In line reels

What are some good inline reels for beginners I was looking at the 13 fishing 6061s are they good or no

They are a good reel. I still migrate back to my spinning reels. If the fish are really finicky and giving me a tough day, then I go inline. For production fishing it is my trusty spinning reel.

I own the Frabill 371 and No. 8 CGI. I have also used my dad’s 6061. He never uses the 6061 and always uses his spinning reels. I thought it was a very nice reel but it is cold. Out of my reels i prefer the 371. It just feels nicer than the CGI. It also cost 2X more, so maybe that has something to do with it. My biggest gripe about the CGI is that I can hear and feel something dragging when i reel in line. Anyone have that issue?

I took some advice from some other members and pulled them apart and greased them. The CGI was bone dry and the 371 had very little grease on things. I’m on the fence of spinning vs inline still, but giving inlines a try.

I’ve used most every inline out there over the past 3 years, as have the guys I fish with (we panfish 99% of the time, so we use mostly use inlines). The 6061 is everyone’s favorite. We call it the Cadillac of inline reels and I have it on the majority of my rods now. The free spool is unreal. No inline has ‘perfect’ drag IMO, but the 6061 has the best I’ve seen for an inline. We’ve caught a bunch of walleyes, smallmouth, and largemouth this year targeting panfish with small spoons, the 6061 handled them all.

For larger spoons (1/16 oz and above) for crappies and occasionally perch I still use a spinning reel. Anything smaller (1/32 oz forage minnows down to tiny jigs) its all inline reels. The No. 8 CGI would get my ‘next best’ vote. Its quite similar to the 6061 and much cheaper. I also have a handful of regular Black Betty’s that I use when fishing 12 foot or shallower.

I will echo the sentiments of the previous poster on this thread. I own this years black betty and the model from two years ago and they are by far and away my favorite reels to use for panfish (I also fish pannies 99% of the time.) The only downfall that I have run into is fishing deep water (I’m talking over 20 ft) in this water then the inline reels are not quite as good as the spinning reel IMO. As far a fishing light jigs in shallower water IMHO the inlines work the best, the line always comes of straight and smooth unlike the spinning reels where I found myself pre-stretching my line before putting it down the hole. I will say that I have heard a lot of bad reviews, on here and elsewhere that the teardrop model from 13 was a lemon, so stay away from it if you decide to take that jump.

I have two of the Frabill 261’s and like them as well, they are super light compared to the 13 reels but I’m not sure they will last as long as the black betty’s. However if weight is an issue id suggest the 261 model, if not black betty’s get my vote. I have no experience with the 371 model as of yet.

Reed’s 2 reels(6061) for $100 right now. Just ordered 2 the other day. The site says 59.99, but when I got my invoice it was 2 for 100. My son has two 6061 and loves them. For this price I thought why not give them a try.

I also have a 371 and a No. 8 CGI. I got them both because I had never fished an inline reel and wanted to test the differences. I like the feel of the No. 8 because the spool is open and I can easily control the fall rate, but I believe that the 371 is a better quality reel. Personally I have out fished 80% of the people I have been fishing with that we’re using spinning reels but there are too many other items to confidently say that it was the inline reels. I just got a 16″+ crappie on the No. 8 with 2# line and it was nice to be able to control the spool.

Hope that helps
EIU

This is an absolute steal if you’re looking for a 6061…

http://kabeles.com/shop/ice-fishing/2015-black-betty-6061-inline-reel/