KITE REEL CHOICE

[themacs]

I know its a good problem to have, but I have 4 kite reels. I want to keep 1 and maybe 2. All are filled with JB 200 or JB 130 with a 200 splice. All 4 are new or as new. I will be selling or trading the other 2 or 3.

Simply put, which one would you keep? Note: I don't need thoughts of other reels as I think these are adequate. I have had the 70's and 80's along with others, but I consider these 4 to be the best (at least for me). They are:

1) Tiburon 50 automatic

2) Penn VISW (newest version)

3) Accurate 50 W

4) Mak 50 W Sea

Thanks for your input.

 

[mike mitchell]

When I saw your post the first thing I thought was the reel you use to launch and retrieve the kite. You are referring to the reel that you use to fight the fish with correct?

 

[themacs]

When I saw your post the first thing I thought was the reel you use to launch and retrieve the kite. You are referring to the reel that you use to fight the fish with correct?

Yes, sorry for any confusion.

You don't need a reel anywhere near this quality to fly the kites on LR boats. I usually see an old 6'0 or the like.

 

[wahoodad]

Assuming the Penn is a 50W too, flip a coin between the Mak and the VISX. Penn hit a homer with that line.
I’m partial to the Mak, but have to say the Penn VISX is a very good option!

 

[Fishhead17]

The OP indicated that the Penn is a 50VISW, which has a less aggressive drag cam than the 50VISX and thus puts out less Max drag (45 vs 60 lb). The MK 50IIW SEa puts out a Max drag of 60 lbs. and has a lower low gear (1.0:1 vs 1.3:1) = more torque. If these differences are important to you, I would pick the MK over the Penn.

 

[steve k]

The choice for me would be easy, I’d fish the ATD50W. After a failure with a tiny little part in my Mak16SEa, I’m a little skeptical of Makairas. Great reel until it fails and lets you down and it’s the only one I own that has failed.

I know there’s a myth about Accurate reels needing frequent total service and being difficult to work on, but I have found just the opposite to be true. I find the ATD especially reliable. Hence my choice. Sure, they’re pricey, but I scored mine used and they’re terrific.

 

[chilidip]

Of those 4 I would keep the Mak 50, assuming it’s the current SEA version.

 

[themacs]

The OP indicated that the Penn is a 50VISW, which has a less aggressive drag cam than the 50VISX and thus puts out less Max drag (45 vs 60 lb). The MK 50IIW SEa puts out a Max drag of 60 lbs. and has a lower low gear (1.0:1 vs 1.3:1) = more torque. If these differences are important to you, I would pick the MK over the Penn.

My understanding that the Penn 50 VISW is simply the wide version of the 50 VISX. The listing by Charkbait shows the 30-50-80 wide versions are listed as 30 VISW-50 VISW and 80 VISW. There are no 30/50/80 - VISX-W's listed.

 

[Scold]

My understanding that the Penn 50 VISW is simply the wide version of the 50 VISX. The listing by Charkbait shows the 30-50-80 wide versions are listed as 30 VISW-50 VISW and 80 VISW. There are no 30/50/80 - VISX-W's listed.

The VISW’s do not put out the same drag as the VISX reels. Their curve is more old-school. Check out Penn’s site and it will confirm this. Alan Tani has a fairly easy fix for this VISW problem but you’d have to talk to him about the specifics. The Tiburon I know also doesn’t put out a ton of drag but the smart shift system is awesome. If you’re comfortable with the drag the tib puts out, then I’d say keep the tib and the mak (if it’s an sea model) or the VISW if you’re willing to get the drag modified. ATD’s are too finicky for my liking.

 

[james the worm guy]

I know its a good problem to have, but I have 4 kite reels. I want to keep 1 and maybe 2. All are filled with JB 200 or JB 130 with a 200 splice. All 4 are new or as new. I will be selling or trading the other 2 or 3.

Simply put, which one would you keep? Note: I don't need thoughts of other reels as I think these are adequate. I have had the 70's and 80's along with others, but I consider these 4 to be the best (at least for me). They are:

1) Tiburon 50 automatic

2) Penn VISW (newest version)

3) Accurate 50 W

4) Mak 50 W Sea

Thanks for

 

[james the worm guy]

#3

 

[dwaynesda]

The Penn and the Mac. I have seen the newer Penn stuff just punish the fish when the rod was put on the rail and dropped to low gear. If my wife at 65 can get a 280# with no problem, that is a great reel!

 

[Buttchaser]

For a kite reel , I want a work horse On a private Boat so its going to be either a Penn Visx 50 or a Penn Visx 50

If your talking about a kite reel for them 1 or 2 long range trips a year , get the bling bling
Accurate

 

[vegasandre]

mak 50 sea is a workhorse.. doesn't need a lot of servicing and maintenance
and usually works as intended on any size fishy...

 

[brad i]

The Tiburon I know also doesn’t put out a ton of drag but the smart shift system is awesome. If you’re comfortable with the drag the tib puts out, then I’d say keep the tib and the mak.

The smaller Tiburons put out a more modest amount of drag, but the 50 size was designed after them and is rated for up to 60# of drag. Other reels may put out more, but even 60# is more than I can fish. YMMV

It sounds like there are no bad choices, but the Tiburon is the only one that's listed as a standard 50 rather than a wide; if that's the case, I'd eliminate that as a possibility (it could still be a top notch heavy bait reel, but the greater line capcity of the other choices puts them ahead for this purpose).

 

[potuna]

Avet 50w 3 speed is the answer.

 

[hucklongfin]

Put me down for a silver Mak 50w SEa!

 

[Scold]

The smaller Tiburons put out a more modest amount of drag, but the 50 size was designed after them and is rated for up to 60# of drag. Other reels may put out more, but even 60# is more than I can fish. YMMV

It sounds like there are no bad choices, but the Tiburon is the only one that's listed as a standard 50 rather than a wide; if that's the case, I'd eliminate that as a possibility (it could still be a top notch heavy bait reel, but the greater line capcity of the other choices puts them ahead for this purpose).

Hmm…If that’s the case then I would definitely keep the Tib. For some reason I misremembered their drag rating.
As far as capacity goes, if he were to throw 500 yards of 100lb on first then top it off with 130 with like 50yds of 200lb at the end, that would alleviate the capacity concern.

 

[dh515]

If the Tib is the high geared 4:1, that would be my pick. Mine puts out 55 lbs. of drag. More than I need. It also holds 900 yards of stepped braid. No need for a wide. The deckhands I fish with don’t like Tibs as the fish frequently comes in green and brown backing but I love it. It’s an absolute tank. I also have a Mak 50 SEa but use that for big baits as it’s lighter in weight.

Edit: My Tib 50 also has the 1:1 low gear.

 

[Mr. DRE]

The one that you should definitely not keep is the ATD. That thing is junk! I'll d you a favor a take it off your hands to narrow down the field and make your choice easier.

 

[johntft]

I started fishing the 50VISX (Topless narrow) on the kite few years ago.

Put 100# hollow on it 1000yds. Never felt under gunned. Like the topless for palming the spool.

I have an old 50VSW that I still bring for people to use who dont have a kite setup. Factory reel. Countless fish caught on that over the years.

 

[Yellowtail Dan]

I’d go with the Mak but I’m biased, Great reels

 

[Fishizelle]

Mak for the win. The gearing just winches them in.

 

[Fishhead17]

If the Tib is the high geared 4:1, that would be my pick. Mine puts out 55 lbs. of drag. More than I need. It also holds 900 yards of stepped braid. No need for a wide. The deckhands I fish with don’t like Tibs as the fish frequently comes in green and brown backing but I love it. It’s an absolute tank. I also have a Mak 50 SEa but use that for big baits as it’s lighter in weight.

Edit: My Tib 50 also has the 1:1 low gear.

Good to see some of you own and have some experience with the Tib 50s. I bought two when they came out a number of years ago, one silver, the other gold, one with the high, high gear that I planned to use for the kite and PL 68s and the other with the super low granny gear. These are a beast of a reel, immaculate construction built to last, but quite heavy. Sadly, never got around to spooling them and so they sit NIB in my reel desk. Such is life when one has four other very serviceable 50s.

I have a number of the smaller sized tibs that I have used over the years. They have never let me down.

 

[Anders1]

Penn 30 VISX minimum, Penn 50 VISX ideal.