Reels

What is the best/cheapest reel for downriggers and yellow birds? I know i will get what i pay for. Also will yellow bird reels/rods work for dipseys too? Thanks for any info!!!

One last question.... I understand the need for alonger dipsy rod. But why the shorter yellow bird rod? Thanks again guys!

I think most of us started on 209's. I still have a bunch, and CAN'T PART WITH THEM!!!!! Do yourself a favor, don't get the LC version, it's a total WASTE with a 209. Throw Mono on them, and use a BLACK SHARPIE marker to mark out the feet! You can buy a 100' tape for $15. This stuff isn't rocket surgery! That's how started out. 209's for my Dipsey reels and mark the mono ever 10'. Otherwise, watch your levelwind passes. Ever hear of people talking "passes"? You watch the level wind go from one side to the other. I think a 209 is about 15' or so. The 209 doesn't have enough capacity to be a GREAT leadcore/copper reel, and doesn't have the retrevial rate to be a GREAT Dipsey reel, BUT will work great on MONO boards and riggers! Jusy my 2 cents.

Thanks for your recommendations guys ! any one have experience with the Penn 209 line-counter? I saw one in Bass pro magazine. thank you kindly

1 more vote for Okuma Convectors

i am a huge fan of the okumas i have a couple diawa sealine lca's and the line counter stopped working on both of them within 2 years i havent had any problems with the okumas (magdas or convectors) in the years i have been running them

I wouldn't leave the dock without my convectors. Plus they hold a lot more line than the accudepth reels. I get mine at Louie's in manitowoc. $65 for 30's and $70 for 45's.

I'm looking at purchasing a few line-counters for under 75$ . Does any one have any opinions on Okuma convector vs. Daiwa accudepth; and a good place to purchase them. I'd be lining them with mono , braid , and lead core. thanks

The line stops coming in once you hit the dipsey! Then you have a 6" snubber then a 6 ft leader then a flasher then a 3 ft leader then a spoon or fly then the fish. If you can deal with the longer rod it makes the dipsey set up easier to handle. There is one other reason for the 2 different rod lenghts for divers. When you are running hi and low divers you can get horizontal seperation at the rod tips.

Just wondering, why do you want shorter rods for birds and longer dipseys?

i agree with the longer rods for dipseys i run 2 10'on my power pro and 2 9' on my wire all my downrigger and board rods are 7' or 7.5' okuma pro, depthmaster or ugly stick they are all inexpensive and havent had a problem with them some guys like to run longer rods i just go with the shorter for storage issues one thing i have found is when it comes to rods alot of it is prefrence i like a lighter action rod as it seems to absorb more of the shock and i dont seem to loose as many fish but thats is just my opinion

Use the 10' for dipseys. Get some new board rods. Good luck witht the Magda's.

Ok thanks you so much for all the input! it was a lot of help. A little more information for what i have. I can run 6 rods on my boat. 2 riggers and either 4 birds or 4 dipsys ( or mix) I have 2 shimano talora down rigger rods, and 2, 10 ft eagle claw rods. Along with some other crapy ones i want to replace. Im using the eagle claw rods for dipsys and birds both. I want to get 2 more new rods. Should i get 2 more eagle claws or what? Is what im using the eagle claws for ok? thanks again!!!! staying on the cheep side yet again. P.S. Im going to go with the magdas for everything

If you are just getting into the game, but see yourself down the road wanting to fish out there more often, then don't skimp on reels. The rods you can be cheaper with, but the reels are the important part. If you are going the Magda route, then rethink it, for another $30 a peice you can upgrade to the Convector series which has a much better drag system. I have run them all and eventually the Magdas drag will start to get sticky and the line will not come off the reel smoothly, more like a jerking affect. As far as line goes, unfortunately it can be tough to double duty stuuf on the big pond. 50lb braid on dipsys. If you want to stay productive on dipsys throughout the season then braid is a must. Mono will not get you deep enough later in the year and will make it a bear to get the dipsy to trip correctly resulting in lost fish. Boards and riggers you need no more than 20lb mono. These rods you can double duty after the cohos disappear you can rig these rods with leadcore over the mono using it a the backer. Make sure you get the right size reels for the job. Covector 55 for 10 color. Convector 45 you could use as early spring board(would be a bit big for this, but double duty)Then you can run up to a 10 color on this later in the year. It's a tight fit on a 45, but it will work. Good luck!

You want wire on your dipsies.....just saying.

Quack Shot, "I'm stuck between using all mono for every rod, or using mono for riggers and power pro for dipsys and birds both? what should i do?".... Each one of the different methods really deserve different set ups. Braid will work great for dipseys and early season downriggers, but it slips in the board releases and it picks up fleas very fast. 20 lb Mono is great for your board and flatlines, Lead cores are going to start and end with 20 lb mono. I also like 30 lb for the downriggers from early summer on, fleas again. I get your concern of pigeon holing each rod for its duty, but that is the way you are going to end up any how. And who says that the rod you use for downriggers can't be a flat line the next day, so what if the line is 10 extra lbs bigger! TIP You do not need to fill up a reel with braid, too pricey. most guys will run 200 or 300 yards of 20 lb mono on then throw on 150 yards of braid. I use 65 lb cause thats what Fleet & Farm had, It is way plenty. Dipsey do not run that deep (yet). Besides this just gives you another excuses to buy more fishing stuff..... Good Luck MAN'S PRAYER: I'm a man but I can change, If I have too, I guess. Mushy's Dad out