Your favorite steelhead reel(s)

[Stew]

What are you favorite steelhead reels? Spinning? casting?

[KingFisher85]

An old abu 3500 for my bank drift fishing

[Rusty]

Shimano Bantam Mag 201 RULES!

Rusty

[SteelieSteve]

Shimano mag plus 251. I've had 5 shimano's and this is the best. though I haven't tried the newer models. I'm sure the calcutta is much better but I'm not ready to spend that much on a reel.

[Hawaiian]

Shane,
ABU 4000 D (direct drive)

Ray

[Sagebrush Fisherman]

Ambassadeur 6500C

[Timber]

I'm with SS on this one I've also got 5 that I have fished since the early 80s and can't seem to wear one out

[BuKuBass]

I concur with Steelie Steve and Timber. Everytime that I see a friend of mine who guides on the Umqua, he tries to buy one of my 251s. I've tuned mine with ABEC 7 bearings and Rocket Fuel lube. Loaded with yellow 6/20 Tufline XP, there's not alot of holding water that I can't reach.

[Fish Finder]

baitcast, Diawa TD-HSD

[Wog]

Shimano Curado
CU-201 BSF

[AnnaDraMoss]

baitcast team diawa 103 hia. awesome!!!!!

[timinthegorge]

Wog..... right reel! Wrong hand! :grin: :grin:

Curado 200 BSF :cool:

[nooknut]

I've got three of the Shimano Bantam 100's. Great little reels for steelhead. I wish they still made them. Although the tried and true ABU 5500's are great also. Probably mo betta for pluggin' too.

[Tillamook Slugger]

For small streams, the Langley Streamlight circa 1950's. For bigger rivers the Pflueger Supreme from the 1940's - 50's. If a star drag and faster retrieve is required for BIG fish, an Abu Garcia 5500C vintage 1970's with the dual chrome endcaps. I cannot stand the new reels (except the newer Ambassadeurs) where the levelwind remains stationary when casting. -- What are they thinking? Does this bother anyone else??

[King13fisher]

Shimano Calcutta 250...although I know Shimano has better.

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

My fav... :grin:
http://www.okiebug.com/shop/media/Zebco_202_Reel.jpg

[fishbait]

I love my Shimano 251's dearly, but the new Curado will probably take their place.

[NEUTRON]

Hey Fishbait, didn't think you angled for 'slime rockets" only the big boys? Bantam 201's.

[Stew]

TH what is yellow rocket fuel? Is that some sort of lubricant? Where do you get it?

[letsfish]

Wow, *** a Zebco! I was thinking of trading my Zebco 101 in for a Snoopy but wow a 202 !
You do use it for sturgeon, right? It seems a bit to much reel for steelhead, thats why I was thinking of going for a Snoopy :grin:

[TH]

Yes it is Stew!

Heartland tackle (http://www.heartlandtackleservice.com/)

click on the link and look through this page.

I have had all my high end reels serviced through Jim at Heartland Tackle

I have him upgrade the bearings to the ABEC7 Bearings and have him lube my Chronarchs with Yellow rocket fuel, the Calcutta 400's he uses the Red (designed for Salt water)

Jim is very fast and very resaonable.. I highly recommend him!!

In my opinion its worth the $20 a reel!

[ 12-08-2002, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: TH ]

[MarlinMark]

TH,

I heard that one needs to re apply that Rocket fuel more often...say ever 2 months or so. Do you find this true and do you do that yourself?

Also, what would be the "perfect" TH custom Steelhead drift/bobber rod to match a shiny new Curado? You made a Kokanee rod for me for my father's retirement gift and I thought it was awesome. Thanks for that and the answers to my questions.

Mark

[Rock Stick or Fish]

By Abu 5601C4 broke my heart for the last time today. I'm a Shimano guy from here on out.

RSF

[crabbait]

Let me guess, MarlinMark. A Rainshadow 1143 in either spinning or casting with either a Curado 200/1 BSF or an Okuma Epixor EP30. Got 'em both! :wink:

[ultralight]

WOW, that's an awesome looking reel, *** Clerk. Does it come in left hand retrieve, and where can I get one?

[TH]

Mark I like the 1143c it is 9'6" 6-12#
this is my favorite float rod...

if you want something longer the 1263 10'6" 6-12# is pretty awesome as well.

[Stew]

Originally posted by crabbait:
Let me guess, MarlinMark. A Rainshadow 1143 in either spinning or casting with either a Curado 200/1 BSF or an Okuma Epixor EP30. Got 'em both! :wink: <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Hey Crabby do you like that Epixor? I bought one thinking that bait thing at the back would be a good way to extend drift while fishing jigs. It didn't work....too much drag. Otherwie it's a good reel

[ 12-08-2002, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Shane S ]

[Livin the Dream]

I absolutely love my Shimano bantam 101.
I finally tired it out on the Deschutes this summer and it needs service, so I broke down and got the Curado.
I have not gotten the Curado dialed in yet so the Bantam is still the favorite.

Hoping to break that Curado in this week on some fresh winters.

AL

[MarlinMark]

Thanks TH for your reply. Are we all dreaming of a Silver/Steel Christas??? :smile: :smile:

Mark :cheers:

[TH]

always Mark!

Have a great one!

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

Stop pickin' on me, this is what I used to have...
http://www.zebco.com/kidscove/images/snoopy_combo.jpg
:grin: :grin:

[gimmeumpqua]

My favorite is a 4500ss Penn spinner for drift and float. For Casting, I use a Penn international 955 or 965.

I've been through too many Shimanos and think they are overpriced and they suck.

Gimme

[Gus Orviston]

TH why do you upgrade the bearings in the curados,,,, I am amazed how they work stock. You must be hard on them and catching a bunch o'fish.

I bought my first steelhead reel 22 years ago...Bantam Shimano 100 EX....it is a bit undergunned and hasn't seen much action in the last 10 years (open opportunity for BOE). It's caught a couple salmon and it's still in great shape. Now though I have the usual list of Shimanos/Abu s.

gus

[Bait O' Eggs]

No need to take a shot at you Gus, :rolleyes: :rolleyes: but I do have a question for you, ....are you talking about your reel or something else when you said the following? :hoboy:

it is a bit undergunned and hasn't seen much action in the last 10 years <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">

[go fisch]

I should have stock in Shimano

[KingFisher85]

*** Clerk
Do you think we could get TH to build us a few rods like them snoopy rods. I really like that yellow or pink blanks. :wink:

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

:grin: :grin:

[Stew]

Thanks to all for their response :grin: Wow it looks like Curados and Ambassadeurs huh?
I have the Bantam 201SG and whileit can handle chinook in certain situations I wouldn't recommend it.
My reels of choice are in no particular order
Curado 201 FS
Bantam 201
Calcutta 151,251
Shimano Stradic 4000
Okuma Epix 30
Ambassadeur 5000A, 5000D

[fishbait]

Neutron,
use to spank the dickens out of both winters and summers, but just lost the thrill for me. I still make 3-5 trips per winter, mostly to zip's. Great fun on light gear, but now that I'm old and fat it's become more work. :shocked:

[Straydog]

***,

Glad to see you've finally upgraded! :grin: :grin:

Bantam 201SG, 201Mag and Curados.... gotta love em!

Have been using a Shimano Sahara 2000 spin for side drifting and like that too!

[ 12-08-2002, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[TH]

Reels...
one of my favorite topics.. the more reels I have the more rods I need!

Favorite steelie reels..

by far hands down...

casting

#1 shimano Chronarch w/ ABEC7 bearings and yellow rocket fuel.! :grin:

#2 Shimano Curado w/ the same upgrade bearings... and yellow rocket fuel.

Spinning

#1 Shimano Sustain 4000
#2 Shimano Stardic 2000

plug reels

Shimano Calcutta 250

[KingFisher85]

*** Clerk
do you use one of them pink rods also? :grin:

[Osprey]

I've owned and fished most of the good Shimano's 201's,301's,351's,251's,Calcuttas and Curados.
My personal favs are my 351 Bantam and my first year production year Calcutta.I do need to up grade the bearings and try some of the super lube stuff.

I own a Curado too and it's a nice reel.
Just because it's one of the most popular doesn't make it one of the best.
...my.02....Os
........ graemlins/stupid.gif

[luguando]

For summer run steelhead I go to the spinning gear (or flyrod). My shimano spirex is a dream to fish with. The spinning gear allows me to cover a lot of water, throw spinners, bait, and jigs. If the water gets too low and clear it's time for the flyrod.

[parthur]

Ambassadeur 2500c, small, light, great drag. I have a closet full of Shimanos that stay home after I found this reel at a garage sale :cheers:

[fishin optician]

Shimano Curado 201 BSF It's a big fish stoppin machine!

[Mtn Man]

Hard to beat a Mitchell 300.

[blacktail]

Some of my favorites.....

Old Cardinals
Old Quicks
Stradics
Old Bantams
Ambassadeurs

Do not own a Calcutta or Curado.......yet.

Mike

[skrimmy]

Mitchell 300? Yikes, I forgot I even still have one of those! It's 30 years old. Boy, those were DaBomB in their day.