SportFishing and Charters Forum - Canyon Reel review from actual users??

Guys,

I met with Don yesterday in RI at the show and played a little with his Canyon Reels. They certainly intrigue
me. Although my first reaction was that they were a bit heavy, they seemed like a quality piece of work. So
I started to research posts here and elsewhere on the internet.

I came across a ton of conflicting and unclear reports from people who "had heard..." and a few who wrote
their opinions based on pictures. "Gee it looks exactly like an Ajking, it must be the same...I saw the pictures!"

Well from all the reports, I have deduced that some of the inexpensive chinese knockoffs share some of the
same parts as the Canyon Reels, but there are many key differences. What are they?

The other thing my internet research has shown is that all the posts were from spring 2011 and earlier. So there
are no reports from the summer of 2011 out there. This leads me to my question:

Who has used their reels extensively and what are your feelings? I want first hand reports, not "Well my buddy said...
he saw a post that claimed...Pictures showed.... I can just tell by looking..." I want to hear "I fished several of their reels
for XX many days. We caught XX fish of YY size. These reels performed blah, blah."

Who has extensive first hand experience with these reels?

Mike

I have an EX-50 and HS-15
I have caught probably 10+ swordfish on that EX-50 without any problems at all. Nice smooth drag and I have pulled on some nice donkeys with it. Its my prefered tip rod just because I am really liking it.
The HS-15 is a very sweet product also without any complaints... My snapper trapper reel and also tackles good size snook. Smooth drag, smooth reel, and extremely tough for its size.
People here are going to bash it regardless, but I have first hand experience and they are great reels for the price without a doubt and Don is always there to back his product. He will respond to an email that day and ensure youre happy with your decision...

This is exactly the type of response I was looking for. Good or bad. I placed the same post on another forum. It has already degenerated into "don't buy knock offs. Made in America should not contain any foreign made parts, etc..."

Only one person on the other thread said they owned the reels. It was a spinning reel (I am more interested in their conventionals). And that person hasn't used the reel yet....

Again, good or bad.... just speak from first hand experience is all I am asking.

Conch, thanks! And nice boat!!

Mike

Just was watching a episode on tv fishing P.E. Island and had a canyon 80 and the screws that attach the base to the reel got ripped out - looked like six screws in the base and they got pulled out of the aluminum reel body.

the show is called "Quest for the one"

Just was watching a episode on tv fishing P.E. Island and had a canyon 80 and the screws that attach the base to the reel got ripped out - looked like six screws in the base and they got pulled out of the aluminum reel body.

the show is called "Quest for the one"

Fred "Seaworm" was the fisherman on that show.....he also stripped the low gear from what I recall.... you may want to PM him Mike

i wouldnt go near them.. last year at the tackle shop the guy said it was bad and just to get a tiagra or a avet.. i mean i cant afford any of them, i was just looking.. and i was watching "quest for the one" and they were using a 80ex, the whole reel got seperated from the mount fighting a tuna, so they arent the best if i had to guess. the reel did look like 6-8 screws in it. also recently was looking at a smaller model.. and the guy at the shop said just to get an avet.. i listened to him and did.. i dont want to no what will happen to my reel if i had in full drag..

alloy toy- we speaking about the same show?

Those giants from that PEI show broke some gear. After the Canyon's bolts sheared, another reel had gear issues. Maybe a lack of maintenance on the gear one but to see those bolts shear indicates a flaw in the strength of those bolts.

That show was not a good endorsement for Canyon reels. I do not have any myself but looked at them during the AC boat show and they are good looking reels, appear to be quality made. I would like to see the inside of one and would do before I bought one.

My HS-15 became my go to reel for stripers last season. I found it to be very smooth and had no issues. Used it for jigging and live lining Bass up to 30 lbs.
JollyMonNJ

I bought a Canyon HS 18, first used it to bottomfish with good results, but when the yellowfin tuna started busting, so did the reel! The drag lever wouldnt stay in place, and shortly thereafter, the handle got real hard to turn with a slightly grinding noise.
I always take good care of my reels, wash and lube after every trip, it aint full of salt.
I must admit that the fish were a little large for the size of the rig, but that's how I get my jollies, and would have expected to get a year or so out of a reel, even a china cheepy.
I will send it back to Don, see if he will do anything for me, or maybe offer me a good deal on a more reliable reel.

Isn't Haleiwa the shaved-iced capital of the world?? :thumbsup:

I loved it there as a sailor back in the 70's...

Isn't Haleiwa the shaved-iced capital of the world?? :thumbsup:

I loved it there as a sailor back in the 70's...

Not a fan of the two Canyons that have shown up on my workbench...

Alan Hawk did a complete review which was pretty damning of their credibility. A quick search will pull that up.