13Fishing Reels?

[dsiekman]

I was flipping through the latest Cabela's add and saw a new saltwater rated baitcasting reel that caught my eye. It was by a company called 13 Fishing. Anybody know anything about them?

While you're at it, I'm fairly new to baitcasters and find them a little (more) awkward from a kayak. Am I doing something wrong?

[jhoss]

Some of my fishing buddies are fans of their rods. I'm not familiar with their reels though. I've always been too superstitious to bring anything on the yak with a 13 on it.

[dsiekman]

13 has always been my lucky number, so I'm not worried about that. Being a small business guy I always like to give the new guy a shot. Granted, they aren't cheap reels, but if they are worth the money I'm willing to give one a shot.

Back to my other question. When I use a bait caster I feel like I should be standing, not sitting. It just feels weird to me. Kind of like trying to fly fish in a yak. You can certainly do it, it just feels strange at first. Any tips you guys have? Maybe cut down the butt section of the rod?

[skinnywater]

The whole deal with bait casters is patience and practice. I experienced over run hell when I started. I recommend a person buy an inexpensive bait caster with a magnet cast control to learn. This reel will have two adjustment knobs. One is the cast control. You tie a lure to your line and hold the rod parallel to the ground. Push the free spool and allow the line lure to drop. Turn the knob until the lure drops slowly. Now adjust the magnet control to the highest number. Start casting. You'll still have to use your thumb to stop the spool right before th lure hits the surface. Practice this way and as you become more proficient reduce the magnet. Eventually you will get to the point where you will not be using the magnet at all.

The reason I advise people to buy an inexpensive reel is in the event you don't like it you won't be out to much money. Used bait casters are hard to sell. Believe me I've tried. In addition if you master the cheap reel the more expensive reels will be way easier to use. You will always get an occasional over run. But they won't be bad.

I cast sitting most of the time. As does Bill Dance.

I hope this helps. If you live in Annapolis I would be happy to help you when it gets warmer.

[Mark]

I bait cast and fly fish while seated in my kayak. A kayak allows me to get close to structure and therefore nearer to the fish with some degree of stealth. The need for extremely long casts by standing often is not necessary in a kayak.

I enjoy the casting accuracy that bait casting and fly fishing offer -- much more than with spinning gear in my opinion because in both of those casting forms I manually control the speed of the line as it leaves my rod. i can also feather the line as it leaves a spinning spool, but not with the same control as in bait casting or fly casting either of which I can literally stop the line in an instant.

But it's important to have good equipment matched to what you're attempting to do. For example, I typically use my bait casters for lures 1/4 ounce or more in weight. If I use lighter lures I opt for spinning gear. Spinning reels are simply better than bait casters for lighter lures. My fly rods are fitted with the proper weight line and I throw appropriately sized flies with them. I learned that if I fight the physics involved in either form of casting I'll lose. That's the best advice or tip I can offer. Properly matched equipment. That and practice. Before long you'll make distance adjustments with your thumb on the reel (or with your line-hand while fly fishing) without thinking about them.

My bait cast rods vary in length from 6 to 6.5 to 7 feet. The short rod gives me more control when casting close under docks while the longest rod gives me more distance. I also like a long rod to move a fish from one side of the kayak to the other by reaching it in front of the bow. I have spinning rods in the same lengths. My fly rods are 8.5 to 9 feet long. No problem playing a fish from one side of the boat to the other with them.

I spend more money on bait cast reels than spinning reels. I use no spinning reels over $70 but all my bait casters cost closer to $150. To me that seems to be the breakpoint for a good serviceable bait caster. I've tried less expensive reels but they just don't work as well. They feel loose and wobbly in the handle and the anti-backlash mechanisms do not work as well as on the higher priced models.

So I thoroughly enjoy bait casting and fly fishing in a kayak. Either can be done while seated and both have certain advantages over spinning tackle in my opinion.

[dsiekman]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the insight. I have a cheap Shimano bait caster ($80) that works ok but it certainly isn't good enough to make me want to give up my spinning rods. I have the magnets set to novice mode which is probably part of why it doesn't cast far. One other issue, admittedly silly, is that I love to hear the drag scream when a nice fish is on. With my current (maybe all of them?) bait caster, there is no sound whatsoever. This makes it not a great option for trolling if it is one of the back rods in the spread. You could miss fish if you didn't hear it go off. I like my set ups to perform double duty so I can limit what I take with me.

[Mark]

You're correct on the matter of a silent drag.

I troll with my bait casters occasionally and I have to be attentive to the rod tip in lieu of sound.

[skinnywater]

There are bait casters available with "clickers".

[dsiekman]

There are bait casters available with "clickers".

Any low profile saltwater worthy bait casters with clickers? I know there are a few smaller round varieties like avert and a few shimanos (I've got both), but I can't seem to find one that's LP.

[ComeOnFish]

dseikman,
I don't want to change the topic, but with the 13 reels, what species are you going to fish? I guess you want to cast light lures.

I gave up on bait-casting reels on casting light lures. I think I need to match rod, reel, line and the lure for casting. I got too many bird nests. Having 2-3 bird nests costs me 2 hours of the valuable fishing time occasionally. So I carried a spare reel and replaced the reel when the bird nest happened. I needed two spare reels actually.

I can cast 1 oz lures or heavier. My bait-casting reel application is mainly for jigging or bottom fishing.

The reason I asked your target species is that there are two new Quantum reels on the same catalog. The max drag was 25 # and they hold more lines by 30% compare to the 13 reels (22 # max drag). Being a tautog fisherman, I like the new Quantum reels. I am just wondering if you were considering 13 reels because of 22 # max drag for tautog, sheepshead, big stripers or big bull red kinds of fish.

Joe

[dsiekman]

99% of my fishing is casting or trolling artificials. I'm not a bait fisherman and have never had much luck jigging. I really enjoy casting hard baits but also throw a lot of spinners. Mostly inline smaller spinners for WP and pickerel. That said, every year we visit my inlaws in south of Tampa and my FIL and I do a lot of inshore and beach fishing. I got him into kayak fishing, so this year we are going to try to hit Charlotte Harbor in search of reds, trout, and snook. Up here most of my fishing is for stripers.

I like quantum reels, I just thought the new 13 Concept C was pretty sweet looking. Also, like I said, I'm a small business guy and like to give the new guy a shot just as my Clients have done for me. I find that small businesses are better able to innovate and change direction more quickly than a large company (shimano, pen, etc.). Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of Shimano reels in my arsenal and have had great luck with them. I also picked up a quantum energy 4000 spinning reel a year or so ago and love it. I certainly wouldn't rule out anything at this point.

Doug

[dsiekman]

One other note, I don't always follow protocol. I bought an Avet 5.3 for surf fishing a few years back but have found it to be a great reel for trolling for stripers from my kayak when paired with a lighter casting rod. I had performed a mid-trip switch when my Cardiff had a party foul (birds nest) and found that it worked great. My guess is that the somewhat overpowered reel on an underpowered rod sort of balanced out. The lighter rod is great for trolling x raps or smaller jig heads and plastics because it gives them more action. It's also good for the few times a year I live line.

[Turtle135]

While you're at it, I'm fairly new to baitcasters and find them a little (more) awkward from a kayak. Am I doing something wrong?

I do not think you are doing anything wrong. I am the exact opposite, I find spinning reels awkward presentation-wise from a kayak (and baitcasters much more comfortable). I spend 95% percent of my fishing time with a baitcaster as I have always preferred the advantages they provide in casting accuracy and leverage. Since I am so used to them, they feel most comfortable. You are used to spinning gear, so that feels natural.