Michigan Muskie Alliance

So all you full time ski fisherpersons, what reels have come out with flying colors in the last couple of years? Is the Induron a good reel for the money???

Michelle and I both Agree that the StCroix 250 and 300 series are very good reels in the 200 dollar range. We also agree that the Abu Record is a problem reel. I have not had one out 7 that have worked for even one whole season with out having to send it back for replacement. For smaller Pike and light Musky lures the Phluger Trion pow profile 99.00 bucks is a real trooper. We have 5 years on two of them with zero problems. Mike and Michelle

Some more information would help:

1) What's your budget?

2) What are you going to use the reel for?

3) What ratio are you looking for?

4) What rod are you going to put this reel on?

Hmmmm. Lotsa q's coming back at me. All round reel I guess. I have been using 6500's since the start. Though I dont fish for 'skis that much now. the talk i have been hearing of local results has my blood flowing once more. May even stay home Saturday and fish here rather than the drive to Murray. I have a pair of Gander rods, med heavy. I would like a reel that casts better, smoother than the 6500's. I have not been lucky enough to try others side by side with the Abu's. I troll more than I cast. I am just looking down the road beyond the life of these Abu's. I have not used them as much in the past 4 or5 years as you po's do in a single season. And the latest reports on the repairs of said Abu's and customer service leave abit to be desired. Mike- I did not know you have been thru that many.

I had an Abu Record that lasted about 5 weeks, then broke. Returned it for two Pflueger Trion 66 round reels ($99/ea) which have performed flawlessly so far. Retrieve ratio is 5.2:1.



I believe the Gander Guide Series round reels are Pflueger Trions, too, and I saw three model 56s at the Lansing store marked at $50 on Friday.

I forgot to add what I would pay. I saw in Rollis catalog that the one went for $120. I think I paid $70 for the 6500's. Got one great deal on a rod/reel combo at Gander for $85 I think. $120 is the mose I would pay for a round reel. Cast a few with the 6500 and that Gander guide series MH 7 footer tonight. Seemed smooth enough, but I would like to try smething else side by side. Maybe Saturday....

Hate to keep bashing the Abu's but... I have had the anti-reverse go out on my last two and the replacement parts for these reels were really expensive the last time I fixed one.
I like the Trion 66 (Pete Maina sign. series) reel as well.
Question... I've never fixed the anti-reverse on a reel, I've just sent them in... anyone know how to fix the anti-reverse on any type reel?

John E. Sox wrote:Hate to keep bashing the Abu's but... I have had the anti-reverse go out on my last two and the replacement parts for these reels were really expensive the last time I fixed one.
I like the Trion 66 (Pete Maina sign. series) reel as well.
Question... I've never fixed the anti-reverse on a reel, I've just sent them in... anyone know how to fix the anti-reverse on any type reel?

I think it usually just one special anti-reverse roller bearing, on the crank mechanism. Sometimes they're called "clutch bearings". Some more expensive reels have more than one.

John-

Sometimes it is just a matter of getting the grease out of the bearing so the cam action of the rollers can work. I had the same problem with all my Morrums until I took them apart and boiled the grease out of the bearings. This is normally a problem when the weather starts to get into the upper thirties.

Kevin