Level wind vs. Non level wind

[goindeep]

I'm lookin into getting a conventional setup and was wondering what everyone thinks about level wind reels vs non level wind.

If you have a preference of one over the other, tell me why and list any pros or cons for either.

I've read up on them a little, but the more opinions the better. I'm buying one for boat use but would also use it at the pier for the bigguns.

[bigmike]

Hi GD,
I like to use light tackle most of the time and one level wind reel i used for many years with out any problems is the ambassador 6500 with 20lb test line. I have fished for just about all of the inshore fish with it. I started with this type of reel many years ago it took some time to learn the drag system and how to cast and believe me i had my share of birds nests but after a short time i started to get the hang of it and it was one of the best smaller fishing reels i have ever used. I also had the penn 320 GT level and that was also a good reel to fish with. But one thing i learned over the years is that if you never used one before take your time and learn as much as you can about the functions of the reel so when you make that first cast and you get that backlash you don't say the heck with this. Level winds reels are in my opinion are very good reel to use if you know how to use it.

[jimbojr]

Hi,
All of my inshore reels are conventional level wind reels. Leveling mono line is a pain and forget it with braid. After you get used to setting the cast control knob and the brake system for the terminal tackle that you are using you will be all set. Your thumb will become " educated " with practice. I use a couple of Shimano Calcutta CT400 reels that I modified wirh some high speed spool bearings and carbontex drag washers and I love them.

[jab]

can you make your reel level wind?

[olbob813]

Goindeep, you don't say how heavy a setup you are looking into. A levelwind is a great thing but if you hope to hook a few real biggins you'll want to do without the levelwind. There's a reason 12/0's don't have them, with the weight of a big fish on the wormgear it just can't move the line, and it strips the gear. Up to 3/0 size- get the levelwind if you like. 4/0 and up forget the levelwind.

[goindeep]

Cool, thanks for the good info so far.

Im thinkin about a 4/0, dont wanna go TOO big to start with, but somethin I could take offshore and get some decent sized ones with.

Im not worried about casting too much, as it would be mosty for bottom fishing on a boat. I might use it for shark fishing at the pier as well, but I dont need to cast far from the pier.

[eaglesfanguy]

Yea anything larger then a 4/0 no level wind.. abu's are the best small reels with a level wind.

i must agre with Mike.. Ambassadors 5500,6500,7000 best level winds for the price!..

[SkyJay]

May 5, 2009 22:17:31 GMT -5 olbob813 said:

Goindeep, you don't say how heavy a setup you are looking into. A levelwind is a great thing but if you hope to hook a few real biggins you'll want to do without the levelwind. There's a reason 12/0's don't have them, with the weight of a big fish on the wormgear it just can't move the line, and it strips the gear. Up to 3/0 size- get the levelwind if you like. 4/0 and up forget the levelwind.

good stuff... Ambassadors for inshore yes, OffShore Daiwa, Penn Shimano off shore no levelwind... More trouble than they're worth.

[sctaz]

If there's a Boater's World nearby you can pick up a deal on a combo there right now depending on what they have left. They're going out of business and the rods and reels are 40% off. The local store here in SC had Penn 330GT combos for $119 less 40%. The reel alone will cost more than $70 anywhere else. That combo would be excellent for trolling or bottom fishing. I don't need anything but if they go to 50% off on these I'll take a pair of them. The tackle is already at 50% off.

[ripnlips]

if you come out sunday i can let you take a test drive with my ambassador or my calcutta if ya want. maybe it will give you a better idea about which kind of reel you want.

[olbob813]

goindeep, I don't know where you live, but southeastern tackle on florida ave in tampa sells used rods and reels. I was in there today and saw decent combos for 59, 69, 79 bucks. they had a very usable penn jigmaster, essentially a 4/0 you can cast, for 35. lotta good deals and save at least 50 to 70% over new.Ya know, the difference between new and used can be just one fishin trip.

If you want to drop 250-300, you could set up with on of the new lightweight jigging rods. They are very light 5 1/2 to 7 foot rods made for braid that are rated for some unbelievable line weights. most of the 7 footers are for 20-60 lb test, and the 5 1/2 and 6 footer can be rated for up to 200 lb test, and weigh the same as your medium spinner. meaning no disrespect to other forum members, but you could really rip some lips with that setup.

good luck. its as much fun to find and land a great rod and reel as it is to catch a biggen. its all part of why we fish.

[sctaz]

www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MapQuestView?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&languageId=-1&city=bradenton&state=fl&zipCode=

[goindeep]

May 6, 2009 19:05:04 GMT -5 ripnlips said:

if you come out sunday i can let you take a test drive with my ambassador or my calcutta if ya want. maybe it will give you a better idea about which kind of reel you want.

Sounds good, Rip. Thanks!

I think Im leaning right now towards a smaller level wind for inshore, with plans on a heavier NLW for offshore later.

[goindeep]

Cool, thanks for all the info doods. Got it narrowed down to a couple.

[rayswin]

lvlwind for skyway grouper, too windy out there not to have a "lvl"wind.

[jimbojr]

Hi,
What rods are you looking at to match with the reels? Any suggestions?

[goindeep]

I think Im gonna go with a Daiwa Sealine 47h levelwind reel to start with. It should be good for the pier and inshore. Gonna put it on a rod SkyJay hooked me up with. Thanks again Jay, Ill try to do ya proud by haulin in some bigguns with that stick!!

Ill look into something bigger down the road, but I think this reel will be a good one to learn with for now. 4.1 to 1 gear ratio, line capacity 20/280, 25/220.


Next question: On this type of reel, braid or mono?

[olbob813]

Mono's cheaper, braid's thinner so you can get a lot more on the reel. I'd go with 50 yards of 20 lb mono backing and a 300 yard spool of 40 lb powerpro.
Its very important that you put the mono backing on first. Braid will slip on the spool if you don't use backing. Tie them together with the same knot you use to tie a hook on. As to line color, pick what you like, you'll be using a fluorocarbon leader.

[grouperscooper]

go wit mono till ya got it all under control.

might be kinda expensive goin wit braid first.

won't take ya long though...........before ya know it you'll be freelinin and haulin them in like scooter.

[montylfl]

May 9, 2009 1:45:29 GMT -5 goindeep said:

Gonna put it on a rod SkyJay hooked me up with. Thanks again Jay,

That is what fishing and this forum is all about.!!!

[truckyfd]

i use the 330gt for group's

but a shimano tld20 for kings and poon's

[jab]

i have a 4/0 penn im still having trouble with casting but im getting better.

[SkyJay]

Nice reel, one I'm unfamiliar with, however as I don't do levelwinds, except on batcasters. Start out with 50, or 60 Blue Mamoi, until you're comfortable with Superbraid, which in the end is best IMHO, for SkyWay Grouper. Best of luck my friend. Gags on deck, to ya.

J

PS Jab, has anyone shown you how to use the Brake on you 400?

[filletnrelease]

I guess I gotta agree with the Ambassadors, I own a couple of 5500's and a C-4 6500 and for the $$ they are real nice. As far a Conventional setup, I don't like the level wind. Maybe cause I have fished without one for more years than I can remember. My Diawa Sealine with 100lb PP on it will cast almost as well as a Spinner. But like Jay so aptly put sometime back, it' all in the thumb.

[goindeep]

So the reel came in Saturday. Took it to the pier Sunday but it didnt see much action. Tried to freeline a couple of pinfish but they didnt want to swim out. They were content to find a piling and hide from flipper. I tried a short cast once, and it wasnt pretty . A tiny bit of backlash but nothing major. So I decided to wait and practice with it before I try it again.

So I read up on it a bit and decided to get some practice in. Went to a field by my house to figure this thing out. I tied on a 4oz weight and let it free fall to the ground. Adjusted the spool tension so that when the weight hit the ground, the spool would pretty much stop spinning. It felt a little tight but this is what I read so I figured what the hay. First few casts, nothing to write home about, maybe 20-30 yards and way off to the side, but I was able to stop the spool on impact no problem and with no bids nests/backlashes. So far so good. Then I tried various angles and releases, slowly getting the hang of it. Once I found a comfortable release I started casting a bit further. Still, not much distance, but I was more or less trying to get a feel for how to cast it rather than distance. I must have cast 20-30 times with no backlashes, and was getting a good feel for the reel. So now Im feeling pretty good, and decide to see what I can do if I back off the spool tension. First cast sailed about twice the distance of my previous best. Holy cow. After some more casts, I noticed that I got more distance with a higher trajectory than Im used to with spinning gear. So rather than trying to muscle a far cast, I started using a more fluid motion and letting the reel take over and do its thing. The results were amazing. I was casting a country mile. I was really starting to see a difference and I was getting more confident. 20-30 casts later I was getting really good distance, farther than Ive ever cast with a spinning reel. Now I wanted to work on control. Remembering something I read, I started listening to the spool while watching the weight in midair, and I was able to feather the spool a bit when it hit top speed and stop it when I needed to. So now I am wondering if I could be accurate with it. I spot a mountain dew bottle about 25 yards away. First cast landed about 3 feet from it. I cast at it about 10 times, only missing badly once. Most of the time it was within 3 or so feet. Set my sights on a small dirt mound off to the side at about 40 yards away. First cast way short. Second cast hit the damn thing dead center. Got pretty consistent at getting within 3 or so feet. Not bad for a first timer. I wasnt quite as good with the targets further away but it never landed far from where I was aiming. I never knew you could finesse cast with these things. Pretty cool. Ill keep practicing and know I will only get better.

So I stayed out and cast for a while. Im pretty comfortable with it so far. I think Im gonna like this reel, even though Ill be mostly freelining and wont need to cast it far. Its built like a tank and the drag is like butter, smooth as can be. The only downside is Ive always used (spinning) reels with the crank on the left side, and even though Im right handed, reeling with my left and working the rod with my right is more natural for me. This seems like the thing that will be toughest to used to. Maybe Ill look into a left handed reel when I look for a 4/0. As for this reel, Im gonna take it out again tomorrow and this time try it with a weight and bait to see how different it is.

So far, about 100 casts, and no backlashes or bird nests. Id say for the first time casting with no coaching, I did pretty darn good. Now I need to hit SkyJay up to show me how to take it apart to clean and grease it and Ill be set.



Heres what it looks like, Daiwa Sealine 47h (not a pic of mine, camera batteries are dead). Got mine on ebay, $40 shipped, only used in fresh water a few times, in just as good of shape as the one in this pic.

[havetofish]

Wow Steve, feels like I was there with ya, and I probably should practice more myself like that.

[SkyJay]

Rod butt under RIGHT shoulder.

Right hand on reel handle.

Rod tip UP!

Crank like hell till it becomes second nature,

Just REEL!

[fishonfishoff]

Nice lesson Steve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eaglesfanguy]

Your a natural...


Now i cant wait till i get to see your first real Blowup.. When you panik to get to that cruising Cobia.. And wing it.. buzzzzzzzzzzzzz clunk jerk! lol.. You learned the smart way.. Most folks get a conventional.. and wing it to 3000 blowups..and then sell em cheap