooked up with a nice bass that toasted the reel again . I returned it and got my $ back. This year I did get the aluminum EC and it has worked well so far . I think inline reels will get better in the coming years along with other ice equipment

tracksnorth · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 12, 2015, 09:09 AM »

I sure hope so. Seems to me they have a lot of work to do on the drags

Tmuskie · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 12, 2015, 04:34 PM »

I've got this EC one. Never had a problem with it.

http://www.eagleclaw.com/product/reel/premium-inline-reel

tracksnorth · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 13, 2015, 07:24 PM »

Wow that's slick, is it an aluminum spool?

willisdotcom · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 09, 2015, 11:51 AM »

i started out with the 1st black betty reel a year or 2 ago and loved it, and gander mountain had them on sale this year so got another. then i saw they had the 2014 model 6061 for 50 bucks and grabbed one, and i love it, zero problems so far and over 1000 fish caught on it. i haven't even touched the other 2 BB's since getting 6061.

kc_ · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 09, 2015, 03:06 PM »

I have one of each. I like the drag better on the black betty, but the ec is a better reel.

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Author Topic: black betty 6061 VS. eagle claw (Read 5270 times)

Kyle_J