Shimano TEK500HGA Tekota Levelwind Conventional Reel

Shimano TEK500HGA Tekota Levelwind Conventional Reel

ICAST 2018 Best Saltwater Reel Winner!

Price: $229.99
Model
TD Code
RetrieveGear RatioLine Retrieve Per CrankMono Line Capacity
(lb test./yds)
PowerPro Line Capacity
(lb test/yds)
Max DragBearingsWeightPrice
TEK500HGA
SHM-3536
Right Hand6.3:138in12/440
14/340
16/285
40/390
50/330
65/240
24lb3+115.5oz$229.99 USD
Shimano Tekota Levelwind Reels have been designed with Coreprotect water resistance for the ultimate increase in corrosion resistance. These reels are a trollers dream and the perfect cross-over reel for both freshwater and saltwater species, from walleye to tuna.

  • Easy to replace anti-fogging lens on LC models
  • Loud clicker
  • Ergonomic S-compact body design
5 Stars based on 50 reviews
By Larry
Spring Hill, FL
Smooth
August 18, 2022
Great reel for the price well built
Plenty of crank power
By Kevin
San Francisco
Best line counter reel
August 17, 2022
Best line counter
By Frank
Santa Rosa, CA
Quality reel
May 24, 2022
I have the 401 with line counter.
Great for trolling salmon or bottom fishing.
Strong smooth drag.
Casts well even with the line counter.
Its been a year with no problems.
By Justin
Mass
Love it
April 20, 2022
Just like the torium but with a level wind love it!!
Pros
  • Level wind lightweight
Cons
  • None
By V D.
Rhode Islans
TEKPGLCA
April 12, 2022
Perfect reel for wire and umbrellas!
Beefy 35lbs of drag and low gear ratio!
Pros
  • 35lbs of drag
Cons
  • None
By Scott R.
Waynesville, OH
Shimano TEK600HGLCA Tekota Line Counter reel
February 27, 2022
Great product as always from Shimano!
Pros
  • Built well, lots of line capacity!
Cons
  • None
By Ray
Northern ohio
Trolling reels
February 25, 2022
Great reels, 4 years of use and no problems.
I have 10 of them
Pros
  • Well built, counters work well , very smooth
Cons
  • Non that I can say yet
By Ernest
Monkton, MD
Awesome reel
January 21, 2022
Great reel for trolling striper in the Chesapeake Bay
By Ryan S.
New Jersey
Great reel but…….
November 15, 2021
I like the looks and feel of the reel but definitely lacking in drag
I use it to drag spoons and mojos up here in the upper East coast for bass
Also use it for dragging umbrellas rigs
That being said when you have the umbrellas on and a bass you gotta max this thing out like crazy and still over play it either he rod to get the fish in
Wish they beefed up the drag
By Aaron
California
Great reel
November 1, 2021
I bought it for fishing deep and shallow waters in the ocean. I have used it twice and it works great. I have fished for rock cod in 400 and 150 ft and the reel is smooth and drag works great.
By Ted
SF Bay Area
Best Versatile Reel Made
October 23, 2021
For its price range it can’t be beat. Smooth drag, no jerking when with down riggers, or dropping a ball trolling, best cranking and retrieve rate per turn for its price range. Light yet strong it Pairs well with a wide range of my rods. Great for salmon trolling or inshore mooching. Handles 20-30lb salmon well. Vertical jigging inshore as well.
Pros
  • Price for gear ratio and retrieve
  • Durable corrosion Resistant body material
  • Smooth Star Drag Power
  • Smooth Cranking
  • Comes in level wind as well as non.
  • Can get a optional line counter is clear and easy to read and doesn?t get in your way of fighting fish.
Cons
  • Try locating them buy it when you see it or they?ll be gone
By Ivan B.
Washington
Great reel
October 3, 2021
More than pleased. Great for all salmon species. Will buy more of them.
By jeff
columbia river
Already catching salmon with the reel
September 28, 2021
love the tekota 500 line counter. Smooth reel with easily adjusted drag and lets me know where I'm fishing
By Michael
Burke, VA
Shimano Tekota 500 Lefty
September 21, 2021
I use the Shimano Tekota 500 bottom fishing for Black sea bass, flounder and bluefish in the Northeast. Paired it with a 6'6 MH Trevala.
By Ryan
Virginia Beach, VA
Good reel for the price
September 5, 2021
I definitely won't say this reel is great, but for the price it's very good. The handle knob weighs about 3oz, so you can shave some weight there. I swapped a Tranx paddle handle on to this one.

Very noisy to cast with the non disengaging levelwind, but it does cast well.
Pros
  • Price
Cons
  • Lots of plastic
1 Question & 1 Answer
Ricky
from Axtell tx asked:
July 18, 2018
Can you cast with them
1 Answer
You can but not very far.
Submitted by: John on July 19, 2018

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