Which Conventional Reel For Kite Fishing?

[Shark Tagger]

I am looking to buy a couple new rods/reels this christmas for myself and son. I prefer to go with matching rods/reels.

I noticed that some of the pro's are fishing lighter smoother reels now than what I fish. I have mostly tld 20's and 25's in my arsenal.

What do you recommend? Avet?

These will be mostly used for kite fishing for sails

Thanks

[Fishalways]

Seems like a good set up to me.

Everything I run is either a FiNor 20/16 or a Tld.

All 20# test.

I have caught Sails, White marlin, even a couple of smaller blues on them in Mexico and Venezuela.

As for the specific brand of reel, you get what you pay for.

I love my FiNors but alot of people don't because of the high maintenance requirments. Wish I could find a few more.

I think the main question is are you going to stand for your fights or sit. If you can stand with the 20s I would stick with those. If you think you need somthing smaller go with that. Just find what you will be comfortable with.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Sails and kings you are fine w/ the Tld's. Bottom fishing demands a lot more torque. The drags on the Trinidad and the avets will give you alot more umph, when combined w/ a stout rod. If comfortability is truly the issue, spinning reels have come a long way and many have lots of line capacity and super smooth drags able to easily whip sails and kings. Personally I'm a fan of the Thunnus bait runner, but there are many other fine choices. I've learned to ask lots of questions and read up on the specs of the reels I purchase. The old addage about you get what you pay for holds true here as well, just make it a point to figure out why one is more expensive than the other and if that reason is one that fits your fishing. Your question is too broad . Are you looking for more speed, more torque, more durability, or just more flash Narrrow it down and everybody will pile on

[Shark Tagger]

ok. I'm looking to go a bit fancier than my tld's. I noticed some of the big tournament guys all have these small lightweight reels. I think they are avets. Supposed to be very smooth from what I here.

I am looking mainly for more speed and smoothness.

[Shark Tagger]

I'll see if I can find some pictures

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Avet is making a few 6:1 retrieve ratio reels very slick and lightweight. Shimano has the trinidad, and the toruim both with high retrieve rates as well.
Where's Sunny Isles?

[lcosta02]

If you can go high in the price range, Alutecnos is the way to go. They just came out with the Gorilla and they have a Veloce 20lb reel which I use for the sails. I also use Alutecnos 30W 2 spds. All reels are ridiculously smooth and flashy. I recommend them with my eyes closed.

As far as the rods matching, I have custom rods from a guy in Miami, down south. If you are interested, send me a PM. This guy makes really high quality stuff. He was recommended to me by a bunch of guys out of Cocoplum Marina. He has all my business, in fact, I will be calling some time this week to place an order for 2 more rods.

Hope this helped!

[JupiterSailfish]

Originally Posted by lcosta02

If you can go high in the price range, Alutecnos is the way to go. They just came out with the Gorilla and they have a Veloce 20lb reel which I use for the sails. I also use Alutecnos 30W 2 spds. All reels are ridiculously smooth and flashy. I recommend them with my eyes closed.

Amen to that! I have the 20 Albacore regular speed and it is a beast for kite fishing. I've heard of some problems with the high-speed versions, but it is supposed to be fixed. No major problems with mine yet for three years now. Only problem was the handle falling off, but Alutecnos took care of me good and replaced it. It was a problem with the older reels where the bolt in the handle would corrode and break , but it is now fixed.

Penn International 16VS is a good looking reel for kiting, but I have not used it. My Accurate Boss Magnum 665HN is awesome reel also. I kind of wish I had got a smaller one, but I still love the reel a lot.

The Shimano Trinidad's make good kite reels because you can put the reel in free-spool and use the spool tension adjuster on the side of the reel to tighten the spool and then just click it into gear when the fish bites. I have the TN40 and it rules.

I would go with the 12 or 20 Alutecnos. The Gorilla 12 truely is a gorilla.

Good Luck

[ContenderWays]

I have a couple 2 speed avet JX's. They are great. Pricey though. I fish them on the kite for the quick retrieve when the fish takes the bait and you need to reel in all the slack.

[Tuna Devil]

I have the Tiagra 16 Two speeds. They are smooth have plenty of drag and have been worry free to this point (two years, excluding line). They are functional and have an air of Bling about them. But do not forget rods play a big roll.