In-Line Reels: Pro's & Con's

[icebucketjohn]

Frankly, I'm not yet sold on the In-Line Reels. I still have the ole standby , open-faced, spinning reels in my ice fishing gear.

Pro's & Cons' of them?

Anybody reversed and went back to spinning reels?

[stripernut]

I think it comes down to what you like, I have used the "pencil" grip and don't like it and that is what works best with a inline. I also am not worried about lure spin, if I was I would use a ball bearing swivel in line and lure spin is the one thing that a inline can help. I carry one, but it sees little use. Others like them, good for them, I will stick with my Stradics that I use in the open water... I think over time this will be a ford or chevy thing...
One more thing, I don't spend much time jigging for bait fish, sorry I mean panfish, I like catching predators on a jigging rod. If I did I still don't think I would use a inline, but it would make more sense.

[DR.SPECKLER]

they are off balance and awkward to hold all the weight is on the handle side,dont work well  with pencil grip style because the spool lip rubs my hand even with guards or longer reel stems,drag kinda sucks its either to tight or to loose with not much adjustment.ive used the frabill,eagle claw and cgi no.8s inlines and like the freespool option and less coily line but still  go back to my shimano spinning reels.

[Fontona19]

I own a few, and it is not the most comfortable reel that is for sure, but if you are fishing deep for panfish nothing drops a tungsten faster. That can add up to many more fish when the bite is coming in waves, and every second makes a difference.

[Shack man Shoney]

3 years ago I would have told you I would never own one... Now I have 4 of them. LOL!!!! Last season I was fishing perch in 30 FOW and getting the tungsten jig down quickly after landing a fish was very important and the Eagle Claw inline did a fantastic job. I think if your fishing shallow it doesn't really matter as much but I can see where anything over 15 FOW I'm probably going to be using an inline. I went with the Eagle Claws just as a cheap way to try them and they are not a bad reel at all... In fact I really like them... I know they aren't as fancy or expensive as some of the others out there but I have zero complaints.

[Dave R]

I own a few, and it is not the most comfortable reel that is for sure, but if you are fishing deep for panfish nothing drops a tungsten faster. That can add up to many more fish when the bite is coming in waves, and every second makes a difference.

+1...........I own a No 8 CGI and it does get you back down quick. And I like it way better than the Eagle Claw that I bought and sold. Still, if something were to happen to the reel, I most likely wouldn't buy another one.

[Hungrysportsman]

I own many 13 Fishing 6061 reels and honestly it has made ice fishing so much more fun. They are adjustable and easy to use.  The small lures fall fast and straight and you don't have to worry as much about what is going on with the line.  Same for jigging with spoons.  A con would be you have to make sure that your reel is adjusted for the weight of your lure. It takes some getting used to especially if you have been using spinning reels for such a long time. I also have some 13 Fishing Teardrop reels that are like baitcasters.  They are unbalanced and not great for jigging. I don't find my 6061 reels unbalanced. I think when paired with a good rod they provide great sensitivity and feel.
I suggest you give them a try. You might be surprised.

[missoulafish]

Sticking with spinning reels. Superior drags that actually work, always  comfortable to use , and there's no way an inline can drop a jig faster than any other type of reel.

[filetandrelease]

I use 2 spinning reels and 3- 6061s , ive been using the pencil grip for 40+years so it seems natural ,  I fish perch ,walleyes and have fished lakers to 150' with no trouble , but they aren't everybody's cup of tea , I've heard lots of guys cursing them , so to each their own

[Fontona19]

Sticking with spinning reels. Superior drags that actually work, always  comfortable to use , and there's no way an inline can drop a jig faster than any other type of reel.

and why is that?  It drops a tungsten much faster than any other reel. You don't have to take my word. Try it for yourself, the proof is in the pudding.

[missoulafish]

It can't free spool faster than I can pull line off an open bail. They will both fall at the maximum allowed speed based on the weight of the jig and the drag of the line. Just because you have an inline reel doesn't mean you have more gravitational advantage.

[JonPerry]

I've been using fly reels for a few years. I find it more of a challenge since the drag is more about the pressure put on the spool by my hand. It get the heart pumping when I'm fishing for crappies & a nothern or walleye swings thru.

[3300]

Sticking with spinning reels. Superior drags that actually work, always  comfortable to use , and there's no way an inline can drop a jig faster than any other type of reel.

exactly! no restriction from the spool so the line free falls off of the spool instead of the entire spool needing to release line as it comes off of it like a bait caster does. maybe they are okay with a 10mm tungsten, but i use tiny tungsten jigs for ice fishing.

also i use these small open face reels on my ultra light casting rods, so they are dual purpose and not limited to ice season only.

i tried two different in-lines. i had to clean them out of the nasty grease they came with and re-lube with hot sauce. even then, they could not get me on fish as fast as my open face reels. not even in the same league! and i didn't have to pull line/lure to get it started like in-lines need and they don't sit off balanced sideways like in-lines do big time.

couldn't get rid of them fast enough! lesson learned tho, so it wasn't a total waste of time. and, the jigs and spoons still spin and that was why i bothered to try them in the first place. none of the baits drop with out spinning and so it creates it's own spin from the drop and from raising the baits.

also, the drag on them was the pits! always changing how much drag they had on their own.

i do have the 1:1 inline 13 fishing black betty with the fender and it is balanced, but a hassle to use being you have to pull line from the reel to fish with it or crank backwards. i use it in shallow water on the tight lipped mid winter dog days fishing when nothing wants to bite.

[Fontona19]

It can't free spool faster than I can pull line off an open bail. They will both fall at the maximum allowed speed based on the weight of the jig and the drag of the line. Just because you have an inline reel doesn't mean you have more gravitational advantage.

I see your point. I should have said without having to pull line from the reel.

[Hungrysportsman]

I don't find my 6061 reels to be unbalanced at all. Maybe it's my grip?  I also disagree about an open face being faster at dropping a jig. The problem of having to pull line off yourself is if you pull too much or too little when the fish start to advance on your lure, and you have to quickly adjust to stop in the strike zone you might have too much line sitting in your hole or you'll need to pull more off and hope you get it right since spinning reels are an instant stop.  With a straight line you can immediately stop to trigger the fish to strike and immediately get started dropping again if needed.
Maybe it isn't for everyone, but I have found when fishing with others that it gives me an advantage.

[missoulafish]

Ill challenge anyone that thinks they will catch more fish because they are using an inline reel