Small jigging reel - open to suggestions

[the rockfish ninja]

Looking to upgrade myself on a small jigging reel, preferably with cast control as I'm doing a bit of underhand casting with lighter jigs from boats these days. Bottom fishing for Rockfish and Lings mainly, don't need a ton of drag, but a mag cast control is important cause although I'm a surfcast veteran, I totally stink at underhand.

I have a couple Avets (SX & SXJ MC) but the SXJ (my go-to caster) has seen a lot of mileage, and I just wanted to explore what might be a step up without breaking the bank.

So, what's out there that you like?

[boon]

Maxel Hybrid.

Specifically made for light jigging. Blows pretty much every other alternative out of the water; the only things that are in the same ballpark are the Japanese-market specialist jigging reels from Shimano and Daiwa.

[Donnyboat]

Gee tough question, the higher the gear ratio, the smaller the pinion, that means fast wearing pinion, & they do brake easy, you do not us to much drag on hi ratio reels, my opinion, some thing a bit slower, and stronger, let the rod do most of the jigging, there has to be a happy medium, just my two bobs worth, good luck, cheers Don.

[redsetta]

I agree with boon.
The Maxel Hybrid H20C and Jigging Master Power Spell PE2 are sensational reels (and have cast control).
Both are reasonably pricey, but high quality.
There are also a few bait-casters that'd work well in these parameters.
Be interested to see what other options come up.
Good luck, Justin

[the rockfish ninja]

I agree with boon.
The Maxel Hybrid H20C and Jigging Master Power Spell PE2 are sensational reels (and have cast control).
Both are reasonably pricey, but high quality.
There are also a few bait-casters that'd work well in these parameters.
Be interested to see what other options come up.
Good luck, Justin

Oddly enough I was in a shop and looked at the Hybrid today, that and an OceanMax. I liked the OceanMax better, seems better built & designed, plus I don't care for thumb press/star drag for jigging.

The Hybrid isn't overly expensive, but the other Maxel reels and JM are a little high for what they are. So far the Maxel Transformer and Poseidon 150 are interesting items though not easily available here in the USA, but like you, I'm interested in what other options come up on this thread.

[Tiddlerbasher]

Omoto make some nice affordable reels iirc somebody on here was selling them, Black Pearl? (I believe Sal tried one).
I would also recommend an Okuma Andros or Metaloid. Any of these reels can be retrofitted with a magnet to stop/reduce overuns.

[redpaulhus]

I don't have the Hybrid myself, but some friends who do were not happy with it for casting -- they found that the handle seemed to trip the spool engagement very frequently during casting, with regrettable results.
I was considering one for more of a pure bottom-fishing use but since I often cast up-tide of the boat, am waiting for more time/feedback and hopefully a fix from Maxel in future versions of the reel
I have been using a Lexa 300cc (5.5:1 with power handle) for many of the situations I was considering the Maxel for (fluke, black seabass, tautog, haddock, whiting)

[Gobi King]

Okuma metaloid and andros both are tiny, I mean smaller than what I though they would be.
I have not casted them yet so no comments on that department

[the rockfish ninja]

Omoto make some nice affordable reels iirc somebody on here was selling them, Black Pearl? (I believe Sal tried one).
I would also recommend an Okuma Andros or Metaloid. Any of these reels can be retrofitted with a magnet to stop/reduce overuns.

I looked at an Andros recently, it was a 2-speed so price was a little more than I'd like, but I think it had cast control if I recall. Nice & light, not sure if it's a step up from Avet though, I think I can get a Raptor or Accurate at that price.

I'll look around for the Omoto...... ... it just sounds cool, very Japanese/slow pitch.

[the rockfish ninja]

I don't have the Hybrid myself, but some friends who do were not happy with it for casting -- they found that the handle seemed to trip the spool engagement very frequently during casting, with regrettable results.
I was considering one for more of a pure bottom-fishing use but since I often cast up-tide of the boat, am waiting for more time/feedback and hopefully a fix from Maxel in future versions of the reel
I have been using a Lexa 300cc (5.5:1 with power handle) for many of the situations I was considering the Maxel for (fluke, black seabass, tautog, haddock, whiting)

Although the thumb press was beefy and felt well built, I can see what they complained about, that's why I don't like star drags for jigging. I too was using my Lexa 300 for the same purpose (casting up current), but low profile reels aren't very fun or effective for this application IMHO.

[Ron Jones]

I really like the Metaloid, and see no reason why I wouldn't want the new replacement. Another one I like a whole lot is the Saltist LD. Very small reel that would be great for light jigging.
The Man

[Cor]

I don't have the Hybrid myself, but some friends who do were not happy with it for casting -- they found that the handle seemed to trip the spool engagement very frequently during casting, with regrettable results.
I was considering one for more of a pure bottom-fishing use but since I often cast up-tide of the boat, am waiting for more time/feedback and hopefully a fix from Maxel in future versions of the reel
I have been using a Lexa 300cc (5.5:1 with power handle) for many of the situations I was considering the Maxel for (fluke, black seabass, tautog, haddock, whiting)

I have three Tranx 500's and one of the first things I did to them all was to disable the "self engaging mechanism"    We all spinfish which involves very many casts, often quick casts, and even those that use spinning reels modify them to manually engage the bail arm.
My conclusion is for that type of casting you don't want to have a reel where sometimes a small turn of the handle engages the reel.   It has disastrous consequences, lost lures, broken line, damaged pinion, even hitting someone standing next to the caster with the rod etc.

[nelz]

Omoto make some nice affordable reels iirc somebody on here was selling them, Black Pearl? (I believe Sal tried one).

Actually I have a near mint Omoto Talos "Special Edition" Jigging Reel in the for sale section. It'a a little beauty, I just don't get to use it. Can't beat the price!

https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=29813.0

[boon]

Side note that if you're casting a "jig" you're probably not "jigging" in the conventional sense... all of which is done in as vertical a manner as possible. The cast control on the light jigging reels is more to control the descent of the jig, than any sort of meaningful casting. All the star-drag reels have auto-engagement in case you get hit on the drop.

Other than shore jigging but that's a different kettle of fish(ing?).

[the rockfish ninja]

Side note that if you're casting a "jig" you're probably not "jigging" in the conventional sense... all of which is done in as vertical a manner as possible. The cast control on the light jigging reels is more to control the descent of the jig, than any sort of meaningful casting. All the star-drag reels have auto-engagement in case you get hit on the drop.

Other than shore jigging but that's a different kettle of fish(ing?).

Actually no, if you read the previous posts by redpaulhus & myself, we both cast up current from the boat, so by the time the jig hits the bottom it's vertical and you have the window of time until the boat drifts past it. Then you have to recast again. The cast control actually is a handicap because it slows down the drop and shortens the strike zone window of time, but I just want it cause I stink at underhand casting and that's the rules here on party boats.

I don't know where he's at but it's my west coast CA adaptation for slow pitch jigging, strong currents here and that's the only way to fish light jigs.