Ultimate Panfish Reel?

[Damon Toney]

I'm considering importing this reel, and I'd like some opinions.

[Slip Sinker]

Very cool reel…

For me a reel of that nature would make a  great component to a dedicated vertical jigging setup.... or even icefishing... do you think there is any chance that there would be ice build up problem on the line guide up front?

[Damon Toney]

That's what I keep hearing. For ice I wondering if the level wind would freeze up too easily. Since I live in Alabama I have no way to testing it in ice conditions. I do a lot of longline drifting and trolling. Free spooling the line out gets line out very quickly.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

That's definitely a cool looking reel. Let us know how it works for you? Have you given it a good test yet?

[Damon Toney]

Thanks! I'm still putting it through its paces. I've been casting with it, but haven't had much opportunity to fish with it.

[Mike Cooper]

I'm interested in it!

Looks like it would be great for vertically fishing jigs, but can you actually cast with it without backlashing it?

What price range would it be in?

[Damon Toney]

I need to do a casting video of it. You have to feather it with your pinky just like our centerpin brethren. I have made some decent casts with it, but it isn't a megacaster. I'm seeing this reel for vertical jigging, spider rigging and longline trolling and drifting application. You can cat it in a pinch, but it's no spinning reel. Gonna try and shoot a video on this next week if the weather clears.

Than ks for your interest. I'm still trying to get a quote form the supplier in China. It's the Chinese New Year, it's like the Christmas Holidays for them. People are on vacation and stuff. As such I'm not wanting to give a price just yet.

[Mike English]

I'd try one for sure!

[Slip Sinker]

20180316- i dont know... still looking... ideal pan fish reel should be able to throw a 1/80 oz + bait or tipping presentation 50ft assuming a normal fly rod cast is about that

[Damon Toney]

That sounds like the function of the rod not the reel. Any fly rod can throw that easily with flies much much lighter than that. Still the assumption is, well, I should clarify the ultimate panfish reel for trolling, drifting, jigging, or otherwise using non-casting methods. Interesting that people assume ultimate must pertain to their way of fishing instead of totally rethinking the way they fish.

Again further evidence that people just don't fish the way I do. That's why I get so angry on YouTube because I can't find anyone making videos using the methods I use, so I have to go develop them and post them myself. People watch in amazement, but they've never seen it or would have ever conceived of it.

[Slip Sinker]

Your right… combination rod, reel, and additionally the line.

Yeah 50 ft is my benchmark because it includes the fly fishing method… tough for me to cast over 50 ft from the boat or the dock. Fly fishing from my shorelines is impossible for the most part for me because of what’s behind me.

I wouldn’t get mad at your situation considering your methods of fishing your basically doing some pioneering and succeeding at it. I enjoy watching your vids… informative as well as entertaining. I’d rather watch something new and innovative than the same old thing on line.i hope your venture becomes successful.

I vertically jig, drift and drag baits through zones… I like the short rod for the vertical work. 4’ tops very rarely go over 6-0' for everything else long-casting etc… but I may end up casting it as well… so personal preference leans to the spinning reel.

[Damon Toney]

Thx, man. For casting a good old spinning reel for sure. With a bait feeder system, it's good for drifting as well.

[Damon Toney]

Yeah, I personally can't stand anything shorter than 8 feet, but I'm used to fly rods and crappie rods. For me an  an eight foot rod is a four foot rod. Four feet to get the rod to the side of the boat, and the rest extends beyond the side of the boat. So an eight foot rod only has four foot reach. Growing up with 15ft and sometimes 20ft cane poles, "long" 8ft to 12ft fly and crappie rods feel about right considering it's easier to manage line with a proper reel, guides and such.

For a good catfish rod I like maybe around 7 - 7.5 feet or so. Better leverage for fighting a much bigger, stronger fish. Theyre not as boat shy as gills, but gills aren't too boat shy either.