Although the classic, “old-fashioned” winter tackle does not provide for the use of reels, in many modern winter rigs a winter reel is a mandatory attribute. All ice fishing reels can be divided into three types:
- multiplier;
- inertialess;
- inertial.
There is no one-size-fits-all option, so it’s important to find the right one for your situation. The quality and prices of winter coils vary. When choosing reels of any type, you need to take into account the fishing conditions, the tackle used, the intended production. A
- What to look for when choosing your first coil for winter
- Selection depending on the gear used
- Choosing a reel depending on the type of fishing
- Rating of modern winter multiplier reels with drag, anti-reverse and other equipment
- Spinning reel for ice fishing – how to choose what the market has to offer
- The choice of inertia for ice fishing
- How to tie the line to the spool of a winter fishing rod
- How to balance your tackle
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What to look for when choosing your first coil for winter
A common property that winter coils should unite is frost resistance. The strength of the body and mechanism materials, as well as the use of lubricants suitable for low temperatures, ensure the reliability of this device. The ease of movement, the speed of winding, and the total power of the reel depend on high-quality materials. Of course, the more expensive the materials used, the more expensive the coil itself will be.
Selection depending on the gear used
If a winter fishing rod is constantly in the hand, such as when fishing with a
balancer ,
trolley , jig and other active lures, then the reel, like all the tackle, should be light. Otherwise, your hands will get tired very quickly; You can’t wave a heavy fishing rod. If these are tackles that are placed on ice and do not need to be held in your hand, such as a winter feeder or vents, the mass of the reel will not play a decisive role.
Choosing a reel depending on the type of fishing
Fishing conditions leave an imprint on the choice of gear. So, at great depths, you will need a larger supply of line on the spool than when fishing in the grass near the shore. When fishing with girders, you also need a supply of fishing line, which the predator could unwind. To deal with large specimens, more reliable coils will be required. The presence of a friction clutch on a winter reel will make it easier for a predator to play or, for example, when fishing for bream with a winter feeder. Winter fishing involves the use of gear at subzero temperatures. However, fishing conditions may differ and at extreme temperatures below 20 degrees below zero, more reliable reels made of materials that can withstand such frosts will be required. Video review about Ifish winter rods and reels: https://youtu.be/0emxOwNCd8U
Rating of modern winter multiplier reels with drag, anti-reverse and other equipment
Multipliers on winter fishing rods are now used quite often. Multiplier reels are used when fishing for a predator: fishing with a balancer and with a sheer winter lure. This type of reel has a number of advantages for such fishing:
- the presence of a clutch and the ability to quickly configure it;
- high speed of winding the line, which will make it possible to force the fishing;
- more control over the winding and deflection of the line.
But there are also a number of disadvantages, including:
- high price of products;
- the formation of dashes with inept use.
The best baitcasting reels for winter fishing, TOP-5 models:
- Lucky John Maiko is one of the most popular winter cartoonists. The body is made of lightweight polymer that can withstand negative temperatures. Smooth running is ensured by 5 bearings. To avoid overruns, an additional braking system is provided.
- Lucky John Ice Multik (winter multi-reel Lucky John) – a budget cartoon from the same brand, a miniature reel for ice fishing rods for fishing with a balancer, spinning. 2 bearings are installed. The body is made of aluminum. Multi-point anti-reverse.
- Salmo Taifun Two way Multiplier is a reel from a well-known company with properties similar to the above model. The body is made of composite, the spool is plastic. It has a low gear ratio. It has three modes of operation: anti-reverse, ratchet and rotation in both directions.
- Leo Dws 60 is the most popular Chinese multiplier, this winter reel has a highly adjustable friction brake. Easy to adjust with an ergonomically positioned handle. Has a ratchet and a line running brake. Not a bad analogue of well-known brands for a lower price.
- Lizard 65 IR is another Chinese cartoonist. The spool, 65 mm in size, is made of aluminum, the body is made of plastic. Has a dirt-resistant design.
Winter Fishing Reel Lucky John Maiko: https://youtu.be/kcxqxIwW2aQ
Spinning reel for ice fishing – how to choose what the market has to offer
Bezinertsionki are used under the same conditions as multipliers. But most often they are cheaper. Basically, this is fishing with balance weights, spinners and a winter feeder. Compared to the coils described above, meat grinders are a cheaper option. They differ from their summer colleagues with “winter” materials and lubricants, as well as predominantly small sizes. Installed in reel seats on a fishing rod. The main disadvantage of using non-inertia systems is the high risk of freezing of its parts, especially the line guide roller. This problem is solved constructively: by changing the size and shape of the roller, as well as lubricating the fishing line or cord with special anti-freezing lubricants. Top 5 non-inertia systems:
- Salmo Diamond Arctic is a small-sized winter reel from a well-known Polish company. Equipped with 4 bearings: 3 ball and 1 roller. Front clutch. The body is made of frost-resistant plastic, the spool is aluminum. The roller on the line guide is wide, which prevents ice from freezing in this place.
- Lucky John Scandi is a small model of the Latvian brand, this winter reel is perfect for sheer spinning. The carbon fiber casing is excellent at handling low temperatures. In terms of characteristics, this model is very similar to the previous one. The same number of bearings, the same aluminum spool, small dimensions. The line guide has a tapered shape and is also larger than on summer versions. The backstop works instantaneously and its switch is located at the bottom of the coil.
- Mikado Ice Master is an inexpensive graphite reel. In addition to frost resistance, this material is lightweight. The spool size is 500. The movement of the reel is smooth, anti-reverse has a multi-point fixation.
- Salmo Supreme Ice is a small aluminum reel. Equipped with 3 bearings.
- Salmo Ice Storm is a versatile front drag winter reel. Spool size 1000, weight 140 grams. Made from graphite.
Kosadaka Sierra Winter Coil Review: https://youtu.be/LERqEBpyjbA
The choice of inertia for ice fishing
A winter reel is always a classic option, and also the cheapest one. It is installed on a variety of types of winter rigs, from fishing rods to girders. They are very simple in design, perhaps they do not have the same properties for playing fish as multipliers and meat grinders, but they are reliable. Some modern models of winter inertial reels are equipped with a friction clutch, which is a noticeable plus. This adds points to this reel when playing, but does not greatly complicate the design. Also a good addition is
Due to the simplicity of the design of inertia systems from different manufacturers, plus or minus are very similar. Although some models have gained great popularity due to their constructive solutions and high-quality assembly.
TOP 5 good models:
- Lucky john Mebaru is a good lure reel in winter and summer for wire fishing, – a proven model of the Latvian company. It has a low weight, only 67 g. This is achieved by the lightness of the material from which the coil is made. The materials used also protect against freezing. The reel has a long stem, which makes the assembled rod easy to use with gloves . There is a friction clutch. This model has a huge number of positive reviews on various specialized sites and forums.
- Helios Nord 62 is a polycarbonate inertia with a friction clutch and a ratchet operation. This material has high frost resistance. Has the same weight as the previous model. Well suited for plumb line fishing. Structurally, it has a classic shape without a long leg, which may be inconvenient for some anglers.
- Kaida Ice Fishing Reel DC 60 is a compact frost-resistant plastic reel from a well-known Chinese company. Outwardly similar to the first model from Lucky John, it has a long leg. The smooth movement of the clutch allows you to fine-tune it to your current needs.
- Arctic Char XP is a simple inertia model. It has a large size, like for a winter coil. It is made of carbonate, a material that is resistant to freezing and wear.
- Salmo Ice is a simple cheap metal reel. It features a rocker brake. This model is quite weighty, but the metal case gives more power and reliability to the whole device.
Winter reel Team Dubna Vib Special: https://youtu.be/02hYDWuaWfg Cheap ice fishing reel with friction for 3 USD: https://youtu.be/kw2jNv6k_2g
How to tie the line to the spool of a winter fishing rod
Since the volume of the line wound on the spool of the winter reel is small, and during the fight with a large specimen, most of the line, if not all of it, can be unwound, you should take care of securely attaching the line to the spool. There are many versatile methods for attaching a line. One of them is the “stranglehold” knot. At one end of the fishing line, a loop is tied, like a leash. Further, the fishing line is passed into this loop, forming a stranglehold. Further, this noose is thrown on the spool, so that when winding the loop tightens, and does not relax. It is convenient to wind the line with a rod by placing the reel in the reel seat and passing the line through the last ring.
How to balance your tackle
The reel is attached to the rod using a reel seat. Therefore, to properly balance the tackle, it is worth paying attention to the shape and weight of the rod and reel used, as well as the location on the rod. The winter feeder is mounted on racks, not held in the hand. Therefore, the question of the weight of the reel and its position on the rod is not so acute. The same can be said for float fishing. The rod is not always held in the hand, so the exact balance of the tackle is not so important. It’s another matter with jig fishing. The fishing rod is in the hand of the angler all the time, so it should be light. It is better not to use heavy metal coils. The reels on such fishing rods often act as a reel, on which the fishing line is simply wound and they are not used when playing fish. A well-adjusted tackle is most important when fishing with a balancer and spinner.With a fishing rod, the fisherman sets the game to the bait, so he keeps it constantly in his hand.
