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Random Quote: The smaller the fish the bigger the lie.
Last year I bought 6 DMG-30 reels with line counter's for Salmon fishing lake Ontario. Well after 1 brown trout and 1 salmon trip 3 of the reels had to be returned to Cabelas.
2 of the reels drag gave out and jumps while reeling in and going out and 2 line counters broke. Some of the reels didn't even catch a fish and broke. I guess I will see what happens next year with the 3 new replacement reels. Did I buy junk? Anyone else have these problem's?
I had picked up a couple for trolling for eyes pulling dipsies on Erie. I did nt like them one bit. Same issues as you describe. I even had one that after i set it out and went to lock it down, wouldnt lock or reel back in.I had another that went into freespool while sitting in the rod holder while trolling.I got them off the boat reel quick.
I purchased one a few years ago(actually free because of Cabela's club points) and it was a complete piece of junk. Cabela's replaced it under warranty and the 2nd reel was even worse. I trashed the replacement and moved on. I would've been more upset had I actually paid for it. They are made by Okuma for Cabela's. I've had great luck with both of my Okuma spinning reels(VSystem V-40 and Epixor EB-80), but I guess their Depthmaster reels are garbage.
__________________
2005 Sea Hunt 202, Honda BF150 2009 Toyota Tundra
I will say this Cabelas was great on the return, no problem's didnt even have my sales receipt. Guess if I have a problem this spring I will return all of them and probably stick with Shimano.
Same dael with those crappy Daiwa Firewolfs....same reels. Cabela's is having Daiwa build those things and that's why I sent my back to them and they re-imbursed me.
Ya just have to go with a quality manufacture anymore, leave house brands to a one weekend a month fisherman.
I was reading something the other day about them, Can't remember wear... if i find it i will show you, it stated that they were having some problems, bad batch of internal parts or something like that
Bass pro reels are no better in my opinion.
I bought 2 basspro shops Gold cup spinning reels and both were crappy from day one ( I will elaborate if requested).
I saved a few $'s but in the long run lost money. I have gone back to Penn and Diawa and have not had any issues since.
I hate to say China and Cheap but the saying does describe soo many products that are made for the super stores like Basspro and Cabelas.
JS
__________________ Triton 27 WA with twin 200 yami
Keep that cheap chinese crap of your boat. Buying quality bait and tackle is the most important part of fishing and pennies to what you will spend on a boat, maintenance, slips, gas, and food.
__________________ Jeremy
2004 38 Henriques convertible
Donzi, I hate to burst your bubble, but where do you think most reels are made today? If not in China then they're usually built somewhere nearby. The thing to beware of are items that only seem to be sold by large catalogue operations since they're bought in bulk and have no source of supply except the outfit that sold them. If you stick (pretty much) to Penn, Shimano, Daiwa and other makers that have extensive parts networks and service providers you'll usually be ahead of the game. If a manufacturer comes out with a problem reel or a particular part that doesn't hold up the service centers will let them know pretty quickly. The big catalogue outfits just toss a return away and send you another one...
I've been repairing reels for myself and some of my customers now for a lot of years and I always reject any request to repair a reel that I can't get parts for easily. That's pretty good advice when you're making a new purchase....
__________________ Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay
[img][img]
I wasn't trying to knock China. I am saying if you buy a cheap reel most of the time it will be crap. Also I'm almost 100 percent sure my reels (Alutecnos, Avets) are not made anywhere near China.
__________________ Jeremy
2004 38 Henriques convertible
I wasn't trying to knock China. I am saying if you buy a cheap reel most of the time it will be crap. Also I'm almost 100 percent sure my reels (Alutecnos, Avets) are not made anywhere near China.
I'm shopping for ten reels with line counters. I've been using Penn 320GT2 for the past few years with zero problems. Penn 320GT2 is made in the USA. I saw Cabelas had a reel and the price was better than the Penn 320GT2LC but now that I read this thread I'll stick with the Penn. Anyone need some used 320GT2's (no line counter). btw - Penn 320GT2 is USA made as is Avet. Go American if you can, you're job may depend on it.
I've had two of the Cabelas Depthmaster Golds for about 4 years now I am pretty sure the 30 series with line counters and troll with them all the time and the only problem that I have is every once in a while the line counter will stick when resetting it. If I slip my finger off of it it will reset just fine, I will clean take them down and clean before this year. Guess I got lucky on both of them.
I do however prefer my Diawa LGC27LC and Diawa Accudepth Plus 27LC reels over them though.
__________________ 2007 Lowe FM 185
2007 Mercury Verado 150
Motorguide Wireless
Lowrance LMS 111 HD
Mercury Temptest Plus prop
You get what you pay for. Why people will spend thousands on a boat, a truck to tow it with, plan an entire day, pay for gas for the truck, gas for the boat, insurance and on and on and on and then buy a cheap reel, cheap line and cheap hooks always confuses me. You could probably get to those spots in a kayak but if your connection between you and the fish is garbage, you will probably lose the fish.
Not saying any of the items you bought are garbage, just commenting in general. Skimp on your kids shoes and college savings, not your tackle.
My first and only Depthmaster had a plastic gear driving the line advance and line
counter. It broke on the first cold day. I tried to get a replacement part, but none
were available. It went back and was replaced by a Daiwa Accudepth. None of those
have broken on me after many years of hard use.
Donzi, I hate to burst your bubble, but where do you think most reels are made today? If not in China then they're usually built somewhere nearby. The thing to beware of are items that only seem to be sold by large catalogue operations since they're bought in bulk and have no source of supply except the outfit that sold them. If you stick (pretty much) to Penn, Shimano, Daiwa and other makers that have extensive parts networks and service providers you'll usually be ahead of the game. If a manufacturer comes out with a problem reel or a particular part that doesn't hold up the service centers will let them know pretty quickly. The big catalogue outfits just toss a return away and send you another one...
I've been repairing reels for myself and some of my customers now for a lot of years and I always reject any request to repair a reel that I can't get parts for easily. That's pretty good advice when you're making a new purchase....
Problems with Cabelas Depthmaster Gold reels 
It broke on the first cold day. I tried to get a replacement part, but none 
