Will,
As I recall, I believe you tried the Trinidad and liked it for big blades. Ever since seeing it on the R & H website and over the winter I watched Gregg Thomas, I believe, on "The Edge" use it for 10s, and even bigger and he seemed to like the performance also. What is holding me back from getting one (not to mention the price) is the fact that it doesn't have the level wind. What keeps the line from balling up in the middle during the retrieve or is that not a problem? Do you just thumb it on the cast like you would on a more conventional fresh water muskie reel? I've never actually held one so I'm in the dark a bit on how it operates. Am I missing some fundamental information here? In your opinion, would the open spooled, saltwater Trinidad with it's heavy duty gears and contruction work as easily as the style of bait casting reel most of us are familar with? Thanks!
There are three drawbacks to this reel in my opinion, let alone the price…
1. no levelwind
2. manual freespool
3. gear ratio
The levelwind, or lack of, isn't really a big issue. You point the rod at the lure and the line stacks just fine. If you aren't paying attention and you point the rod off to one side you'll get line piled up.
These "jigging" reels (they aren't meant for muskie casting) don't automatically engage the spool, you have to engage and disengage the freespool w/ the lever. It's a pain but something you could get used to and it would become second nature.
The gear ratio. Some people like the higher gear ratio for burning big blades but I thought the 48" per turn was just too much. I prefer spinning the reel handle to avoid getting tired and the Trinidad was like mixing cement with a wood spoon. Sure I could pull a double ten 5mph but I can do that with one of my regular reels too.
A fourth (or is it fifth) drawback is that the Trinidad is a one trick pony, bucktails or nothing. I could see maybe using it for big rubber but the you would have to babysit the line and guide it on the spool.
Now… what might be the perfect reel for bucktails with blades the size of trash can lids is the Daiwa Slatist LW. This reel w/ levelwind retrieves at 35" per turn which is slower than the Trinidad but much faster than a regular muskie reel. The Saltist is also a brute of a reel like the Trinidad and meant for fish that would make a muskie look silly. The only drawback of the Saltist is that it does have a manual freespool. The price is more tolerable than the Trinidad too.
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
You can burn a DCG with ease!
You can wind it in easier but I wouldn't say you can burn it easier. I realize "burn" is a relative term and what you think is fast might not be what I think it fast. IMO you need more than 25" per turn of the handle to really "burn" a double ten. 48" seems like too much on the Trinidad but the Saltist w/ 35" per turn might be just right.
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="Jim tenHaaf"]You can burn a DCG with ease!
You can wind it in easier but I wouldn't say you can burn it easier. I realize "burn" is a relative term and what you think is fast might not be what I think it fast. IMO you need more than 25" per turn of the handle to really "burn" a double ten. 48" seems like too much on the Trinidad but the Saltist w/ 35" per turn might be just right.
My term "burning" is bringing it in until it's just about breaking the surface. I guess you'd be "bulging" it then. Do you put the rod tip underwater to keep the blades from popping out if you're burning?
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
My term "burning" is bringing it in until it's just about breaking the surface. I guess you'd be "bulging" it then. Do you put the rod tip underwater to keep the blades from popping out if you're burning?
Bulging wouldn't be the correct term since you can go very slow and still bulge a bait on the surface. Burning is all about speed and has little to do with how deep or shallow the lure is in the water column.
Maybe the next time I'm on the water I'll quantify retrieve speeds (using GPS) so I can give you an exact mph description of slow, medium, fast and burning. If I remember right when we checked speed once we called "burning" anything in excess of 5mph but I might be off a little.
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