Good Problem to Have - Advice needed

[aduma1107]

Originally Posted by jwstand

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]

Originally Posted by 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.


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 & 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]

Originally Posted by papabear2611

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 & 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!