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
& 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
