Picked up two of the Tekota 501s and just got back from a week fishing in BC. Been waiting for a long time for a lefty Tekota and they didn't disappoint.

 

I bought the lexa lefty and very happy with it. I was a big shimano fan but made the switch last year and very happy I did.

 

Haven't tried the Tekota ... although I'll pick one up and use it this fall.

Love my lefty line counter Lexa's.

I'm an admitted Daiwa fan-boy. I've tried nearly every lefty line counter reel. The Daiwa's hold up to my abuse when others don't.

 

I just picked up 2-lefty Tekotas. I have a lefty Diawa 300-pwr, love it, but the line counter is not working properly, works then doesn't.

 

I have one of each. The Lexa 300 is on a bass crankbait rod for a walleye setup. The Tekota is on an 8' Okuma XHVY magnum. Taper as my light sturgeon rod. I love both reels and would not change one for the other. They are both outstanding for their tasks.

The Tekota is a much beefier reel. The Lexa is much lighter but still strong.

So if you want a lighter, more sensitive reel pick the Lexa. If you want a tank get the Tekota. It comes down to what you value most.

 

Personally, I prefer the placement of the Daiwa LC on top of the reel spool, whereas I don't care for how the LC on the Tekota juts out to the side. If the Shimano were clearly superior in all other aspects then OK, but I've had no reliability issues w/ the Daiwas so that's enough to sway me.

 

I have several of the old Tekota line counters from 300 up to 600 and a new this season Lexa LC 100. I really like the functionality of the Lexa, works great for trolling. I put it on a MH bass rod and used it for jigging while I was in British Columbia this year and used it hard. My wife used the same setup but with a Tekota 300. Admittedly, I was using the Lexa for more than it was designed to do as we were catching a lot of fish (as in dozens) in the 10-20 lb range and I even managed to land a Halibut around 45 lbs. Unfortunately, the Lexa started to fail before the trip was over, the spool will no longer click over when the reel handle is engaged. Since I got to land a lot of big fish on a really small reel, I got to really put the drag through its paces. The drag on the Tekota is much better for landing big fish, the Lexa had a very jerky and not super smooth drag. Big fish always seemed to be surging the drag whereas with the Tekota they would just make a long smooth run. I am going to try to get the Lexa repaired but it shouldnt have failed after a week and a half of fishing. Since one reel does not represent a good sample of what will happen to others, I would be tempted to get another Lexa but the drag is really not very good in my opinion so I will try something else next time. I really like the low profile design for jigging, I need to find a replacement for the Lexa LC.

 

I have a dozen of the Lexa 300, no line counter option, but I have used these for 5 or 6 years for jigging tuna, they are all still working fine, tons of drag and you wont hear me complain about a Lexa. Fairly cheap on ebay compared to the stores around here :twocents:

 

Would you ever try using the Lexa 300 LC for plunking? How does it cast? I have a Shimano Tekota A 601 trolling reel that I tried plunking with on the Willamette with the other day... Didn’t go very well. (Ratty!) I even read I run BC the risk of casting it apart with continued use throwing 8-10oz pyramid weights, which is not a good use of $200. So I went back to my plunking spot with my Cardiff (10lb drag) and got friggin spooled by a monster, and I’m still heart broken about it. So I need more drag for bank days springer fishing, and I would like a 2nd LC reel for the quiver for those two rod endorsement years when I am on the boat anyways. This Lexa 300LC looks interesting. Is it the jack off all, or what? If I don’t go LC, then I might just splurge for a TranX 300 series.

 

Line counters don't generally cast well. Casting could also cause the line counter to become disengaged and not work accurately. An lc reel works really well when on the hook and just dropping in. For strength try a Penn 321 for bank fishing, inexpensive and does the job.

 

Agreed. You shouldn't be casting with a line counter.

If you're rowing out in a kayak or something and dropping your gear in, a line counter is going to be useful. But if you're casting, what's the use of a line counter? Unless you're that good at hitting the same spot over and over again. And, if that's the case, you don't need a line counter.

 

You can lob but casting probably not.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

I have used to older cold water line counters plunking for years and they are still working great and have caught a ton of fish. I like it because you can put it on the same ledge every time

 

MY fishing buddy and I both bought the Coldwater Left hand reels---they both failed within a year ---the spool release stopped working. Waste of money, my Lexa 100LC is much more robust.

 

I have had the Daiwa Sea Line and have the Tekota 501 I definitely feel the Tekota is made better. The sea line was a good reel but the one counter was fickle and cheap plastic along with spool lever.

I went to buy a new reel and was looking between another Tekota or something else, I landed on the Okuma cold water 303 I believe. Felt sturdy and it performed well. I am glad I went with it vs a sea line.

I troll only.

 

I have a Lexa 400. Non line counter. Love it for casting. I use it on my iron rod fishing in San Diego tossing Colt Snipers and Poppers. Looking at buying a couple Lexa LC 100hL for Kokanee and trout fishing. There a line counter is nice.

 

got 2 tekotas here 500 and a 600 model . i like them and have lasted.

 

I have beaten the heck out of a Lexa for 8 years running so far. Just cleaned it last year, a very solid choice. I am sold. Non line counter style. 22lbs or more of drag. Low profile largest for casting in our fisheries. 300 series, so happy I bought one of the newer blue win style ones. Happy, Happy...............

 

I feel like the tekota 501 is the best reel Ive ever had.

 

Same