Any disadvantage with older reels? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dean Machine · 06-22-2010, 12:51 PM

Yep, jig masters do the job just fine. I know, they are not shiny. If you can't catch a large fish on a jig master I dont know what to say. They are SUPER easy to mainain. This is a MAJOR bonus when considering a reel. I have come to be very fond of this reel despite my first impressions before I actually used it and caught big fish with it. I have abused it compared to what I do with other reels and it hasn't complained yet.

Of course there will always be something better out there that we all think we need sometimes but its not always necessary. When I bought my extreme kayak it seemed to be the kayak that everyone wanted, now it seems like if I wanted to sell it I would have a tough time, but it works for me for now. Now all the hype is hobie, but I don't think that will be my next kayak (nothing against hobies) because now I have enough experience to know what works best for me.

After a while you will figure out what works and what doesn't and what is worth a little extra money but you've got to start somewhere and I don't recommend going out and buying all the hype. Try to spend aslittle as possible and fish as much as possible and you will be fine. At least try fishing with your reels for awhile and see what you like and don't like about them before upgrading. You'll be better prepared to find what will work best for you.

Good luck fishing.

T-Rex · 06-22-2010, 02:23 PM

The Penns will work fine and they're easy to maintain. I had a Penn 65 Long Beach for years and caught lots of big fish with it. I still use my Penn 500 and 505 Jigmasters on the yak. That said, new reels do work a lot better - more power, better drags, tighter tolerances in a smaller & lighter package.

Don't know much about the Ocean City reels except they've been out of production for a loooong time. Like Penns, they're probably easy to maintain, but good luck finding parts!

06-22-2010, 12:51 PM	#1
Dean Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Clemente Posts: 162	Yep, jig masters do the job just fine. I know, they are not shiny. If you can't catch a large fish on a jig master I dont know what to say. They are SUPER easy to mainain. This is a MAJOR bonus when considering a reel. I have come to be very fond of this reel despite my first impressions before I actually used it and caught big fish with it. I have abused it compared to what I do with other reels and it hasn't complained yet. Of course there will always be something better out there that we all think we need sometimes but its not always necessary. When I bought my extreme kayak it seemed to be the kayak that everyone wanted, now it seems like if I wanted to sell it I would have a tough time, but it works for me for now. Now all the hype is hobie, but I don't think that will be my next kayak (nothing against hobies) because now I have enough experience to know what works best for me. After a while you will figure out what works and what doesn't and what is worth a little extra money but you've got to start somewhere and I don't recommend going out and buying all the hype. Try to spend aslittle as possible and fish as much as possible and you will be fine. At least try fishing with your reels for awhile and see what you like and don't like about them before upgrading. You'll be better prepared to find what will work best for you. Good luck fishing. __________________ "Good luck and tight lines!"

06-22-2010, 02:23 PM	#2
T-Rex Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 770	The Penns will work fine and they're easy to maintain. I had a Penn 65 Long Beach for years and caught lots of big fish with it. I still use my Penn 500 and 505 Jigmasters on the yak. That said, new reels do work a lot better - more power, better drags, tighter tolerances in a smaller & lighter package. Don't know much about the Ocean City reels except they've been out of production for a loooong time. Like Penns, they're probably easy to maintain, but good luck finding parts! __________________