[outlaw bowfishing]

Just wondering what preferences yall had on the ams bottled bowfishing reel or just a cheapie zebco push button reel??

i use the ams bottled reel i just dont know how long its gonna last its all plastic.. $ 90.00 a piece too

 

[NuffDaddy]

Bottle all the way. No buttons to push, no drag, and simple.

 

[upsouth811]

Spinners are for winners.

Its up to whatever you like but i prefer spinners. Quick and whens the last time you seen a numbers world won with a retriever

 

[outlaw bowfishing]

i never seen anybody realy use a spinner.. thats an awesome idea. just a regular fishing spinner reel right?

 

[whaknstak]

AMS hands down. Don't get a push button unless you enjoy swimming.......

 

[moe3637]

i have both but prefer the spinning reel....i had a friend that was a bottle man all the way till he started shootin with me , i could shoot,reload and shoot again b4 he could shoot a retrieve plus like outlaw said its plastic and most tha time u have 2 hand pull a good size fish by hand rather than enjoyin tha fight''''

 

[wheelie]

Spinners but stay away from Zebco 808. I have all three reels, TI20 and Zebco all get fixed by company for free, Muzzy never broke yet,. I have retrievers but they are so slow. Spinners look cool and more like a fishing pole. (how can you argue that point) LOL

 

[NuffDaddy]

I can wind in my bottle just as fast as I can with a spinning reel. Just have to adjust it so you get good grip and don't waste turns with slip.

 

[upsouth811]

Get a muzzy spinner though it you buy. Arrows not gonna break off it you tie to the back. If you shoot slides just make sure you got a rod and it will put the arrow off.

 

[BigSwole]

Upsouth said it best. Spinners are for winners.

To give an idea for an honest answer.

I took my stepdad out for his bday. He had never been before. I let him ise my loaner bow which has a ams retriever pro on it. I could shoot reel in, get a fish off, shoot again before he was able to get his line back in and renocked.

I will not use a retriever if at all possible

 

[NuffDaddy]

I took my stepdad out for his bday. He had never been before. I let him ise my loaner bow which has a ams retriever pro on it. I could shoot reel in, get a fish off, shoot again before he was able to get his line back in and renocked.

A retriever takes a little practice to get used to. There is a fine line of too much pressure and not enough. The reason it took your dad so long is because he hadn't got the feel for it. I agree that the bottles aren't for everyone, but neither are spinners. I've had spinner reels hang up screw up a shot and They are more apt to tangling.
I don't ever see myself switching from a bottle.

 

[HuntforLife]

The first reel I got was a spinner and I hated it. If you forget to press the button one time you can kiss your arrow goodbye. I have 3 AMS Retrievers and none of them have given me problems, they are much more safer than the spinners. I will admit that you have to get a feel for them at first cause if you dont know what your going it will take you forever to get your line back in while fish are swimming around you. Like they always say you get what you pay for.

 

[upsouth811]

Safer? Tie to the back with fast flight and cant guarantee it will break off. Get caught up with a retriever somebody is getting hit with an arrow

 

[HuntforLife]

tieing a line to a arrow is how someone gets hit with a snap back.I have never seen or heard of anyone getting hurt with a AMS Retreiever with saftey slide.

Safer? Tie to the back with fast flight and cant guarantee it will break off. Get caught up with a retriever somebody is getting hit with an arrow

 

[THS Sporting Center]

AMS is pretty much goof proof and last forever. I did buy a Muzzy this year and will give it a good work out.

 

[DonArkie]

I use both, perfer the retriever, IMO less to go wrong

 

[THS Sporting Center]

You can use a safety slide with the Muzzy reel and you should tie to the back of the arrow.

 

[B.A.F]

AMS slotted for me with a float system. I like my AMS for off shore shooting.

My wife and son shoots spinners.

Zollie

 

[fr3db3ar]

I've lost one arrow and almost lost one last year off my 808. It reset after the arrow was on it's way for whatever reason. I'm now shooting the bottle and I have to say I like not having to ensure that the button is set before I can shoot. I don't plan on tying to the back as I alread seem to have issues with the string getting wrapped on things even when there is no spare string out of the reel.

 

[michiganoutdoorsman]

AMS all the way. First and only reel I've had to buy. Very durable!