update on Genz Ice Spooler reel

Had it out today and fished water in the 20+ foot zone. Fish were in the 12 to 17 foot range. I had no problems with the usual coils coming off like the spinning reels have from twisting baits. The only issue with it was the line stripping one has to do to get to these depths. Once you get to the proper depth you have to tighten the drag for proper hook set. It wouldn’t be bad if you were catching “an occasional” fish but we caught a very large number of small fish, 30+ per hour. This resulted in a whole lot of line stripping with this reel as opposed to opening the bail and letting the jig do the work.

I’ll keep using it but I have to admit the spinning reel is a whole lot more user friendly.

I agree…that’s my only complaint is stripping the line out Otherwise I like them.

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

Thats why I use my 6061’s over 10-12′ deep, freespool…..

Nice looking reel. Ill have to check them out at the show tomorrow. The old reel I use the drag is always light and you just thumb the spool and fight the fish with the rod. Fun way to fish.

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Thanks for the info. I’ll check them out.

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Do you know if the Eagle Claw is reversible to left handed? I checked on their site and there was no mention of it.

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

X2!
gave my new eagle claw its first good workout yesterday. The free spooling button is worth its weight in gold for getting back down to the fish quickly. Loved it so much I had to order another one. Hopefully it comes before next weekend.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Do you know if the Eagle Claw is reversible to left handed? I checked on their site and there was no mention of it.

---

Yes it is reversable, you just have to turn the bearing around.

To change the reel from right to left or vise versa one must take these steps

1. Remove free spool knob and spring
2. Remove retaining screw and retaining plate from reel handle
3. Remove reel handle nut
4. Remove drag knob and two spring washers
5. Remove bearing and one way bearing, turn one way bearing 180 degrees
6. Replace, and reassemble

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Even with the free spooling, is an ice jig heavy enough to take line off this reel?

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Even with the free spooling, is an ice jig heavy enough to take line off this reel?

---

I think it will be,the 6061 will free spool a 3mm jig.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Even with the free spooling, is an ice jig heavy enough to take line off this reel?

---

You’d be surprised just how fast it spools the smallest ice jigs, tungsten or not.

It appears they tweaked the design. I have the old model Genz and another “issue” I have found is that I have to thumb it when jigging, otherwise the line backs up slowly onto the real. In other words it is slowly reeling the line back on the spool.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Get the Eagle Claw straight line reel, it has the free spool, no Lind stripping.

---

Even with the free spooling, is an ice jig heavy enough to take line off this reel?

---

Yes, a 3mm tungsten jig would decend on its own! However, I chose to peel it off by hand most of the time. Love that its locked back in with one turn of the reel. No tightening drag after each time you drop down.