Eagle Claw Inline reel

[Rowdie]

I just purchased my 1st inline reels, both EC the cheap $25 ones.   Both were junk out of the box.  Neither drag would tighten.  I've been using star drags on bait casting reels since the 70s.  I was looked it over and over and they came really loose, and when I tightened them up, the spool never did get stiff, on either one.  The free spool button on one worked ok but, you had to coax the reel to start spinning.  Then on the other one you had to hold it in or it wouldn't spin.  I didn't even try putting line on them, they're boxed up and ready to ship back.

[DR.SPECKLER]

They are junk.

[Rowdie]

Yeah I don't make many Buyer Beware threads, but these....stay away from.  I'd like to get one or two though as I like using bobber stops and spinning reels and bobber stops always messing up.

[Rowdie]

The retailer only had 7 reviews on them, all good.  So I leave a 1 star bad review, and it's not up yet.  I left a positive review on a Vex18 I got last year, for a different chain store, and it was up instantly.   Hmmmmmm?

[DR.SPECKLER]

Yeah now the problem is your going to pay a pretty hefty price for a good inline and imo they are all not worth it.

[TheStretch]

Huh. I wonder if the low bidder this season is lacking in quality control. The EC reels I got a couple years ago free-spooled better than my friends black Betty. I use one with my 3mm jigs and 2lb floro. The drag doesn't lock up tight, but its more than enough with the light lines. If you can't take them back it might be worth taking them apart and see if they are fixable. When they work they are a good reel for the money (or they were).

[Kevin23]

They are junk, I hated mine.

Ironically I bought a 13 fishing descent on a whim, and although it looks just like the eagle claw it is definitely better built. Not a single issue with it and the drag stays EXACTLY where I set it, and is very smooth.

[rdhammah]

i have 4 of the EC reels. 3 worked perfectly out of the package. I cant recall what the problem was with the 4th. I wrote to EC. they sent me a postage prepaid label and a few days after I sent it back, they sent me a new one that worked fine.

[Rowdie]

I'm shipping them back to the store I bought them from they're boxed up and ready to go. 

[DR.SPECKLER]

Dont get a frabill or cgi no8.i have both and they are alright but lack a good drag and not good for freespooling 3mm jigs.about on par with the ec inlines.

[Rowdie]

So are any quality enough to handle big walleye or they all for pan fish?

[Chris338378]

I have an Eagle Claw inline that I bought about four years ago and it's been pretty decent to me.  The one thing I did was put some RemOil on the shaft and it spins free even with light jigs.  I've caught lots of pan fish on it and some bass with the biggest being around 18" and didn't have any problems landing it.  I can't say anything about the ones currently made but I like the one I have. 

[Ramp 23]

I have 3 from when they first came out , one wore out , others are fine. Great for panfish , have had some decent bass on them but wouldn’t be good for a really large fish . But not really meant for that . Overall I like them especially for the price ,

[hole_hopper454]

I have two of them that I've had for a couple years now. No complaints, they work well for me. Much better than the cheap spinning reels that came with the rods.

[Wyoming_Ice]

I have 2 that I have had for at least 4 years. I use them on my perch poles. They both have worked great for me. I have also caught several decent sized trout with them and they worked fine. I didn't expect too much going in and have been pleasantly surprised. I will say that they aren't used a whole lot. But we are heading to a perch pond Sunday.   

Wyo Ice

[fishingeek]

I had one of those EC Inline and they are junk! It malfunctioned on my third trip  out and I gave up on it trying to troubleshoot.

I'm a panfish guy and I can say I'm not a fan of inline reels. Overpriced and more of a niche reel. My Schooley De Ma reel outfishes these.

[Dave R]

I had one of those EC Inline and they are junk! It malfunctioned on my third trip  out and I gave up on it trying to troubleshoot.

I'm a panfish guy and I can say I'm not a fan of inline reels. Overpriced and more of a niche reel. My Schooley De Ma reel outfishes these.

X2 on the Schooley reels. With a little modification you can mount them on just about any rod.

Over the years I have tried three different brands if inline reels. Eventually sold all of them and now only use spinning and Schooley reels.

[WALL E GATOR]

I have a couple and they seem to work ok. I use one as my dead stick in the flip and never had much problems with it. I do remember when I first got it the Drag was kinda funky but after playing with it a bit, working the drag wheel to max one way then the other it started working and have not really had a problem with it since.

[ice dawg]

No problems with mine so far. If I do have problems with it I'll be glad it isn't one of the expensive reels.