High speed or High torque?

[don'thaveaboat]

I am getting a Saltist level wind in the next few weeks, I am putting it on a '7"6 30 class fast action heavy power Shimano Teramar rod, I am using it for big drum,striper,catfish,and head boat fishing on wrecks for tog and what not.

And my other question is should I get a 20 or 30 size? Is there a difference in casting between the 2? Is the extra weight worth the extra line cap?

And lastly casting wise how will this match up to a Abu?

[johndtuttle]

smaller is always better for casting. The smaller the spool the less resistance and the greater the distance for less weight/effort. The reason to go with the Saltist vs Abu is for the far stronger drag that can put the screws to fish that need it. If you are not getting spooled or cut off in the rocks, you don't need more drag...

I use my Saltist for medium duty trolling and jigging. High speed is nice for West Coast Wahoo or other Yo-Yo applications. But if I hook up with 50+ pounds of Yellow Tail or YFT then I'm still in the game. I would think the Abu would get smoked.

I have some light abu's that I love for Ocean Salmon (when we had some) and know they can handle large Stripers too but your average Jack Crevalle would utterly destroy them. What model Abu you thinking?

[paul708]

I am getting a Saltist level wind in the next few weeks, I am putting it on a '7"6 30 class fast action heavy power Shimano Teramar rod, I am using it for big drum,striper,catfish,and head boat fishing on wrecks for tog and what not.

And my other question is should I get a 20 or 30 size? Is there a difference in casting between the 2? Is the extra weight worth the extra line cap?

And lastly casting wise how will this match up to a Abu?

for those fish and that type of fishing you are doing, go with the lower gear.
if the 20 holds enough line for the depths you fish, it will be fine.

[don'thaveaboat]

smaller is always better for casting. The smaller the spool the less resistance and the greater the distance for less weight/effort. The reason to go with the Saltist vs Abu is for the far stronger drag that can put the screws to fish that need it. If you are not getting spooled or cut off in the rocks, you don't need more drag...

I use my Saltist for medium duty trolling and jigging. High speed is nice for West Coast Wahoo or other Yo-Yo applications. But if I hook up with 50+ pounds of Yellow Tail or YFT then I'm still in the game. I would think the Abu would get smoked.

I have some light abu's that I love for Ocean Salmon (when we had some) and know they can handle large Stripers too but your average Jack Crevalle would utterly destroy them. What model Abu you thinking?

Well I am also looking at the Daiwa Luna and Shimano Calcutta, the Luna 300 has a 5.1:1 and the Calcutta has a 5.0:1 ratio, now the Saltist has a 6.1:1 or 4.9:1, that is the difference, not a hole lot, what do you guys think?

[giantfan]

If your going to be casting this reel... why do you want the added friction of a levelwind?

[don'thaveaboat]

If your going to be casting this reel... why do you want the added friction of a levelwind?

I am not surf fishing with it, casting is not a religion for me like it is to some, I can cast far enough with a levelwind, if I was surf fishing I would have bought a slosh 30 by now.

[giantfan]

I am not surf fishing with it, casting is not a religion for me like it is to some, I can cast far enough with a levelwind, if I was surf fishing I would have bought a slosh 30 by now.

Whatever...your the one that asked about the casting of the reel.

[gradyfish265]

Smaller spool is better for casting, personally I like the highest gear ratio I can find when I fish for tog, get them off the wreck as quick as you can, and for striper fshing I like it so when I turn the fishes head I can gain on it and keep slack out of the line quicker. As far as casting, for striper fishign it is very important how we fish. I fish from a boat, when we clam we fish way off the boat, as far back as possible when the current is running, 50ft minimum in slow current. When I live line bunker we cast as far as we can into schools so the better it can cast the better it is for stripers. If your fishing next to the boat striper fishing your hurting yourself unless you are drifting the bottom. As far as a reel with a level winds, if your going to put a bit of drag pressure on the reel for a striper or a tog, you will break it. I have broken more level winds then I can count striper fishing and tog fishing, I no longer will buy them. I am a persoanl fan of a lever drag as well, great for bass fishing....case in point, Tues we had tons of fish, most were 25-30lb fish, the way my drag was set was perfect for these fish, but then I hooked a 39lb fish and that drag setting was no good, I was able to move my lever heavier to stop the fish and lower near the boat to keep from popping the hook and I knew basically what my drag setting was, with a star drag it is more guess work and they can rattle while under way and adjust from where you set it. I set my drags by weight and then adjust accordingly from there by feel, I do not trust by feel only...if I did I would be losing a lot of fish by over adjusting with a star drag. A saltist 20 btw is plenty of reel for the task if you really want a star drag. My buddy fishes one and likes it, although he perfers his Avet lever drags over the saltist after using it a few trips now. He has landed stripwers to 35lbs with plenty of braid to spare on the saltist.

[markc]

wait a couple of weeks and you can get a saltist 20 lever drag. i have a high speed saltist 20 that i use to jig near shore and it does fine. i agree with the no level wind if you plan on winching in stuff from the bottom. the spool of the 20 is not much wider than your thumb so tending the line isnt going to be much of an issue anyway. i used to use the 20 for surf casting and if you get the crappy factory oil and grease out and replace with hot sauce and mess with the brakes you can really sling some lead with it.