longbow

Anybody know who is making the Stratamaster line counter reels currently for Bass Pro Shops? Anyone know of the quality there of the reels? They are using 4bb's and machined aluminum spools and the 20 size has a bit more line capacity reminds me of the 25 series of Catalina's as for line capacity. thanks in advance

I was using 10.5' Water Eagles I think they we were called but they were so frustratingly limber and i would hook myself just about every time I would lift them out of the water, so switched to Berkley Black Beauty 2's at 9' without the twili tips on them. Much more stable and controlable. Gave the Water Eagles to a charter Capt. at the Marina. thanks PS the Black Beauty 2's supposedly have cut proof eyes on the end of them

Hey Mackeral. How's the dry wall goin! You is a working fool bro. Can't wait til Hughes opens up. You will have to show me the double haywire. Do you use a tool of some sort to tie it up or your hands? I can't get the little loops to come up when you finish the twist. Waiting for the call from Arney's to get the boat down there. thanks man

I think I'll try the half hitches. Maybe a piece of shrink tubing over them. That should work. thanks everybody

Crimp is what I am thinking. What size to use though on the 30lb wire? I know of some folks who use the double haywire twist. I like the sound of that but for the life me can't make it work. thanks

I have the line, 1000 ft AW and looks identical to my Blood Run. I want to know how to join them together to top off my reels. thanks

Need to top off my diver reels. I need to join the two steel lines together, what knot do you guys use? thanks

Look on Amazon Prime for the best prices I would think. Always Ebay too. I have 2 level wind Catalina 25's. Holy Mackeral gave me my first one and I just bought another nib off the bay for cheap. They ain't line counters but they are stellar reels. thanks

For wire I am using Magda Pro 30's. If I could figure out a way to use my 309's for wire I would but they don't make a line counter for a rod yet that works very good. Never had a problem with the 30's for wire though. I have 6 of them, but only 2 dedicated to wire which might change. I like them and like I said never had a problem with any of them. Although off Ginna last year I broke an Okuma Pro GT I think it was called fighting a Salmon, but the reel held up nice. Landed the fish too. thanks

I agree support USA manufacturers. Penn USA made reels, and the wire I bought is made in Calif. thanks

Nail or Albright or Modified Albright, ok thanks for the info Longbow!

Just ordered some AccuStrand off Amazon. 1000ft. It is a soft 7 strand fishing wire made in Calif. by Cable Strand Co. I am going to replace wire from last year to refill my 2 diver reels. What knot do folks use for this? Thanks

I was talking the older Penn reels not having line counters. The new Penns in fact do but I don't own any of those. As for down rigger reels you don't need line counters, dipsy rods yep(maybe), and planer boards not really either. I've used both non lc's and lc's on my boards and have good luck with and without the lc's on there. I don't use lc's on my riggers cause I don't need them. You might though and I have been out in six footers easily on my boat, put out two Amish bags and your good to go. Never been sea sick either. Only have shipped water over the cuddy once and the stern once and was not any fun so quit fishing both times then. So there ya go. High gear ratio reels are nice though. But don't see much difference reeling in a fish with a Penn vs any of my Okumas', least way don't notice it, and my dipsy divers are a PITA reeling them in no matter what. And when the fish are biting the fish are biting. Especially spring and fall on the boards. In the summer we stay at Hughes and most of the folks there are very hard core fisherman. You can get 10 different guys coming in with 10 different ways they caught fish. So my thought is that if you're in the general vicinity of depth and location you'll do alright. I am fortunate enough to be friends with most so the info. is there on where and what to use. So there ya go. You like line counter reels then buy'em up, if you like older Penns' like me I buy them up, whatever floats your boat! thanks

The Penns' don't come with lc's. I am looking at some Shakespeare Ugly Sticks with inline counters. Maybe give a couple of those a try this year. There is a fella in our Marina, a Charter Capt. that uses Penn's and he doesn't use line counters at all and puts fish in the boat all the time. He uses the newer style level winds though. I've a Catalina level wind that is great too, a couple of Stratamasters etc.etc. and they are good also. But the Penn's beats me I like them. Solid gear cut drags, bails, and oiling ports. Super smooth, nice clickers that you can turn off too. So there ya go. Down riggers you don't need a line counter though. And boards you just free spool a 209 and count how many times the bail goes back and forth and you cant get pretty accurate with them with full spools. When the fish are on a bite you can pretty much count on a bite no matter what, least that is what I have found. thanks

Rigger reels I would go some good old American classic Penn Reels. 209's or 210's or for Kings maybe the 309's. These can be had on the bay for decent prices and they are SUPERB reels. Just extremely well made and machined. I also use Magda Pro 30's for my diver rods and frankly they have worked great too. I can't **** about them at all frankly. Used them a ton last summer and never failed me at all. I have 4 of them and only use 2. But like I said I like the Penn American made 209's or 210, riggers you can't beat the 309's. thanks

What wire brand do you all use for your divers. I don't use copper or the like, but I am using Blood Run 7 strand s.s.. One reel of it worked beautiful last year and one reel kinked like hell. How much do you all use and do you use backing on it etc.etc. thanks

If fees are requested, depending on what or who it is I will pay them, but I won't gift the payment etc. Got boned twice and there was no recourse for me. keepem sharp and I want to go fishing on the BIg O