Capt. G / Pacific Rim Specialist
Electric Reels
Feb. 24 2010, 2:35 PM
Feb. 24 2010, 2:35 PM
Electric Reels
Electric reels have been around forever, and are mostly used for deep drop/bottom fish.
The past ten years has seen "Temochi-Concept" electric reels that are designed to be much smaller, and held (Temochi) rather than mounted on rods set in rod holders.
These reels are used for super high speed jigging in Japan for buri and hiramasa (Japanese yellowtail) amberjack, wahoo, and their smaller cousins, the sawara (like a Sierra, or Cero Mackerel).
The first time I saw these type of reels in use was about ten years ago, in the Sea of Japan. We were fishing for sawara and yellowtail, and one guy with a small electric reel was getting bit way more than anyone on the boat. I watched him do his thing-he put the reel on about 1\2 max speed, and as the 150 gram jig screamed up from the bottom, he would use either a regular "fast pitch" jerking action, or an irregular action. The water was very clear, and I could see how fast the jig was moving--I estimated about three times faster than what I could do with my 6:1 gear ratio reels.
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Electric reels have been around forever, and are mostly used for deep drop/bottom fish.
The past ten years has seen "Temochi-Concept" electric reels that are designed to be much smaller, and held (Temochi) rather than mounted on rods set in rod holders.
These reels are used for super high speed jigging in Japan for buri and hiramasa (Japanese yellowtail) amberjack, wahoo, and their smaller cousins, the sawara (like a Sierra, or Cero Mackerel).
The first time I saw these type of reels in use was about ten years ago, in the Sea of Japan. We were fishing for sawara and yellowtail, and one guy with a small electric reel was getting bit way more than anyone on the boat. I watched him do his thing-he put the reel on about 1\2 max speed, and as the 150 gram jig screamed up from the bottom, he would use either a regular "fast pitch" jerking action, or an irregular action. The water was very clear, and I could see how fast the jig was moving--I estimated about three times faster than what I could do with my 6:1 gear ratio reels.
The above pic is from a jigging trip I took off Japan, about two years ago. About half the anglers on the boat were using the newer, smaller electric reels (note the two red reels in the stern, and the orange one in the far left).
While I will say that it is "not my thing" , one of the guys let me try the reel, and I saw what it is all about--speed and power.
While I do not own one (yet!), there have been numerous trips since I saw these reels in action ten years ago that the super high speed electric reels were the only ones getting bit.
Let's take a look at them.
The specs are impressive:
Twenty-six(!) ball bearings; line capacity on this reel is about 300 meters of 50 lb. braid.
In the high speed mode, it will retrieve 235 meters of line per minute. I wonder what "gear ratio" that would be comparable to?
The price is also impressive--about US $1,120.
The reels are powered by screw in batteries, which are about the size of a soda can. I have only used these reels a couple of times, and do not know much about them, but one battery will not last a whole day of fishing.
There are also small, square batteries that can be plugged in with a cord.
You will notice that these reels have handles--most of the guys I fish with use the electric function only when retrieving the jigs. When they get bit, the fight the fish by cranking the handle, like you would with a normal reel.
Not that the reel could not do it in electric mode--the reel above can lift 35kg. of the bottom (I assume through the water, to the surface, where the fish is usually gaffed or netted).
They have more powerful reels, like the Seaborg 750 MT, which can lift up 75 kg. from the bottom--that is some serious lifting power.
Trends in jigging/popping gear, as well as techniques like the use of spinning tackle for big tuna/jigging have been the mainstay of offshore fishing since I moved to Japan 20 years ago (probably long before that), and have recently been gaining popularity on the East Coast. With recent reports like the one posted by the Royal Star on landing large yellowfin tuna on spinning tackle in short order, the gear might even gain some popularity on the West Coast.
Whether?the electric jigging reels will catch on in markets outside Japan remains to be seen. But when you consider how fast gamefish like wahoo, tuna and even yellowtail can swim to chase down prey, and how woefully slow even the fastest retrieves are with high gear ratio manual reels, there is need for some type of innovative improvements.
While I will say that it is "not my thing" , one of the guys let me try the reel, and I saw what it is all about--speed and power.
While I do not own one (yet!), there have been numerous trips since I saw these reels in action ten years ago that the super high speed electric reels were the only ones getting bit.
Let's take a look at them.
The specs are impressive:
Twenty-six(!) ball bearings; line capacity on this reel is about 300 meters of 50 lb. braid.
In the high speed mode, it will retrieve 235 meters of line per minute. I wonder what "gear ratio" that would be comparable to?
The price is also impressive--about US $1,120.
The reels are powered by screw in batteries, which are about the size of a soda can. I have only used these reels a couple of times, and do not know much about them, but one battery will not last a whole day of fishing.
There are also small, square batteries that can be plugged in with a cord.
You will notice that these reels have handles--most of the guys I fish with use the electric function only when retrieving the jigs. When they get bit, the fight the fish by cranking the handle, like you would with a normal reel.
Not that the reel could not do it in electric mode--the reel above can lift 35kg. of the bottom (I assume through the water, to the surface, where the fish is usually gaffed or netted).
They have more powerful reels, like the Seaborg 750 MT, which can lift up 75 kg. from the bottom--that is some serious lifting power.
Trends in jigging/popping gear, as well as techniques like the use of spinning tackle for big tuna/jigging have been the mainstay of offshore fishing since I moved to Japan 20 years ago (probably long before that), and have recently been gaining popularity on the East Coast. With recent reports like the one posted by the Royal Star on landing large yellowfin tuna on spinning tackle in short order, the gear might even gain some popularity on the West Coast.
Whether?the electric jigging reels will catch on in markets outside Japan remains to be seen. But when you consider how fast gamefish like wahoo, tuna and even yellowtail can swim to chase down prey, and how woefully slow even the fastest retrieves are with high gear ratio manual reels, there is need for some type of innovative improvements.
emmanuel zammit
March 25, 2010, 9:30 pm
Please I am interested in buying an electric jigging reel for fishing in 400 meters. Can you tell me which one I should buy?
Thanke you.
Emmanuel Zammit
March 25, 2010, 9:30 pm
Please I am interested in buying an electric jigging reel for fishing in 400 meters. Can you tell me which one I should buy?
Thanke you.
Emmanuel Zammit
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March 29, 2010, 12:50 pm
400 meters is deep--and it depends on the size of the fish you are targeting, but you should check out the 750 MT, by Daiwa, or the 1000 MT holds more line, if you are in need of a bigger reel. Both have tremendous lifting power.