Best Conventional Reel for a GSB 1201M

[Back Beach]

Ludz,

The newell 229 is my recommendation. The new ones have metal spools, are well built and cast great. My partners refer to them as "coffe grinders." The reel has no level wind, but level winds are for sissies anyways, they are like training wheels on a bike. Good drag on the newell too. You can try mine if you want this winter. Its a man's reel.

I am going to get a calcutta 400 te for next year, for special situations. That reel would be my second choice if I could only have one reel , reason being the capacity might be less than what you want if you plan on jigging the canal, but its a great surf reel.

[piemma]

I totall agree with Mike. I fished a Newell 229 on the Back for years and it was "bullet proof". I sold it last year to RI Rockhound for his father. I now fish 2 Calcutta 400s and they have been great.

[chief10]

Luds-take him up on his offer.cast one before you buy. the newells are nice reels, very light in weight and easy to maintain. I've had the 235-5 for 15 years , still kicking.

As far as the sissy thing/level wind ....they'll only call you that over the internet. no worries.

[luds]

Anybody have one of these. I realize it doesn't have a level wind.

6500C3 CT Blue Yonder

http://causewaybait.com/store/large/...ue_Yonder.html

It's pretty.

[spence]

There are a lot of variation on the 6500...I've got the levelwind Chrome Rocket.

It's pretty sweet

-spence

[SeaWolf]

you'll be best bet for throwing larger lures and handling fast rips and tides is an abu 7000 model, probably a 7000c3. the reels have not changed too much from model to model and thru the years. that says a lot. the reels a pretty much bullet proof w/ minor maintainence. just dont dunk the reel or let sand get into the spool and you are good. i've fished mine for over 15 years now and woudl still buy more for that purpose. the 6500 series is nice, but it has smaller components. again, it depends how you plan on fishing. the narrow width of the 6500 makes it harder to pick out an overrun when it does occur. the 6500 has less capacity than a 7000, but is a much faster reel. it can be a little harder to master.

your lure range and what you plan on throwing may dictate which one you should use. i've had a gsb1201m for years and that was the reel that was on it. matched perfectly.

[numbskull]

Can't go wrong with any of the reels mentioned, but I think a 6500 is too small a reel for a rod as powerful as a Lami 120 1m. Would do better on a 1L. The calcutta is equally small, but a stronger reel (that hates sand). The 7000 is better matched in the balls dept for the power of the rod, but the 7000 weighs more than I like. I've been very happy with Newells, probably a 229 or 235 for that size rod. Still, if you're unsure, the calcutta 400 is a very versatile reel to own, and you'd find something else to do with it if you eventually decide it is too small for the rod in question.