How small Will Reels Get?

[Afrayedknot]

Reels seem to be getting smaller and smaller by the years. Round reels of today such as the conquests are the size of, or smaller than low profile reels from 10 years ago. The Aldebaran BFS XG also comes to mind as well when thinking of small reels. How much smaller do you think reels will get? Will the round reels of the future have the diameter/size of the low profiles today? Will the low profiles of the future be so small that they can fit in the palm of our hand?

Along with this smaller size comes less weight as well. Recently, the under 5 oz mark has been broken by the MGXtreme (may have been broken before, not sure). It amazes me how much lighter these reels keep getting.

Tell me what you think.

[dragon1]

Depends on how sissy this generation and the next will become...

[cndbasshunter]

I'm happy with tr current size and weights of reels. Hard to balance a sub 5 oz reel sometimes.

[johnnybassboat]

I dont know if they will get much smaller or lighter. The new reels are about as small as they can get and still have decent line capacity or drag performance and still balance well. I use mostly Shimano products, mainly Cores, and these are about as small and light as I dare to go. But I was at a show this weekend and put my hands on a Okuma Helios Air and it is small and light too,so the trend might go on.

[MRQturbo]

i dont think they can get much smaller...line capacity will be an issue.....

[Jason Penn]

i dont think they can get much smaller...line capacity will be an issue.....

i think that could be challenged if braid is developed further. i keep waiting for someone to really crack the sinking braid code. spiderwire has 1 (that didn't really impress me much) and i just got in some of the tuf-line hevicore to try out. if they can come up with a braid that does actually have a sink rate like fc, but is 6-10# diameter/20-30# strength, then that could change. i know it's quite possible now to do this with standard braid, but i've never cared much for using it in anything past about 4-5 foot of water.

[Afrayedknot]

Depends on how sissy this generation and the next will become...

I wonder if 6 oz reels will be a new standard. Imagine people turning away from a reel because it weighs over 7 oz.

[USA-RET]

Maybe this small

Don't forget your pocket protector

[Reel Old Geezer]

Reels used to be smaller before the addition of star drag systems to bass sized casting reels. 100 years ago 25 yd reels were common (of course they didn't cast much then). When we fought bass sized fish using our thumbs and didn't waterski them and throw them into the boat we didn't need Mg to make them light. The addition of all the cast controls and drags increased the weight. Take a look at some WWII era Langley reels. They had ventilated aluminum narrow spools and weighed in the 5 oz range.

[dragon1]

The battle will not be for overall size/weight, but rather, IMO:

- Best marketing, ie, which "pro" will be endorsing, etc.

- Best pricing per badged OEM product offering.

- What is the "latest and greatest" for material, performance, design, etc., essentially the same as marketing.

- How much can the other "brands" take down the market share of the Big Three, Shimano, Daiwa and Abu (granted lots of Abu's offerings are now OEM).

- Which brands can get their products and reps into large retail outlets.

- Recruiting of new to the sport/younger buyers will be essential...that is what makes the hype of a Duckett rod (in example only), a successful selling product in the market place.

Size, weight, performance, unless one goes high-end JDM aftermarket, or has the desire to have someone like Ian tune it...has already been reached for many years to come, IMO.

[mark poulson]

I would have thought that the size of the gears would be the limiting factor. "It's a matter of leverage", according to Captn. Jack Sparrow.

[21farms]

yeah, i too wonder. when i got my conquest 50, i was already surprised at how tiny it was.





and, then i saw that the new conquest 100A will have a palm sideplate 3mm smaller than my 50?! and, then, there will be a new, presumably even smaller, conquest 50A in 2015?!? wow

[lpquick]

yeah, i too wonder. when i got my conquest 50, i was already surprised at how tiny it was.





and, then i saw that the new conquest 100A will have a palm sideplate 3mm smaller than my 50?! and, then, there will be a new, presumably even smaller, conquest 50A in 2015?!? wow

I think you mean 3mm smaller than the current 100/101 (pre 2014 model). I don’t remember ever seeing the new 100/101 being compared or measured versus the current 50/51.

[NormanD]

For me the Pixy and 50 size Shimanos are as small as I would like to go. Any smaller and I don't think that it would be comfortable to use.

[21farms]

I think you mean 3mm smaller than the current 100/101 (pre 2014 model). I don’t remember ever seeing the new 100/101 being compared or measured versus the current 50/51.

actually, that's what's so shocking about it. the current conquest 50/51 swinging sideplates are 48mm in diameter while the current 100/101's are 52mm. from the comparison shot posted by fishonmag, it looks like the 2014 conquest 100/101's are 45mm (7mm smaller than the current 100 and 3mm smaller than the current 50). of course, the handle side will be a different story altogether. plus, how low or high they sit on the reel seat will probably be different as well.