Inside Shimano Tekota 300 LC

 I was impressed with the Tekota internally. The set-plate is incorporated into the frame, which makes for a well aligned reel and also does a pretty good job of sealing the gear-train from any saltwater that spills in via the spool lip. I like the Shimano Calcutta but I think the Tekota is a better concept regarding frame and drive-train layout. Anti-reverse is taken care of by a one-way roller bearing and there is a backup pawl system. Both systems are silent but drive engagement is not automatic when you turn the handle.

Four Anti-Rust bearings, two for the spool and two for the drive-train, are fitted. The drag washers are Dartanium but are of a fibre-type which looks to be a dry or impregnated system rather than the solid, greased Dartanium washers fitted to the likes of the Shimano Trinidad. There is enough grease to lubricate all moving parts.

At the left hand end, there are plenty of cogs to drive the line-counter. Everything looks good though and my only concern would be the potential for water ingress into the counter unit itself. There are no centrifugal brakes in this reel and I don’t think there are in any of the Tekotas. I have cast away from the boat with no backlash problems, though this may be because the spool was slowed by the counter mechanism.

My take is that the Tekota is a reel with plenty going for it and it seems other anglers are similarly taken with it. Frank Palin says: “I have had two Tekota 500's for about 5 years. The 4.2:1 retrieve works a lure well and they are the perfect pollacking reel. It is a robust little reel with a big chunky handle and the level-wind has worked perfectly all the time… unlike my Penn 975's.” And Roger Lowe had this to say: “My Tekota 500's have proved remarkably reliable - I can't recall a single failure or problem at sea – they are virtually corrosion free and ideally suited to all aspects of mid-Channel wrecking”.

(planetseafishing).