Just moved to area with fresh water fishing. Looking for suggestions on vintage spinning reels for crappie fishing. Looking for inexpensive ideas because still mainly saltwater fish.
give a bit more info:
braid or mono? shorter rod for casting, or long "universal" jig pole?
just crappie, or occasional bass w/ some size? ...often enough to upsize a bit?
Mono. Shorter rod for casting. Maybe bass but primarily just crappie.
get the later, less-desirable, cheaper(?) version of smallest maroon Shakes
really nice "below the waist"... plastic spool and crappy
plastic spool-cam, should be plenty strong enough for crappie ;D
if you fall in love, get the less common earlier version w/ metal cam
(verify w/ Fred, Tom, et al that all/enough parts are interchangeable)
Good choice. Try'n make sure if ya can, that the "plastic spool cam" ain't busted. Supposedly many are from too much drag torque.
The quickest way to get set up right is to reach out to Fred Oakes. He will set you up with a like-new (Fred's 'like-news' are actually better than new).
Or if you're frugal and like the quest (like many of us do); take a look at some of theses: DAM Quick 265, 110, 1000, 1001. Shakespeare 2052 (try to avoid the plastic click gear). Cardinal 3 or C3 (C3 has a skirted spool). Penn 716Z, Penn 420, 430. All of these will have parts available here and/or on ebay. They are also worm-drives. There are a few others that might deserve mention but parts will be a little more difficult to come by. Read about these here, then keep your eyes peeled at flea markets, garage sales, and pawn shops.
The Mitchell Garcia 308 and 408 are nice also but some people find them a little harder to tune properly.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of these once it's cleaned and dialed-in.
Mike
While there are a few nice '60s - '80s vintage ultra light open face spinners, quality and maintenance wise, it's hard to beat an ABU or Zebco Cardinal 3 or a black ABU Garcia skirted spool Cardinal 3 or C3. All are smooth and well balanced. They can be a little pricey now and then but they're well worth the little extra you might spend. You might wear some paint off, but they're so well made I doubt you would ever wear one out. ;)
Daiwa SS700 (first released in 86 but still made today)
Or the much less common SS600 if the search is half the fun.
All the above stated options are worth exploring. For a few others that may be a bit less desirable but still quality reels at usually rock-bottom prices, take a look at the Cardinal 653 (mostly metal; I've found mine to be an excellent caster), Shimano MLX 10 (an early Shimano spinning entry w/ mostly metal construction) and Shakespeare 2200 II (one of Shaky's early Asian-built units, but has some nice features). These are all UL-type reels.
Frank
Thank you everyone for replies. I will start looking for some of the reels noted above.
I'm trying to find the tiny Shimano silver all metal spinning reel that was on my work table.
It would fit in the palm of your hand
I can send you this little Mitchell 308 or a 309 left hand. It was made for little fresh water fishing
Just pay for Priority Mail Shipping please
Quote from: handi2 on November 28, 2022, 08:13:56 PMI'm trying to find the tiny Shimano silver all metal spinning reel that was on my work table.
It would fit in the palm of your hand
The MLZ 10? You sent it to me.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 28, 2022, 08:30:17 PMQuote from: handi2 on November 28, 2022, 08:13:56 PMI'm trying to find the tiny Shimano silver all metal spinning reel that was on my work table.
It would fit in the palm of your hand
The MLZ 10? You sent it to me.
I'm glad you have it. I thought I was losing my mind!!
Can you post a picture?
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 28, 2022, 08:30:17 PMQuote from: handi2 on November 28, 2022, 08:13:56 PMI'm trying to find the tiny Shimano silver all metal spinning reel that was on my work table.
It would fit in the palm of your hand
The MLZ 10? You sent it to me.
either of you, Gentlemen...
does the 10 have that stupid horrible diskless drag like MLX/MLZ bigger sizes
or normal 2-stack like later 500-size graphite versions?
i.e., top-to-bottom:
plain knob
keyed steel washer
drag washer
eared steel washer
HUGE spring
spool
AND!!!
does it have a main-gear support that goes into the sideplate FROM THE OUTSIDE???
Spirex 500 has a ball-bearing; cheaper 1-BB 500's have a nylon bushing
I suspect MLZ-10 & Mark UL have a brass bushing
Quote from: philaroman on November 28, 2022, 09:12:39 PMAND!!!
does it have a main-gear support that goes into the sideplate FROM THE OUTSIDE???
Spirex 500 has a ball-bearing; cheaper 1-BB 500's have a nylon bushing
I suspect MLZ-10 & Mark UL have a brass bushing
The single disk drag sits under the spool and appears keyed to the spool shaft. Kind of a strange setup, I wanna say similar to the so-called slammer drag on some penns, and I'd probably consider it a negative on anything larger. I'll take a pic.
I know that below the non handle side cover theres a flathead screw, I'll see where it goes.
I'll start a new thread i don't wanna derail this one.
Thank you Handi sent pm
One other note, while you can probably get by with a non-worm gear driven UL, I wouldn't waste my time or money one. Get a worm gear driven UL and it will land bigger fish if you by chance hook into one and will also more than likely out last you and can be handed down to one of you kids or grandkids. ;)
Also- Zebco 6010 or 6020, MIJ. Very overlooked but operationally very similar to Daiwa and Olympic of the time period. All aluminum with BB's. Still fishing them 40 years later. Fred fixed up my 6050 after my buddy BACKED OVER IT WITH A CAPRICE CLASSIC...just new shaft and handle and it's back fishing
I'll say this though, I would bet my bottom dollar that the SS700 would out-cast every other option listed.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on November 29, 2022, 08:29:07 PMOne other note, while you can probably get by with a non-worm gear driven UL, I wouldn't waste my time or money one. Get a worm gear driven UL and it will land bigger fish if you by chance hook into one and will also more than likely out last you and can be handed down to one of you kids or grandkids. ;)
Tom is exactly right —-
An aluminum-bodied, steel & bronze geared worm-drive would be my only choice if I could have only one.
Pretend you are buying it for your grandchildren —- because you are...
Cardinal 3, Penn 716, 716Z, 420SS, DAM Quick 265, 110, 110N, 1000, 1001.
The least expensive tool is the one you only buy once.
Best, Fred
I have some of the ultra lights listed,but my favorites not in any order are:
Penn 716(Greenie),Cardinal 3,DQ 265,& Mitchell 308.I have mine mounted on Fenwick Eagle 6.5' Fast action, or an Ugly Stik Lite 5'(all 1pc)
I have to share my favorite crappie jigs while we are on the subject:
https://lftlures.com/collections/lft-sickle-tail-baby-shad/products/2600-802
I have personally caught Crappie,Bass,Bream,& 1 catfish on this jig.
Jiffy Jigs(1/16 Chartreuse head,gold hook)
(Popsicle,Wildcat,& John Deere Green colors)
Crappie Magnet
(Blk/Chart)
PB 6lb Bass
JP
Cheap, I don't know, buy I would spend my money on a good quality Penn 716Z or 420SS or those nice Dam Microltes. They have been unparalleled in quality and will definitely outlive me.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on November 29, 2022, 08:29:07 PMOne other note, while you can probably get by with a non-worm gear driven UL, I wouldn't waste my time or money one. Get a worm gear driven UL and it will land bigger fish if you by chance hook into one and will also more than likely out last you and can be handed down to one of you kids or grandkids. ;)
counterpoint - my Mitchell 308 is non-worm gear, 50 years old, fished weekly or more often for most of those 50 years, mainly lure fishing with constant cast/retrieve. Carp to 15lb, catfish to 25lb, trout to 10lb (only once I confess but still ;-) 10lb leervis (saltwater predator), 5-6lb bluefish.. and still running great. A Mitchell made in France is inexpensive, easy to find, and parts are still available. Or just buy two, one for backup and/or parts. Two Mitchells will be less than half the price of one Cardinal..
DAM Quick 110 is great too. The 1001 is a fine reel but relatively scarce and pricey.
Cardinals are fine but overpriced in my opinion, the DAM and Shakespeare 2052 are excellent at much lower cost.
DougK,
I know drag setting has a lot to do with landing big fish on ultralights,just curious what line you use for them biguns? I primarily use 8lb trilene big game(green)it can handle most all freshwater fish I might encounter.I prefer 4-6 stren(clear) for panfish and castability for small jigs.These lines seem to have less memory.
4-6lb Maxima Green, 4 on the shallow spool, 6 on the deep one. Once made the mistake of fishing the 4lb spool for carp, hooked a 12lb fish and it stopped with 3 turns of line left on the spool.. got the full 110 yards out.. and took a while after that too. The big catfish was on 6lb, luckily in a river so he couldn't get too far away.
A couple additions:
Shakespeare 2400 convertible
Shakespeare Sigma 2200 030