How are the Pflueger President and Trion reels for saltwater fishing? Good drags? ( Seems like ample line capacity??) Quality construction?
I have a Surpreme, which is the discontinued small arbor version of those two reels. It’s hard anodized, but I’ll get some corrosion from salt build up behind the drag plate if I don’t strip it down and clean it at least once a season.
The drag was unacceptably ‘jumpy’ until I took it apart and polished it. Now it’s as smooth as you’d like.
Also, the ratchet comes out a little too easily, so be careful that it doesn’t fall out when changing spools.
… other than that…
I bought mine as a back-up but it probably gets more use than any of my other SW reels.
I have no real complaints with it, I just had to learn the quirks
The reel was a good value and the extra spools are cheap
What are your target species? If you are after tarpon or other big running fish you need to spend some money on a reel would be my guess or you are just going to smoke a reel, any reel that cost $100.
Now having said that I have two Trions: 1934 and a 1990. http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=29
While not being a salt water fisher I actually use my drag. I fish for carp and have had been into my backing on both reels many times not only with carp but with Salmon. I find the drags to be smooth and respectable and would buy them again at the price point that I found them on Ebay. I also own Lamson reels and Ross and Orvis and… I have 11 complete outfits like many fisherman with lots of toys to play with.
If I was to really target the salt I think that I would be looking for sales or closeouts on a more expensive reel. If you allow PMs I will send you a sale link on a Lamson Radius. While these are more of a value reel they still have the same drag system that the more expensive reels do. I own two of these as well and would trust their drag more than the Trions when push came to shove and they are not that much more.
Rick
My 10wt is a Trion, does that mean I can’t use it for let say, shark fishing?
Hi Martin, so what has been your experience with it on Shark. Like I said, I own two of them but thought that there were better alternatives for the price available if you buy closeouts vs buying the Trion at retail. I’ve been into the backing with mine many times but mentioned tarpon and that is why I asked specifically what salt water species. When you see guys put 1200 yards of gel spun backing on a reel and the fish burns out many hundreds of yards at a time if blistering fast runs I still stand that the Trion might not be your best bet. I am interested in your experience with shark with one.
Bluntly I have a couple of spools with my Trion 1990 and I too have it mounted on a 10 wt for salmon and big carp in big moving water like the Mississippi below dams were the fish can get into heavy current and I still want control. Might be overkill to many but after almost drowning after going down river 300 yards to land a salmon in the current this past year with my 8 wt I decided to grab a 10. Tamed them like nice little puppy dogs on a leash.
Rick
Sorry, I meant that as an example. I plan to use it for thresher shark this summer. I haven’t thou, I used it a couple of times for shore fishing but that was a bit massive for small surf perch so I asked around and the local fly guys and suggested me to use it for something bigger like striper or smaller shark species but I didn’t tell them about the brand. They also mention that a 10 wt would be a bit of an overkill even for them so I guess I’ll use it the day I can fish from a boat.
It does look like a darn well put together reel, I thought it was my best one but I guess it’s not lol.
If I get the chance to go for thresher shark I will report how it does.
Martin, I don’t mean to discourage you from fishing with your reel. Go for it man, have fun and enjoy yourself. If you catch something so big and strong that it turns your reel into smoke consider yourself lucky and think of all of the great stories you will tell about the fish that smoked the reel. 
Nah, don’t worry. I imagined that was where that was going, getting stuck with that 10wt is my fault. I thought I was going to deal with big fish in the ocean (surf) but turns out I could use a 6wt and even a 4wt if conditions allowed it! After finding out thresher sharks make 35mph runs I realized I was going to smoke the reel.
I already tried to sell it, trade it but I haven’t had a lotta luck. Oh well, one day I’ll catch something on it. I’m glad you are catching fish on yours.
What would be a descent reel for shark fishing in your opinion?
Martin,
That reel is still a useful reel for many things. Ignore the manufacturer’s 10wt designation. I use similar size reels on 6 through 10wt reels for bass, carp, big trout, bonito, bay bass, mackeral, stripers and other species. The drag is fine for freshwater and most inshore saltwater. I have friends who use the 1990 for their surf and bay fishing has well as for carp and bass.
For shark and other big fish I have used Tibor Gulfstream and Pacific, Abel super 11, Galvan Torque, and TFO Terry Hayden reels. Other good ones would be the Sea Level Extreme and new Orvis Mirage reels, Ross Momentum, Hatch, Nautilus. Theses cover a range of price points.
Judging by the prices on those reels I think I’ll stick to inshore fishing, lol.