Good Problem to Have - Advice needed

[jwstand]

I will just leave it that I have had a good year, and my annual bonus, the first in more than 10 years, has left me with an amazing, wife approved, problem!

I am looking to make that purchase of a lifetime for a spinning reel. Being how I am, my head is now spinning (pardon the pun) from all the research I have been doing on the subject. I have ended up more confused than when I started...:confused:

I have several criteria: Must be bomb proof, Waterproof and able to handle powerful pelagics (sails, tuna - everything except giant BFT, Marlin etc...) but also have the touch to allow me to cast from my kayak with accuracy and distance. I travel extensively for work and carry a rod and reel in my carryon bag at all times. I have used my current Quantum cabo 40 on striper, blues, tarpon (not the monsters), permit, bones, slot and slightly larger reds, fluke, seabass and even some grouper and tog (landing a few 3-5 lbers) this year. I foresee a potential roosterfish, snapper, sailfish trip next year, as I may be forced to entertain clients in Bellize or Costa Rica. I know, but someone needs to do it!! On top of all that I am a sand rat on LBI and need something I need not worry about sand or water ruining a trip.

Realizing that nothing can do everything, and budget be da#ned, I am soliciting input from the board. I post infrequently, but have been and ardent member for quite some time (longer than my profile lists as I was blasted off when Jerry re-did the site some years ago). I am a regular if anonymous face on MANY of the Party and Charter boat sponsors here...

I am currently looking at (excuse if I get the exact model numbers wrong):

Stella 8-10000
Saltiga 5-6500
Van Staal - new VM 150 and VS 150


OK that was a mouthful and a half.... I am not good at short posts.... Please, with response let me know the WHY of your recommendation. This reel will be my go to and be subjected to my crazy fishing lifestyle. I should mention I am NOT one of those guys who babies my gear, nor services my reels religiously....

Let the fun begin. :eek:


Thanks in advance guys!

[GoIslanders]

It all depends on your budget. You can go with a couple (even three) of the new Spinfisher V which is well sealed (though not totally). It sounds like you have a lot of varied fishing which would call for a couple of different reels.

On the top end, especially for surf guys, is a Zee Baas.

[MoparCharlie]

If the budget allowed I'd own a Stella.

[jwstand]

If the budget allowed I'd own a Stella.

I can certainly see why it would be in the running. My concern is this is the first year they are "waterproof" and the system they have employed (double grommets, essentially, around the handle post) is not tried and true, as yet. No doubt they will fix any issue quickly, but I have a hard time with untested technology.

My problem is I can find issue with all of the reels I have looked at so far. For the amount of money I am looking to spend I want to make the right decision!

Read a lot about the penn torque as well, but it seems to have an issue that needs correcting relating to the bail around 30lb of drag, well short of the 50 it has to offer with the drag mechanism. Again sure they will fix it, but I do not want to be disappointed for that kind of dough!

[aduma1107]

i have two stella 20000. can't go wrong with the type of fishing you say you will be doing.

[jwstand]

i have two stella 20000. can't go wrong with the type of fishing you say you will be doing.


Thank you. Can you tell me the one thing you love most about them? How do you fish them?

[blackcloudbob]

Take a look at the Zee Baas unlike the Stella it is fully waterproof. I have had mine for about a year now and I love it. It's very well built and the drag is like butter. It can take the abuse of kayak fishing no problem.

[Angler Paul]

If you are going to go with just one reel, I would go with a VanStaal 250. It has a large spool which allows you to distance cast from the surf and also the line capacity and integrity to tangle with tuna to over 200 lbs. I have one 275 but two spools for it, one with 30 lb braid for the surf and one loaded with heavier braid for the pelagics.

[Captain Ahab]

Daiwa Saltiga SA-Z6500HDF Dog Fight

Casts like a dream - waterproof and 66lbs of drag


nuf said!

[Steve-O]

I actually have all 3 reels you mentioned. there are the pro and cons or each. you can decide which one is better.

p.s. there is no such thing as a do all spinning reel.

stella 18000 or 20000 the only difference between them is line per crank. you want power or speed. if its power, go 20000, speed 18000. line capacity of off on both of them. they miss there mark by about 40 yards. and trust me i pack it on tight. but drag is dead on. maybe even more. depending if your half spool or full spool. drag is also very smooth. and it cast like a dream when you have a rod that has big guides on it tip top that are size 10 or up are better suited for this reel. but great boat reels for tuna and sails. up to 287lb
thats the biggest i caught with it. this reel is designed for more fast swimming drag pulling fish. Not the buckle down and crank type.
Cons: casting with a surf rod is possible, but you don't want to do it all day.these reels are like 30 oz. that almost 2 lbs. add on a rod, that a lot of weight to be hauling down the beach. it not really water proof. its water resistant. sand is a major problem for this reel. you drop it once in the sand you'll know. the only thing that is protected is the drag. they got gaskets on both sides to water out. ( not sand) it also a drain hole on the body. behind one of the plastic covers. definatly not waterproof.

saltiga 7000 dog fight. almost the same thing as the shimano they now use a magnetic oil to seal certain parts of the real. mainly the rotor to the body. it a little lighter than the stella and a little more drag. it can hold a little more line than what it printed which is good, since you want that topshot. it can handle cow tuna in the pacific as long as work the fish softly. main gear is a little bigger than the shimano so it gives it more crank power and speed.
Cons: the weak link on this reel is the bail. be careful of the bail i have broken it not once but twice. daiwa did warranty it but sending it out and waiting is always a problem. Also cleaning it is a pain. you cant hose it down because you will lose that magnetic oil coating. even though they say it prevents water and grit from entering, it still does.

Van staal vs and vsb 300 one had a bail the other dosent. only waterproof reel out of the three. it is a great reel that does the job. it build for the harshest environments of the northeast. it can handle the the tunas and sails of the east coast as well as roosters south of the boarder. very low maintance. it also has the pulling power of a freight train.the reel has only a small parts list and it has the biggest main gear of the 3. in fact it may have the biggest in the industry. cleaning is a snap. put the reel in your dish washer and set it to rinse. ( my dish washer does not use hot water in rinse mode)15 minutes and it come out like new.
Cons: you cant switch between right hand or left hand. it hold less line the japanese brands. the bail-less model is a little hard to get used to. espically when your jigging. drag washers work great until it wears out. you cant tell when it about to go. it just goes. the only thing that need oil is there the handle connects to the arm. oh the handle is hard to grip when wet.

well good luck. if it was my decision, dogfight.

[aduma1107]

Thank you. Can you tell me the one thing you love most about them? How do you fish them?

*PP Line Capacity
*Go to reel for Roster, BFT and even Strippers
*The line roller is carbon (Diamond Carbon I think) so wont get worn out.
*Front Drag system as opposed to Rear Drag ( i prefer Front Drag IMO better control over the fish)'
*he drag has a double bearing system (like many reels) and has what they call a Dyna-Balance system, the reel always seems balanced, I have fished spinning reels that felt they were twisting.

I do not surf fish but from what I heard Van Stall is the way to go for hard core surf fishing.

I'm sure you'll be happy when you decide on something.

[jwstand]

I actually have all 3 reels you mentioned. there are the pro and cons or each. you can decide which one is better.

p.s. there is no such thing as a do all spinning reel.


well good luck. if it was my decision, dogfight.


WOW thanks....but da$m it all I am still confused!!!

[shucker]

Shimano's and diawa's are great but not from the surf or yak they dont like saltwater no matter what anyone sez sealed or not.I burned threw a ton of reels and was always dissapointed with these brands,if your gonna spend get a reel that can be dunked,dropped and burried in the sand cause it will happen sooner or later.So this leaves you 2 choices a VS or ZB

[papabear2611]

You put your question a good way, pretty much to the point.
I saw a lot of replies regarding surf, but only saw you mention yak fishing and the other which would put you out on boats if I read it right?
That said.
I own most of what people posted and beat hell out of most all of them between travel and not having or taking the time to maintain as recommended so,,,,
I will call it my desert island reels and whittle it down to just two, based on money in part, based on how bad I beat on them and they still have not let me down, and they are:
VM150 - Not the lightest, but my guess it will be dug up a thousand years from now and still work. Like no other reel I own, this thing Feels like a machined tool.
I got something like 335 meters of 55 or 65lb diawa saltiga/dendoa (it used to be called that when I bought it) braid on it
(This braid actually has a smaller diameter of braid than the same weight for some reason, beat it up pretty good and cant complain)
35 or so lbs of drag, really don't see most guys needing more on average, and for what you describe.
The second reel under 200 bucks would be, believe it or not, a Penn Slammer 560 for best overall of what you described for use.
I have several slammers, ssm's, ssg's, and the Slammers imho have stood up to way more abuse, and I am an abuser. I am friends and other posters that fish the world, some say Shimanos,and yeah some Saltigas here and there do decent, but I have had them blow up more than once on myself and others, overall good reels but had them fail, on myself and others that fish worldwide.

So there you go, in this geezers harsh opinion.
1. VM150
2. Penn Slammer 560 (I own 360,460 and the 760 or whatever and overall, if I had one choice, the 560 slammer, I took stripers to close to 50lbs, use it for tog with weights to 3 to 6 to 12-16oz, (yes I spin for tog with a bogan rod :p & do very well ty) and use it for hardcore deep water fluking with big weight and big meat for doormats, all applications it has shined...
hth
Willing to put my name on this post and doubt either of the two will let you down.
Best
Frank Johnston

[jwstand]

You put your question a good way, pretty much to the point.
So there you go, in this geezers harsh opinion.
1. VM150
2. Penn Slammer 560 (I own 360,460 and the 760 or whatever and overall, if I had one choice, the 560 slammer, I took stripers to close to 50lbs, use it for tog with weights to 3 to 6 to 12-16oz, (yes I spin for tog with a bogan rod :p & do very well ty) and use it for hardcore deep water fluking with big weight and big meat for doormats, all applications it has shined...
hth
Willing to put my name on this post and doubt either of the two will let you down.
Best
Frank Johnston


Frank,


Thank you so much! The input is exactly what I had hoped for, honest, detailed and based on experience! Thank you.


J

[Capt. Lou]

I own Stellas & Ssragosa's , unless you fish day in day out then I would go the Stella route predicated on it's crafymanship over Saragosa.
That being said I've taken all species you've mentioned on a fly rod with reels that develop a out 17#'s direct drag! Never felt the need yo ever use more than 10#'s on big striped maiin!
Sragagosa. Will do the job, but the better built reel is probably the Stella with a proven record .
Fifty lbs of drag on a spinner is a joke, most could not even stand up to half that drag!
What is important is that the drag be smooth under all conditions both my Stellas & Sarrie do this!
Buy one it would be Stellas but the Sarsgosas dam close for a lot less bucks!
You could buy two!
Good luck!

[JOHN D]

Just a word of advice, DO NOT And I repeat DO NOT get a saltiga. it casts about a country mile and it is smooth as a babys bottom but mine locked up on me more times than you can imagine. every single time i took it fishing, no matter how much cleaning you do it locks up. hell, once i even got it back home from the shop working fine and about a month later of not touching it it was locked up, and God forbid you try to open it up, there are literally a milloin freakin little parts in the thing. I dont know about the dogfight, it could be a different story. but I would stay far clear of the damn things.

Otherwise, good luck with your search!