Well I picked one up to try it out to see what all the hype was about and so far I wanted to throw it down my ice hole today I took all my backing off and still manage to get all tangled up in the spool behind the spool and so on any advice on what I am doing wrong I am a lefty and half polak or how ever you spell it
I know some guys like them but personally I find them very clunky. Long story short, it isn’t just you. 
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…and half polak or how ever you spell it
Hey hey hey! If you were really half POLISH you would have figured it out before it happened!
Hey hey hey! If you were really half POLISH you would have figured it out before it happened!
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What the heck does having shiny shoes have to do with a fishing reel?? 
jerr
Technically speaking they say Polack is a derogatory term, however I’d rather be called a Polack than a Pole. 
I bought the Black Betty Ice Reel for my St Croix UL. Very light weight and a solid, simple design. It provided a great balanced weight on my SC.
It was ok for hole hopping in very shallow water.
The line jumped the arbor often and I did not see an advantage to the lacking line twist.
I couldn’t adjust my brain to the tactile feel of retrieving line thru their braking style drag system. It just felt weird. I did like the extended arm as it provided ample clearance for my knuckles when my sally hands needed gloves. Also, the drag knob loosened on me and took a swim in the hole.
Their customer service proved excellent. Within 48 hours of calling 13, I had a replacement knob back on my reel. I’m much more content with my Sedona 500.
My .02.
The inline reels are a cool concept, but IMO not real practical. They are bulky, heavy, awkward, and IMO are not needed. I was all excited to buy one until I saw them in person, not for me. I may try the eagle claw next year, but only if I can get it real cheap. No way I’m paying $100 for a BB.
Spinning reels worked very well for me again this year, just as they have every year.
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I bought the 40 dollar one no way on the 100 dollar one
The $100 version was poorly executed as well. Like others, I was giddy to get one in my hand. Disappointed once I fished with it. Sent it back for a refund.
Someone will get the inline reels done right. The reels that came out this year were a (baby) step in the right direction.
Would like to see a in line reel that sits on top of the rod where I can thumb the drag. There are a couple on the market now but they need improvement. Larger spools and better quality would be a good start. Maybe throw in a geared model for fishing deeper water. Rod handles would also need to be adjusted for a reel of this type to. The trend towards shorter handles does not work with a top mounted reel.
Its still good to see the all the in line reels on the market this winter. The biggest change in ice fishing reels since people started taping spinning reels to their ice fishing rods.
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I bought the 40 dollar one no way on the 100 dollar one
I did the same thing, glad I did…what’s funny is that people are trying to sell them for $125+ on craigslist and ebay..
So you guys ARE referring to the 6061! Interesting.
I had one in hand before the season even started. Played with it a little and for some reason it just didn’t sit well with me. I thought I was an oddball when I sent it back to Cabelas and I heard everyone raving about it but I didn’t see it. I think I made the right decision. Sometimes a guy needs to listen to that little voice in his head and follow it. (that statement is not related to the man code post on the general board forum)
I have had ton’s of fun with both my black betty and my black betty 6061. is it the end-all answer? no. as james has said tho, its a step in the right direction.
I am on my 2nd brand of line on both reels. first brand was northland bionic ice. love their products, but the line just ices up too much and likes to coil. Now I am using the suffix i got with my rapala free bag when i got my lx-9. So far it hasn’t iced up and hasn’t coiled, but I have barely any real cold time on it, as my work hours have grown in the past month (60+ per week).
my black betty combo is the 27 inch ultra light combo, and its fun to play with on panfish and even stocker-trout, but I would definately put a max depth range on it at 20 feet. after 20 feet, reeling and reverse reeling just becomes troublesome and you lose interest in using the setup, no matter how great it feels in the hand. the tip is very sensitive, and lots of play in the rod like a noodle. I wouldn’t be selling all your spring bobbers just yet, but its a close alternative that doesn’t ice up like a spring bobber. if i was going to suggest changing anything on the black betty, it would be to narrow the spool, since it has no geared mechanism to evenly spool your line back on the reel during retrieval.
as for the black betty 6061, it has it’s ups and downs. I have mine mounted on a cheap 30 inch schooley, and have a blast with pan fish and stocker-trout with it. the free-spool just feels amazing in the hand, letting your tiny jig just sail thru the water column. Dropping down another 10 feet is fast and easy when fishing deeper water and chasing fish all over the water column, just a simple push on the button and let her fall or reel it up and chase something higher. After using it, there are tricks to stop it from wanting to over-spool the line out, such as letting the spool slightly drag on the palm of your hand or a finger. Reeling in the 6061 is a breeze, it feels very natural and smooth. The drag needs work, but I haven’t ran into any fish yet that needs any drag on 4lb line, luckily. I know they are aware of this and are working on improvements, I am hoping that their future improvements on this is a simple addition that can be added to existing models. One thing I would definately change is adding a spooling mechanism like you see on bait casters. That wide of a reel with nothing to help keep it spooled evenly is just asking for trouble and will keep you from fishing if you let it get away from you.
All in all, I am happy with these 2 purchases. They might not be the end-all answer, but they are a blast to use and I can’t wait to be back on the ice with them. I would recommend trying one before buying tho, as they have a different feel and you may not like trying something so different.
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For 40′ perch the 6061 was the nuts….
Cool 
! You catch 40′ perch 
? 
Shawn
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Someone will get the inline reels done right.
Yes they will. There’s too much interest albeit in a small market.
Sold my 6061 and replaced it with (2)Tica SS500’s. Pretty hard to beat the Tica’s imho.
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Sold my 6061 and replaced it with (2)Tica SS500’s. Pretty hard to beat the Tica’s imho.
Love those Tica’s!
I own a 6061 and the off-center weight is kinda goofy feeling until you get used to it. Like mentioned earlier, the way the line peels off the reel is awesome. That’s why I bought it. I have yet to really give the drag a test. But I’ve hauled in a few eater walleyes with it without a problem. Overall, for the $56 I paid for it from the bargain cave I am pleased with my purchase.
Better purchase than the Reel Weedz I bought a few years ago.
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Would like to see a in line reel that sits on top of the rod where I can thumb the drag. There are a couple on the market now but they need improvement. Larger spools and better quality would be a good start. Maybe throw in a geared model for fishing deeper water. Rod handles would also need to be adjusted for a reel of this type to. The trend towards shorter handles does not work with a top mounted reel.
Its still good to see the all the in line reels on the market this winter. The biggest change in ice fishing reels since people started taping spinning reels to their ice fishing rods.
Ha! It’s called a bait caster!
Was unable to get my hands on a 6061 but do have a few of the Eagle claw inlines. For the price I am happy. If I would have paid $ 100 for it I would not be so pleased. I have iced alot of crappies 10-14″ in 20-30 fow and they have done well. Free spool is smooth and fast with spoons and tungsten jigs. If you have a 6061 and want to get rid of it for a realistic price send me a message.
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Would like to see a in line reel that sits on top of the rod where I can thumb the drag. There are a couple on the market now but they need improvement. Larger spools and better quality would be a good start. Maybe throw in a geared model for fishing deeper water. Rod handles would also need to be adjusted for a reel of this type to. The trend towards shorter handles does not work with a top mounted reel.
Its still good to see the all the in line reels on the market this winter. The biggest change in ice fishing reels since people started taping spinning reels to their ice fishing rods.
Ha! It’s called a bait caster!
Yep. Now make one that is small enough with some quality to ice fish.
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