New inline reel help

[TheDL]

I'm looking to pickup my first inline reel this year to use for pannies, trying to minimize lure spin.  I've read a lot of helpful reviews on here from last year, just wondering if there's been any new and improved or tried and true that anyone has an opinion on?

I fish deep sometimes and occasionally end up with a bigger than pan-fish on my micro baits so I'm looking for a:

-geared retrieve
-free spool (don't want to hand-strip my 2lb line)
-decent drag
-right hand retrieve (or switchable)

Ultimately the blackbetty 6061 looks like the best reel, but I don't want to drop $100 on a reel.  I'm looking at:

Eagle claw's inline seems to have good reviews from last years model http://www.cabelas.com/product/Eagle-Claw-Inline-Ice-Reel/1646820.uts

Frabill's sound nice, but I recall some poor reviews last year about line hang ups in the gearing/sides, wondering if the new ones are any better http://frabill.com/rods-reels/reels/straight-line-261-reel.html

Can't find info on either that says if you can flip the retrieve handle over...I reel with my right hand and it's hard to tell from the pics/specs if those are right/left retrieve or switchable.

I'd be interested to hear your experiences with these or comparable reels....

[3300]

i wanted to know more too, so i bought the cheapest i could find in case i don't like the concept. 25 at dicks sports last i knew

the EC's 2013 version is all black
it's the first one in my hands and it feels cheap and sloppy compared to what i am used to using. all the in-lines will be off center weighted because the of the drag and gear case, unless you get a one to one type inline like the old school types. new versions of those are out too
my buddy got his 13 fishing order in at his retail shop. i held the bb 6061 and the tear drop. both are heavy and i saw what he paid for them. crazy how much mark up is on this stuff. its as if our money is almost worthless.
any way the 13 fishing reels feel solid and maybe too heavy for some. i am not ready to buy them at whole sale prices. maybe after i try the concept this season i might be.
i have not lined mine up yet and am not so much of being in a hurry with it as i thought i might have been

you should try and hold the ones you think you might buy, if you can. i could not with the EC and wished i had. you can flip the handle if you are handy or send it in

other posts on here about them, but in the wrong spots and the mods quit moving them to here, so you have to look around to find the rest or use the search engine up top

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=262853.0

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=262761.0

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=262694.0

[esox_magnum]

I'm a fan of the 6061 well worth the money, I use mine as deep as 50' and drops as fast or faster than any of my spinning combos.... They are my go to reels anything over 12' and for whatever I'm fishing...

[4ssss]

I second that. I love my BB 6061, and its matched with the wicked ultralite rod. I only use it for panfish, but I've also brought up big perch and small bass with it no problem.

[TheDL]

thanks for the replies guys.  Some good opinions on here.  I'm sure the 6061 is probably the holy grail of inlines, but I just can't bring myself to drop $100 on a panfish reel. 

Hoping some others chime in.  I was leaning towards the EC, but now I'm not so sure.  anyone used the frabills or genz inlines?

[esox_magnum]

6061 is more than a panfish reel, works great on crappies, perch,walleyes ,bass ect

[toofuss]

The EC can be had as low as 20 bucks, and they come in blue, black, grey and pink. Just comes down to choice. The 261 frabill is almost identical exept it has a single crank. EC also has out an alum spool version that is in the 35-40 dollar range. I cannot be positive but I believe the alum spool one is the same reel that carries the tony roach name marketed by wright&mcgill, also made by EC. Frabills 241 is a totally different design from the 261 but I dont think it has a free spool feature.

[cyclones30]

I tried both the EC and Frabill today in the local bait shop. EC was smoother reeling in, but drag felt a little rough. Couldn't get to all the settings though while still in the packaging. 

Frabill felt like crap in general. Again, couldn't play with settings but didn't feel the greatest and unless someone shows me one that's a big difference I'll probably never get one.

EC was on the shelf in all black, or carbon fiber looking finish, or blue/carbon fiber finish. $25  Might get one eventually.

[filetandrelease]

my bud does reel repair and carries inline reels in his shop , he like the EC Wright & McGill and the 6061 , I own a 6061 and was impressed so got another 6061 coming, it was put to a big test last winter on walleyes ,perch and lake trout and I couldn't be happier

[massNtrash]

Just wondering if anyone has tried the new clam ice spooled in lines?

[just_a_beer_man]

Just picked up the frabill 261 combo.  like the feel of it, just need to try it out. 

[TheDL]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a 261 combo.  Heard too many complaints about the EC drag.  How's the L/R change over on the frabill 261?  Which way is it setup from factory...I retrieve with right hand and vaguely recall reading somewhere that these ship lefty and are a pain to change over.

Which rod did you get and what's your opinion on the power of it.  I find a great difference in manufacturer's UL-L-Med ratings.

I'm thinking of the 30" light.  Most of my med-light rods are whispy enough for pannies and I want to have the backbone to pull in any incidental bites I might get.

[4x4elk]

Ok alot if these comments have helped me almost ready to buy. I have a question why is everyone dead set these are for 10-15' of water and pan fish, would they serve in 50-70' of water and a 4# fish? Or would it fall short in that application? Such reals as the 6061 or frabil

[Rippenlips]

I have this years model blackbetty 6061, I haven't used it ice fishing yet and I couldn't sit and look at it any longer so I spooled it up and hit the river with it float fishing, I caught steelhead and coho with it and I had no problems cranking them in, you can fit ALOT of line on them. Even with the big price tag on it, the reel is worth it.

[openingact]

a Gander by me had a good sale going on. ($20 off $100, $50 off $250) So I decided to check out the Teardrops, yes not an inline, but figured I'll mentioned my limited experience. Got home and put them on my Black Betty rod (a more rear reel spot) as well as another rod that has the reel centered on the handle. Regardless the setup just didn't feel right in my hands. The rod tip wanted to stand straight and the weight just didn't feel right. Maybe this is because I prefer a light grip on my rods. Also the spool release was akward with how I wanted to hold the reel. Those are both my limited personal experiences with them, but it wasn't for me so they both were returned.

That all said, if you can get over those parts. The drag felt awesome and overall quality seemed like what you should expect out of that expensive of a reel. I'm sure they'll handle well on the ice.

There was a 6061 in the display case that someone must have broke since there was grinding in it and the drag didn't work at all. I did end up ordering a couple 6061s on that special with the idea that if they are trash, they can also be returned.