I’ll start off by saying I know nothing about electric reels, but I would like to get my feet wet with one. I am not looking to break the bank and would like to use some of the equipment that I have…if possible. Bottom fishing will be the target, not swords, etc.
I have a few 6/0 Senators laying around and have toyed with the idea of making one or two electrics (12v)
Thoughts on this? Recommendations of brands, etc.
The more I read up on electrics, the more confused I get.
I used these during my commercial grouper fishing days.
www.precisionautoreels.com/ they were extremely dependable, way more dependable than the Elec-tra-mate brand. The precision will match up with a Penn 6/0 nicely, and its a simple DIY if you want to go with a twist lock or alligator clips.
Most of the electric motors used on the old Thunderstar and CC Clipper were Precision auto reels.
The precision reels were water much easier to hold because of the molded shape, and they’re far more durable as far as water resistance because they’re sealed.
I’ve had one of these for the last six or seven years. Used it a lot at first but haven’t used it in the last year. There are super nice for deep dropping. Even fishing in 200’ it makes it really nice and fast to fill up the cooler with keepers. Pair it up to a penn senator and 65lb braid or better and its plenty for me.
From my days running headboats I can tell you that the only 2 electric drives to consider are precision and electro-mate both have good points & bad. The electro-mates are loud, chain driven - heavy, but re-buildable. The precision drives are direct drive, and much quieter but not re-buildable. The switch is push button with a rubber bubble over the switch button. When the rubber switch cover cracks - the drive will soon die. one capt I knew years back used to record the out of warranty date and plug them up to 120ac to zap them so they could be sent back.
The new guy running precision has been more than helpful when I have needed service. We have a few that we use.
The only problem I’ve had is the shear pin. There was a bad run of them.
Looking at the Banax 1000 as well…Just seems really compact and multifunctional. These are similar to the Daiwa Tanacom Bull. Thoughts on either of them?
If your fishing very deep - 250+ I would suggest a drive that has a toggle switch and line counter with an alarm. I have fished 600’ foot with a push button switch. That’s a long time to hold the button down. When you get the fish up 100’ up from the bottom I have cut the power off and left the rod in the holder. The fish will show up bloated on the surface behind the boat.
For what a Percision auto real cost for just the motor, you can buy a complete Diawa from bass pro shops for $599. Or better yet go look on eBay, I have seen TB 1000 is for $400
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Paul. Have you used the tb1000? What do you think of them.
Charlie
www.tidedownsportfishing.com
(843)312-2981
I love them! Quincy (Black Angus) uses one on every trip to bail triggerfish or drop for grouper. I like the auto stop feature
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
I’ve got an a Penn senator electric on a Penn rod I’d sell you.
21 Contender
I have little experience with electrics. So when I decided to buy one recently, I went with sellsfish’s recommendation for me, a Tannacom Bull. They seem to have stopped making the Bull in sizes other than 500. So I found a discontinued 750 for about $525, which is some 40-50% off? It was at a West Marine in NJ. Dwight on Ben Sawyer found it.
I’ve used it once and love it…especially fishing the ledge with an injured wrist. Actually the injury came from excessive jigging and reeling while bottom fishing back in February. Inflamed thumb tendons and it hurts like heck still. So I’m sold on electrics, especially for old wrists.
The only issue for me was, it is very different to have the rod in a holder and watch the tip, versus “feeling” the bite. Caught one nice scamp but probably missed a couple more.
Roger