Pflueger Trion vs President: What’s the difference and which one should you choose
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Introduction
We all know the Pflueger brand, they are dependable and great value reels. This article will help you determine the differences between Pflueger Trion vs President, and ultimately which one you want. The president has a great reputation and the Trion has been touted as its direct competitor, especially in the affordable reels that Pflueger makes.
That is why this article is so important, a lot of people have the question:
“If I have a president, should I buy a Trion?” or vice versa.
This question is usually in the context of just wanting a new reel or maybe when one is getting a little old and losing its function.
Ultimately this article is laid out to describe the differences, then go into more detail on each great reel, and finally help you make a decision as to whether you should buy the president or the trion. There are numerous points throughout this article that if you have already made the decision, you can easily click over to Amazon and get the reel of your choice.
Hope this helps,
Lets get to it!
Comparison Table: Pflueger Trion vs President
Table could not be displayed.The Differences: Pflueger Trion vs President
Spool
The big difference here is that the Pflueger President has a braid ready spool. Essentially this means that you can just tie the braided line directly to the spool, as opposed to having to use a monofilament backer and tie the lines together.
This makes your life easier because:
- Braided line is smaller
- Monofilament line swells with water
- Braided line doesn’t have memory (less coiling)
- Honestly, just less work
The Trion has a spool that is not braid ready, meaning you would likely need a monofilament line backer, so the line will actually stay on the spool.
Other than that, both spools are made of Aluminum, and are very similar if not exactly the same in design and function.
Recap: President’s spool is braid ready, Trion’s is not.
Bearings
Bearings are so important to the overall functionality and smoothness of the reel.
The more bearings a reel has, typically means the better it will function overall (as long as the gears and bearings are actually made of quality material… which both Pflueger’s are).
The difference here is that the President has 10 ball bearings in it, with the exception of having 7 in the smallest size (the 20).
The Trion has 7 ball bearings in the entire lineup of sizes.
Recap: The President has 10 bearings (except for size 20) and the Trion has 7.
Their Looks
This is an obvious difference.
- The Trion has a silver sleek look to it that some people are big fans of.
- The president has a blue color with gold accents that I think looks great.
Some would argue that the Trion is “plain” in its appearance, but it does look sleek and simple.
The similarities
Size
The size range is 20-40, with the 20 being the smallest in both lineups.
Essentially the difference with the sizing is the weight and the line capacity. The larger sized reels (30-40) have more line capacity and are heavier in their overall weight.
On Amazon, you might notice that the sizing for the Trion says “x” or “b” by the number size. The only difference is that “x” comes in a box and “b” comes in a bag.
The reel is exactly the same.
Example:
20x or 20b; both the exact same reel, just different packaging.
That isn’t an issue with the President, just with the Trion.
Weight
This is pretty much the same for each reel.
6.2-11.5 Oz is the range.
- The President is 6.2-11.5 Oz
- The Trion is 6.3-11.3 Oz
The range is based on the size of the reel. The size 40 is going to be on the upper end of that range, while the size 20 will be on the lower end of the weight range.
Anti Reverse Switch
Both have an anti reverse switch.
Here is a helpful video to understand the purpose of an anti reverse switch.
Max Drag
They both have a 6-14 lb max drag rating based on the size.
Again, the bigger reel will have the higher drag.
Size 40 will have a 14 lb drag.
Another great thing to mention about the President is the fact that the drag system is completely sealed off. This is something that is becoming more and more common, but it is important to make sure the reel you buy does have a completely sealed off drag system.
If the drag is not completely sealed off then you run the risk of having dirt and debris get into it and ruining the reel long before it should be.
The Trion has a felt oil system.
Body and Rotor Material
On both reels the body and the rotor (show an image) are made of graphite. This is great because it means the reel will be stronger and hold up to being banged around.
Since we all do it right? We toss our rod and reel around (unless it is one of those super expensive ones).
That isn’t something to worry about with either of these reels because they both have graphite bodies and rotors, so they can stand up to it.
Size Range
It has been mentioned a few times already, but the size range is the same for each reel.
Small end is sized at a “20”
The larger end is sized at a “40”
The weight, drag, and line capacity is directly correlated with the size of the reel. If it is sized bigger then all those components will be higher as well.
More Details on the Pflueger Trion
This is a great reel for those of us that want great quality and a great price.
The Pflueger Trion comes in a little bit cheaper than the President.
The Trion has many great qualities and as mentioned above, for the most part the Trion is very similar to the President.
The things that put this reel in a different category is simply the price.
This reel is a great one for those of you that are looking at getting a reel for the kids or just another one to have around in case yours breaks and the fishing is hot that day.
This is a fantastic reel for beginners and those on a budget. If you don’t want to shell out a ton of cash for a reel, then going with this one wouldn’t be a disappointment. It is a great reel for the price.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
The Pflueger Trion is a fantastic entry point reel. If you are a moderate to advanced fisherman, then this likely isn’t the reel for you, unless you use it as a secondary reel should your primary one break.
Overall, as a backup or for beginners on a budget this is a great reel to have around.
The price point on it makes it very desirable.
Check it out on Amazon by clicking the button below.
More Details on the Pflueger President
The Pflueger President is hands down one of the best value reels out there.
This reel comes with all the fancy upgrades that a lot of the high end expensive reels have. The difference being, this reel isn’t expensive.
The President has a braid line ready spool, sealed drag system, and as far as the bearings go the smallest size president has 10 bearings whereas the smallest size trion has 7 bearings.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
When it comes to getting a great reel at a fantastic price, I have to say Pflueger nailed it on the head when they made the President.
This reel will do pretty much all that the fancy more expensive reels will do, and it is typically in the $60-$100 range.
This is the reel that I have purchased and that I absolutely love.
You can’t go wrong with this reel ,especially at the price.
Side by Side Comparison
Pflueger President
Pflueger Trion
So, Pflueger Trion vs President, which one should you choose?
I chose the President every time, for all the reasons mentioned above.
If you want to pick up the Pflueger President, then click the button below, and get it on Amazon.
Choosing a Fishing Reel
Bearings
As mentioned above, typically the more the better.
There is a saying in the fishing industry that you need to purchase as many bearings as your wallet will allow.
Honestly, anything over 4 bearings will get you a great deal of smoothness.
I like to look for reels with 6 or more.
Also, make sure the bearings are made of stainless steel.
The construction material matters just as much as the amount.
Drag
Drag is so important.
This is the amount of resistance that a fish will meet or pull against if you aren’t reeling. If you just hold the handle steady then the fish will be fighting against drag.
Having a lot of drag all the time isn’t necessary.
If you are fishing small species, then less drag will do.
If you are going for trout, which are fairly decent fighting fish then anything over 10lb of drag would be more than adequate.
Drag helps you fight the fish by tiring the fish out and letting you rest.
Spool
Spools are a key piece of each reel.
I prefer to have a spool that is made from aluminum, for strength, to avoid corrosion, and for the lightweight nature of aluminum.
I like my spool to be braided line ready, simply because I don’t want to mess with monofilament line connections to braided line, I prefer braided line.
Construction
Having a reel that is made out of graphite is so important.
The reel will get set down, there will be stress on it at the mounting point to the rod, and you don’t want it to have any stress cracks or get broken easily right?
Graphite is a strong yet lightweight material that adds a tremendous amount of strength to the reel body and rotor.
Many times the body and rotor will be made out of similar material, while the spool is a different material.
I like to ensure my reels are made of graphite, especially in the body and rotor.
Line Capacity
If you want more line, then get a reel that holds more.
Typically bigger reels will hold more line, so if you want to hold more line then you need a bigger, heavier reel.
Weight
Weight is something that a lot of anglers forget to think about. If you are out fishing everyday and are doing some drop shotting or other finesse moves, then the ounces matter.
The heavier the reel, the more weight you are moving around all day with your shoulder and arm, meaning the quicker you will tire out throughout the day.
Want a long day of fishing without a sore shoulder? Get the right weight reel.
Gear Ratio
A gear ratio of 5.0:1 implies that the gears turn 5 times for every crank of the handle. This is important because typically the higher the gear ratio, the higher the line retrieve rate.
The line retrieve rate is the amount of line that is pulled in with every turn of the handle.
This means you ultimately have to crank less to get the line in.
I prefer reels with a gear ratio of 5.0:1 and higher.
Other Related FAQ’s
Can the Pflueger President be used in Saltwater?
Absolutely. So this is a question because prior to 2011 the Pflueger President was not a completely sealed system.
Now the gears and bearings are all completely sealed in the drag system and within the base of the reel itself.
Also, around the same time the spool was changed to aluminum, which resists corrosion far better than stainless steel.
You can use the Pflueger President in Salt water.
Who Makes Pflueger?
Pflueger is a stand alone company, meaning that Pflueger makes Pflueger.
Does Pflueger Make Good Reels?
Absolutely.
There are some really high end reels that Pflueger makes, and then there are others that are great value reels and won’t break the bank.
Whatever way you look at it or whichever reels you are in the market for, you will find that all the Pflueger reels are high quality product.s
Pflueger Trion vs President: Which one I prefer and why
Hands down, I prefer the President.
It has so many features that the Trion just doesn’t have and typically it is only a few dollars more than the Trion.
If it were up to me, I would choose the president nearly every time.
Check it out on Amazon by clicking here.
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a great value reel and are comparing the Pflueger Trion vs President, then I truly hope this article has been helpful for you in making that decision.
I have my preferences, but they are both great reels and you can’t go wrong with them if you are using them for the right purpose and have the right expectations of these sub $100 reels.
Thanks for reading
As always, good luck Fishing
Sean
