Best Conventional Reels for Salmon Trolling and Ocean Jigging

Now that I've convinced myself of my kayak fishing addiction, I'd like to give myself a Christmas gift--a very nice reel. I'll use it as a general purpose reel for trolling the Columbia, but mostly in the salt at Pacific City with a 3-4 oz jig. Ideally, routine maintenance will be a fresh water hose off. A nice, smooth drag (star or lever OK), a clicker, and a decent size handle required.

Dave

Shimano Calcutta

not to sound like a shill for Cabela's  but they have $30 off next purchase of $150 or more valid until 12/14.   The card I have says  Cabelas Buck # 481814332 and Buck Code: HTJWHW

not sure how their price for reels compares to others but maybe worth a compare.

Best is sort of a relative thing.  I get a lot of mileage out of a simple Penn 209M LH from walmart for $50. 

Okuma cold waters or shimano tekota both are great and I've used them in the ocean and rivers for salmon. Rinse them well. Daiwa lexa has a new line counter as well. A lot of the specific saltwater reels won't have line counters.

Another vote for Tekota---I have both the big Coldwater and the Tekota 600, the coldwater suffered free-spool lever problems after a year, the tekota is bulletproof.

As I nailed my best salmon on one, I like the old Penn 109.  It's convertible to a direct drive as well as being able to be locked in place.  It's smaller than the 209 but braid line gives you all the rope you need.  Regardless of the reel, that's a nice option to look for (direct drive as well as an open release) as it makes it easier to keep contract with the bottom buy just letting line out while the handles spin without have to release-drop-lock the return.  Half of the fun in the hunt.

Salmon fishing and Tekotas go hand in hand.  I own 300s and 500s w the line counter.  They do well for jigging as well, but a non worm drive would be a better fit.  They still don't offer a lefty option though.

Anyone have any experience with the Lexa line counter reel yet?

I'm a fan of Penn. We sold the place in Coos Bay, so I'm gonna get a couple new reels. For a conventional at a reasonable price I like the Senator 114. Also interested in the Squall 30 levelwind. I'm for sure looking for a new (to me) spinning reel so might go with the Battle II 8000. Any advice?

I like Penn reels, too, but they wouldn't be my first choice for jigging all day.

The Tekota is a great reel. It will require more maintenance though, plus having a worm drive can be a liability when fighting large fish, or if you palm your spool on a tough snag. DAMHIK....

Check out the Truth SG. Lever drag, machined aluminum, made in the USA, light, lifetime warranty, and you can pick and choose color combos. I've owned/do own Tekotas, Avet, Penn, and a few others. My pair of SGs fish circles around them.

Ignore that they are branded Release in these pics. Same company and product, but they changed the name to Truth a couple years ago due to a potential lawsuit with Release Fighting Chairs.





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We sold the place in Coos Bay.

Glad - you found a buyer. Sad - no more be-bopping down the road for a nightcap after CBYs SBAOTD party.

Those Truth reels look pretty impressive, and nicely different from the typical. Great reviews on Youtube.

Those Truth reels look pretty impressive, and nicely different from the typical. Great reviews on Youtube.

I've put mine through the wringers and they feel even better now than the first time I took them out. Plan to buy two more so don't have to keep moving them from rod to rod. Not that it's difficult, just a lame way to justify buying a couple more [emoji12]

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After eyeballing the Truth reels that Polyangler has, they're also on my short list. I never owned a LC reel being from a warm place, so I think I'm OK with staying ignorant. Those reels are really nice though, and are a great value for their specs. Made here too, which I look for when possible.