AMS reel?
 

This past year was my first year bowfishing. My 2 buddies and i did pretty good and we are all hooked. All we used for reels last year was peanut butter jars, and wrapped the line around it with our hands, but i am looking to upgrade. I dont know if i want to drop the $70 on the AMS reel, but they look very nice. Are they worth the cost, or is there a less expensive reel which is just as good? Any help is appreciated thanks

RE: AMS reel?
 

Let me put it this way - I've been shooting the same one for over five years with no problem. All I've done is change the line. Don't use the line that comes with the bottle; heavier line is thicker and the wheels pick it up better.

Spincasts have their own discussion boards on how to repair them, where to find spare parts, how many back-up reels to take along...:D

RE: AMS reel?
 

I have both and they both work good, an ams will definitely last you a long time,but you can get a couple of years from a synergy spincast reel with fast flight on it..$70.00 versus $20.00..They are both good...

RE: AMS reel?
 

AMS is a great reel. Bullet proof as fish says.

Look at it this way, approximately $70 for the AMS that mounts to the quiver/sight bushings, tie on an arrow with safety slide or rings and you're ready to go.

Or, you can buy a spincast reel for $30 to $40, plus a good quality reel seat for $20, replace the line for another $10, tie on an arrow and be ready to go. Forget to push the release button, lose the $10 (or more)arrow, retie, curseand repeat.

That being said, I use a spincast set-up. It's how I started and I just can't seem to break the habit. I know it has cost me much more in the long run. Most of the serious tournament shooters use a spincast set-up of some kind. But if you're not planning on becoming a competetive tourney shooter any time soon, save yourself some hassle and go with the AMS.

Good luck and good fishing.

RE: AMS reel?
 

Sheesh, try to stir the pot a little and nobody's got a spoon. The spincasts do retrieve faster for second shots and are good for fighting big fish, but the bottle is simplicity itself.

RE: AMS reel?
 

That the big difference right there, and as Carpsniper said, it's going to cost you about the same for initial setup with either the Retriever or a spincast (nice pot stirring Fishhunter). The spincasts give you the advantage of fastest retrieval due to the gear ratio, and have a drag setting that the Retrievers don't have, but the Retrievers are hassle free (no bale release button to remember to push, no anti-reverse gears to scramble, and it won't break).

RE: AMS reel?
 

:DThat pot has already been stirred so much... I guess another churn won't hurt.

I just wanted to give dk a straight answer first, then ya'll can stir away.

RE: AMS reel?
 

I can't hardly get one trip out of the Synergies, much less a couple years. I switched to AMS specifically for the quality of the reel. Put some 400 lb fast flight on it and your are set.

RE: AMS reel?
 

I have taken 10' alligators on synergy reels, as far as initial cost, lets see- Ams-$70.00, arrow-$15.00, new line- $5.00, line that comes with ams reels isnt very good..spincast reel- $25.00, arrow-$15.00, reel seat-$15.00, line-$5.00..Totals AMS-$90.00....Spin-$60.00..Not quite the same cost..And Robin didnt you take your big gar with a spincast reel???I may not bowfish as much as some of the people on here but I go 30-40 times a year and have no major issue with a spincast reel..And guys this thread started with a guy using a peanut jar, a spincast or a retrevier reel is a huge improvement..I am just trying to help a beginner save a few bucks in the beginning of his bowfishing Years..May they be LONG and FULL of Fish!!!!!Good luck with it dkhunter8383.........:D:D

RE: AMS reel?
 

thanks guys appreciate the input