level wind reels

[topwaterjoe]

Just wondering if anybody out there is casting level wind reels on the tribs? Folks I see not using spinning gear are usually center pinning their floats so I am not sure how big they are around lake ontario. Blood has been shed on the west coast over center pins vs level winds, so please, I just want to know by a show of hands as both reels have their merits for drifting

 

[OCDComputing]

Looks very similar to a bait caster. I've been using mine from time to time and it works....kind of...doesn't really seem to want to run with the current easily, but once you start it going it goes. With mine I have to have it free running and then basically 'set the bail' on it when I want to retrieve it. LOL...I haven't had any luck with fish, so your mileage may vary!

 

[Equinox]

talked to a guy on the Saugeen that had fished it for he says 37 years that was using one.Other guys I bumped into said that this guys was known for 20,30 fish days.
Must be doin him some good

 

[weemalky]

I have a Penn level wind I would use trolling for musky occasionally the rare times I fished for them. I tried it out a couple of days at a large rivermouth late August, early September, plunking during the salmon run just to try something different.Missed a decent hit when I was stuffing my face with some lunch. I'm used to casting it and braking it with the thumb which can be tricky, once in a while it fouls up. Never thought about trying to drift with it, it might work. Very smooth in free spooling, and uses a star drag which you can adjust. It's a beefy tank, I think it's more of a trolling rod.

 

[emirribolov]

talked to a guy on the Saugeen that had fished it for he says 37 years that was using one.Other guys I bumped into said that this guys was known for 20,30 fish days.
Must be doin him some good

It is not a reel that is caching the fish. You can have best equipment in the world and still wont be able to catch a fish. It is experience and knowledge of 37 years that doing him good.

 

[Spinninreel]

A bait caster will work for float fishing, and has it's advantages and disadvantages. You can probably cast farther with the bait caster, you can get a pretty good drift in fast water but you will not be able to match the drift in any kind of slower water.

 

[throwit]

I have used one for a while now. I dont see any disadvantage at all. I have used a pin also but its not my style. If you buy a good quailty reel they will spool out line all most as smooth as a pin. If you got small hands like I do consider a level wind.

 

[Float_On]

I have used one for a while now. I dont see any disadvantage at all. I have used a pin also but its not my style. If you buy a good quailty reel they will spool out line all most as smooth as a pin. If you got small hands like I do consider a level wind.

But when it comes time to fight the fish, I don't think anything compares to the 1on1 battle that you get with a pin....

 

[fishingbimmer]

But when it comes time to fight the fish, I don't think anything compares to the 1on1 battle that you get with a pin....

Like that character lil' john says........ Eeeeeyeahah!!

 

[iamnickevans]

A lot of guys who use levelwinds are usually fishing deeper water ie(B.C. Rivers), the advantage of a levelwind is line pickup, 1 turn of the handle and you can get up to 30" of line. The downfall is for drifting, the line will not come off the levelwind as easy as a centerpin. The one time I recommend a levelwind would be if you are fishing the Niagara River since it has heavy flows and very deep water. The level wind is great for throwing spoons, spinners and other heavier baits.

 

[weemalky]

A lot of guys who use levelwinds are usually fishing deeper water ie(B.C. Rivers), the advantage of a levelwind is line pickup, 1 turn of the handle and you can get up to 30" of line. The downfall is for drifting, the line will not come off the levelwind as easy as a centerpin. The one time I recommend a levelwind would be if you are fishing the Niagara River since it has heavy flows and very deep water. The level wind is great for throwing spoons, spinners and other heavier baits.

I had braided dacron on trolling musky,was okay to cast with too, how is mono on the level wind to cast? Also,can you use dacron as backing? Never been to the mighty Niagara fishing,imagine some wild deep water there. What adjustments do you make besides using lures, do people drift the fast flows?