Flooger Trion thoughts

[burleytog]

As many of you know, muddy (that bum) sent me a Flooger Trion a couple of months ago in an attempt to poison me.

I've had occasion to throw a few different baits with the reel over the last couple of weekends. Threw an xCalibur xr50 and a Lucky Craft Pointer 100.

First impression was that the d**n brake collars are useless. After many many near losses, I finally got them set to my liking (2 out). I had to get a magnifying glass and a bright light to find a couple of them after they flew off into a world of shag carpet.

I found the reel to have a really free spool at rest. The strange thing was that despite that freedom, the casting distance just wasn't there. Throwing an xr50 with two 6'6 M action rods, the Trion filled with 10 lb. YoZuri Hybrid US, a Shimano Citica 100DSV filled with 12 lb. Vicious copoly, the Shimano was always 10 yards better on distance.

I even tried turning all braking off. The distance still wasn't there.

Throwing the Pointer, the Trion just didn't have the distance either.  I didn't throw one with any other setup, so I don't have a comparison there.  I would have liked to have had just a bit more distance though.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not like some people who are hung up on distance.  However, there are times when you need an extra 10 yards and the Trion just wasn't capable of doing it.

I do like the knobs and handle of the Trion. Retrieve is smooth enough for government work.

I didn't care for the push-button palm plate access. I kept worrying that I was going to pop the sideplate off whenever I would palm and push the button in a bit.

I'll be putting it through more over the next few months, but as of right now, IMO I'm not that much of a fan. Don't really care for the extra large spool either. Seems to be deeper and wider than a Citica 200DSV.

Anyone want to send me a Steez to try out?

[Guest muddy]

Thanks for giving it an honest try and a review based on experience. 8-)

[burleytog]

Like I said, the tryin ain't over yet.  I might throw some 17 lb. CXX on it and throw some small swimbaits if I can get out on the water in the next week.

[islandbass]

Don't feel too bad. You just need to get used to it. I have the green curado, 2 curado ds, and a trion and I know the trion is on par with the castibility of the curado.

I gotta agree with you on the brake shoes. I lost two wading in a river when the fell out. I was ticked. Luckily the reel came with a few extra.

The only negative for me is that its lower level tolerance for lure weights is about 3/16 oz. It then takes more effort (for me) to fine tune it as opposed to my curados which can handle 1/8 oz.

Other than that, its performance has been superb. It easily handled all the chum salmon I've battled without even breaking a sweat while the best chum I ever fought, a 22 minute battle (and yes, I timed the darned fight so I', not exaggerating) spooled my 201 Curado D while it was at full capacity.

So the Trion stays.

[dodgeguy]

the narrow sppol has a better brake.i use 4 on and a loose spool tension.i use my thumb instead.this gives great distance.

[Olebiker]

I bought a 5.2:1 Trion late last year for fishing spinnerbaits.  It is my favorite reel.  I prefer it to my Revo SC.

[Saladmander]

I found the reel to have a really free spool at rest. The strange thing was that despite that freedom, the casting distance just wasn't there. Throwing an xr50 with two 6'6 M action rods, the Trion filled with 10 lb. YoZuri Hybrid US, a Shimano Citica 100DSV filled with 12 lb. Vicious copoly, the Shimano was always 10 yards better on distance.

I also noticed that on all the Pflueger reels that I have.  I don't have a Trion, but I have a couple Presidents and a handful of Supremes.  I have one of the Purist reels, too.  And the freespool on all of those are awesome.  But, I can consistently outcast all my Pfluegers with the Curados and Citicas that I have on the exact same rods.  It seems the Pfluegers' spools will spin like 4 times longer than my Shimanos' spools when just messing around with 'em.  To me, I think it's my trying a little harder to control the "free-er" running spool on a cast, restricting my achievable distance.  The Shimanos cast a country mile with very little conscious thumb control on my part.  I honestly think Shimano nailed the spool weight/free spool balance on those reels.