Multiplier reel for trolling

For fishing on a river or sea using the trolling method (tracks), you cannot do without a multiplier reel. Professionals also successfully use this equipment for other types of fishing. A huge advantage is the line counter (not available in all models), which allows you to release the bait to a given depth.

Our review presents the best baitcasting reels on the domestic market in various price segments. The rating was compiled taking into account the opinions of users who were practically familiar with the characteristics of these participants.

Pros of baitcasting reels:

• small dimensions;
• high level of structural strength;
• ease of use;
• the presence of a special counter for measuring the length of the fishing line.

The handle in multiplier reels can be located either on the left side or on the right. This is due not so much to the characteristics of the person himself (“left-handed” or “right-handed”), but rather to the characteristics of trolling fishing. When trolling, the fisherman has to control the watercraft and fish at the same time, and because of this, most often one hand is on the tiller, and the other is holding the rod. In such a situation, a “right-hander” will fish with his left hand, and it is more convenient to rotate the reel without wasting time with his right hand.

Choosing a power baitcasting reel for trolling and sea fishing

Choosing and purchasing a baitcasting reel for river trolling - or for sea fishing - is a serious matter, especially if this is your first time. Of course, specialists in fishing stores can help you make the right choice, but this does not always happen - and you often have to rely on your own knowledge base. In this article I will try to outline a certain set of rules, knowledge of which will help you take the first steps in independently choosing a multiplier reel for a spinning rod.

First you need to decide what type of fishing you need a multiplier reel for and under what conditions it will be used. If you are trolling on a river or on a body of standing water, it is better to opt for a power trolling multiplier reel with a low gear ratio (up to 4.5 - 5 turns of the spool to 1 turn of the handle, no more). This parameter is usually written on the body of the baitcasting reel (photo 1) and on the packaging box. Also, a baitcasting reel for trolling in small bodies of water must have a line guide.

As an additional option, you can consider the presence of a line counter on the multiplier reel (photo 2): although it is not required, it will be a good help if you need to determine at what maximum effective depth a wobbler or spinner goes at a certain fixed line release. Nowadays, most often, line counters on trolling baitcasting reels have not metric scales, but foot scales, but this should not be scary: it is not so important what length measure you remember, the main thing here is to release the line to the same distance at which the last bite occurred. And what you see on the meter, feet or meters, does not carry any meaning.

By the way, a line counter on a multiplier reel can also be very useful when catching catfish with a kwok. They fish with kwok by rafting, under steep holes in the river, moving over holes and deep coastal edges. The line release is, as a rule, 3 - 5 m from the surface, i.e. fishing takes place in the water column. The catfish, reacting to the sound of the quok, rises closer to the surface where the equipment with the nozzle is located. With this fishing method, it is very convenient to use a multiplier reel with a counter for prompt delivery of the bait to the catfish activity zone. But when looking for a baitcasting reel specifically for this type of fishing, do not forget that it must have a reliable multi-disc friction brake and a low gear ratio (no more than 4.0:1), because you have to fight a truly strong predator.

If you plan to use a multiplier reel for trolling fishing for Ladoga or Onega salmon, trout or palia, or other species of fish of the salmon family, you can choose a multiplier reel with a higher gear ratio (up to 6.0:1). When fishing this way, it is very important to act quickly, not allowing the fish to confuse adjacent loose gear. And since several spinning rods are used here - sometimes 12 - 14 at the same time, it is wiser, of course, to take the simplest and most inexpensive multipliers (photo 4).

Multiplier reels for vertical sea fishing for cod, pollock, sea bass or halibut must meet slightly different requirements. First of all, you should pay attention to the body of the baitcasting reel. It must be a reliable metal, aluminum or other frame, cast under high pressure, eliminating any hint of fragility of the structure (photo 5). The transmission mechanism must have reliable brass gears. And you need a multi-disc friction brake. The bearings of such a baitcasting reel must be resistant to salt water, otherwise it will not last long. The presence of a line laying machine is not required, since the worm gear responsible for its movement can be seriously damaged under heavy load and the multiplier reel will fail.

Keep in mind that deep sea fishing usually takes place at great depths. And this will require not only a large forest capacity of the multiplier reel, it is also important how quickly the prey is caught and the pilker is released again to a given depth. After all, every lost minute can be worth a truly worthy trophy. A high-speed baitcasting reel in this case is not a panacea: if you catch a large cod or halibut, fishing will be extremely uncomfortable. So what should we do? For such cases, there are special models that are a kind of symbiosis of two multiplier reels with high and low gears (photo 6). The advantage of two-speed reels is obvious. In the process of fishing, fishing for small fish or lifting gear to change bait, you use high-speed gear. But once you get hooked by a sea giant - with a slight movement of your hand you turn a special lever - and the multiplier reel turns into a powerful winch with a low gear, after which you can slowly and deliberately bring out a large fish. The price of such multiplier reels, of course, is an order of magnitude higher than that of ordinary ones, but it’s worth it.

Recently, electric multiplier reels have become popular among sea fishing enthusiasts (photo 7). When landing fish, the baitcasting reel is used as usual. And to quickly reel in the fishing line (for example, if you need to replace the bait), you just need to press a button and the jig will begin to rise towards you from the depths of the sea at a speed of up to 160 m/min! All you have to do is take a breath and admire the beauty of the sea before the bait reaches you.

If you are going to fight with a real sea predator and want to buy a baitcasting reel for sea trolling, the main selection criterion should be ultra-reliability and super-power (photo 8). Here, too, a line layer is not required, but it will be useful to have two speeds - low (for fishing) and normal (for other actions).

Big Game - as this type of fishing is called - is fishing in salt water, so the mechanism of the multiplier reel must be resistant to an aggressive environment. Be prepared for the fact that the Big Game class trolling baitcasting reel is a heavy unit (photo 9): this winch can weigh 4 - 5 kg or more. Buying a baitcasting reel for sea trolling is not a cheap pleasure, but it pays off with interest, because the brightest moments of your fishing life will be associated with this reel.

M. Antonenko

Basic requirements for a trolling reel

It is not without reason that the reel for trolling fishing received the slang name “winch” from fishermen. The most important requirement for a reel is high reliability. During trolling, all the gear experiences a lot of stress, so each part of it must have a fair margin of reliability. It is very important that the clutch setting is as accurate as possible.

It should hold the line while the boat is moving, preventing it from unwinding, and when biting or hooking, on the contrary, release it from the spool, reducing the shock load on the rod. It is very important that the reel has power transmission ratios that will allow you to pull out a particularly large specimen without fear for the integrity of the mechanisms and components.

The material is predominantly metal, it one hundred percent meets all reliability requirements, but modern technologies do not stand still, which makes it possible to use composite materials, which have lower weight and high reliability. Another important point is the size of the spool; it must hold at least two hundred meters of cord.

The next thing you need to pay attention to is the line layer; it must be equipped with a bearing, which is necessary to prevent the cord from twisting. A recoilless brake is another important requirement. It will allow you to make instant cuts.

Advantages and disadvantages of multiplier and inertia-free reels

Photo 1. Trolling multiplier.

First, let's look at the baitcasting reel for trolling. The operation of such a product occurs on the principle of “multiplication”. That is, when the main handle rotates, the main gear engages with the spool rotation mechanism, and this part turns several times faster. This makes it possible to increase the speed of reeling in the fishing line. As the difference in gear diameters increases, the rotation speed increases. For example, a 4:1 ratio means four turns of the spool with one turn of the handle.