Trolling Reels - Anything New?

[Hardy Guy]

Gone Fishing on Vancouver Island has their big sale on today. 20% off on almost all fishing gear. I picked up one red and one blue TMX-5 today for $369 plus tax each. Looking forward to getting them out on the water. They look and feel beautiful. I was a bit disappointed to see Made In China on the side of the box. Re3f reels are made in Korea and offer a free spool switch. After talking to the owner of the Courtenay location I made the choice to go with the TMX-5's. Staff there is great and I try to support the local shops as much as possible.

You made the right choice in my opinion. Hard not to find Asian reels unless you pay double

 

[Squire]

Gone Fishing on Vancouver Island has their big sale on today. 20% off on almost all fishing gear. I picked up one red and one blue TMX-5 today for $369 plus tax each. Looking forward to getting them out on the water. They look and feel beautiful. I was a bit disappointed to see Made In China on the side of the box. Re3f reels are made in Korea and offer a free spool switch. After talking to the owner of the Courtenay location I made the choice to go with the TMX-5's. Staff there is great and I try to support the local shops as much as possible.

You cost me a fortune lol. I saw this post around 3 o’clock and drove down to the Duncan store to check it out. The prices were good enough that I ended up walking out with an Islander MR3 and a Scotty 1106B.

The sale was supposed to be one day only but I heard on the radio on the way home that they’re extending it through tomorrow.

 

[Hot-Streak]

After fishing with White Lighting and trying is R3EF reels, I picked up matching set of green R3EF reels, stripped the mono and spooled with braid and added a high vis red mono top shot and matched them to my custom 10'6 rods.

I'll keep my Trophy XL QR (with islander springs) on my 9ft ugly stick GX2 and see which set up I like better.

TMX 5 will likely go up for sale because I realized I like having a free spool for setting gear. Set drag where I want it once. free spool and drop lines on the rigger. No fuss with the drag everytime.

 

[SpringVelocity]

I still like my R3EF reels and have trophy as backup. Nothing wrong them, and tough to beat the price.

 

[Pineapple Express]

After fishing with White Lighting and trying is R3EF reels, I picked up matching set of green R3EF reels, stripped the mono and spooled with braid and added a high vis red mono top shot and matched them to my custom 10'6 rods.

I'll keep my Trophy XL QR (with islander springs) on my 9ft ugly stick GX2 and see which set up I like better.

TMX 5 will likely go up for sale because I realized I like having a free spool for setting gear. Set drag where I want it once. free spool and drop lines on the rigger. No fuss with the drag everytime.

How does it work to use the free-spool feature when sending gear down?

If I back off the drag all the way on my reels (Diawa M-One UTD or Islander MR3) and send the gear down the reels are prone to keep spinning and birdsnest the line. Seems to me that having a bit of drag is necessary to prevent the overspinning.

 

[scott craven]

How does it work to use the free-spool feature when sending gear down?

Thumb on the spool, otherwise bird nest
The free spool feature is most beneficial in jigging

 

[scott craven]

I still like my R3EF reels and have trophy as backup. Nothing wrong them, and tough to beat the price.

On sale at Harbor Chandler $370.00

 

[Hot-Streak]

How does it work to use the free-spool feature when sending gear down?

If I back off the drag all the way on my reels (Diawa M-One UTD or Islander MR3) and send the gear down the reels are prone to keep spinning and birdsnest the line. Seems to me that having a bit of drag is necessary to prevent the overspinning.

I setup my lure/flasher, clip it, put rod in the holder then use my thumb to give a little tension on the reel without touching the line (metal is smoother), then engauge the freespool, I then can drop it fast to the depth I'm fishing and click off the free spool. Reel in any excess line till the rod bends where I need it.

This way I don't have to adjust the drag much. Its just a personal preference but I can get my gear down a lot quicker this method and once practiced a bit, its muscle memory.

 

[Pineapple Express]

I setup my lure/flasher, clip it, put rod in the holder then use my thumb to give a little tension on the reel without touching the line (metal is smoother), then engauge the freespool, I then can drop it fast to the depth I'm fishing and click off the free spool. Reel in any excess line till the rod bends where I need it.

This way I don't have to adjust the drag much. Its just a personal preference but I can get my gear down a lot quicker this method and once practiced a bit, its muscle memory.

Thumb on the spool, otherwise bird nest
The free spool feature is most beneficial in jigging

Got it. Thanks for the replies. The thumb provides the bit of drag needed to prevent the overrunning.