B A I T C A S T E R S
OnE Thing’S fOr SurE. no matter where you fish, kayakers’ reels get dunked and doused. You have a couple options: buy a low-cost reel that’s easily replaced, or a high-end one that’s built to withstand abuse. Or take the middle road. Either way, a saltwater reel is a good bet, because it will have the sealing and anti-corrosion features that kayakers need.
OKUMA ALUMINA AL-200 $80 //
okumafishingteam.com
okuma’s hands-down bestselling baitcaster. the only difference between this and the highest-end reels is the low bearing count, 4 bearings (less to go wrong). the Alumina boasts an aluminum frame, spool and right side plate (graphite side plate on the non- reeling side). Brass gears add to corrosion resistance. Weighs 9.1 ounces and has a 6:2.1 gear ratio.
Hookups: Best value with saltwater durability and high-end features.
snags: Less smooth than Okuma’s VSystem reels (but half the price).
SHIMANO CURADO 200E7 $180 //
fish.shimano.com
A true crossover for freshwater game fish and inshore salt, the new Curado e series are built to be ultra-compact and durable. With an aluminum frame and spool and graphite side plates, the 200 reels are the size of Shimano’s old 100s and weigh only 7.6 ounces. the 7.0:1 gear ratio offers quick line pickup for using worms and jigs—30 inches per crank—while a torquey 5.0:1 is also available.
Hookups: Small, light and conforms to your hand. snags: Variable Brake System is finicky to adjust.
DAIWA TD ZILLION 7.3:1 HYPER- SPEED SPECIAL EDITION $300 //
daiwa.com
this is primarily a bass fishing reel but with 11 CrBBs (corrosion-resistant ball bearings) making it both silky smooth and saltwater durable. the world’s fastest gear ratio, bringing in 32 inches per turn, makes the hyper-speed version great for covering water with topwater lures.
Hookups: Precision adjustment dial on side is easy to access to change drag settings.
snags: Limited edition so get it while you can. O
WaayCool Kayak Hand Line $30 //
waaycool.com
Who needs a rod? Small and simple, hand lines may not cast well, but they troll, jig and plunk just fine. Plus, there is a certain satisfaction from handling the line with just your fingers. Designed by mark thimsen, who has hand-line fished for big game like wahoo and marlin, the WaayCool runs a big snap swivel on the end of 75 feet of 3 mm accessory cord wound onto a kite handle. Attach a 6- to 10-foot length of mono from the swivel.—Rob Lyon
Hookups: The only serious hand line rig we know of.
snags:
if you don’t tether the line to your boat, you’ll really be fishing by hand.
34 … KAYAK ANGLER summer/fall 2009 North Coast Kayak
Special Edition Rods $89 //
rapala.ca
these kayak-specific, 7-foot 4-inch trigger and 7-foot 7-inch spinning, medium/heavy rods pack plenty of backbone and fish-fighting leverage for paddlers, with the length to reach across the bow in a fight. the lightweight, sensitive Hm-40 graphite blanks are rated to handle up to 0.5-ounces, covering plenty of multi-species bait options. yak anglers will like the two-piece construction, floating foam handle, shorter butt for seated maneuverability, and lanyard ring for tethering.—Tim Allard
Hookups: great action, smooth casting.
snags: heavier reels overcome the buoyancy of the rod.
QUANTUM CATALYST PT $170 //
quantumfishing.com
the new generation of Quantum baitcasters are ultra-light at 7.5 ounces—two less than previously—and come in both fresh and saltwater flavors. Burly with a one-piece aluminum frame that boasts the same bang in a smaller profile. Smooth with 7 polymer stainless hybrid bearings; 6.3:1 or 7:1 ratios.
Hookups: Micro ACS cast control provides user-friendly braking system adjustment with an external dial.
snags: We’re scratching our heads. The PT is a great value and a tester favorite.
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