SPINNING REELS

[squirtis]

O.K.

A lot of you guys fish jigs with spinning rods from what I have seen in reports...

What's the best Shimano spinning reel available for popping and jigging, with exception to the Stella's......next level down from them I guess, and how do you rig yours...

I know a lot of people use Spectra although I have seen a few in Panama using just mono with a heavy leader as well?

All your help is appreciated

Curtis

[gottaflylee]

Curtis, I have a Penn 760 Slammer, love it, but it is a little heaver than the Stella. Got over 50 pounds of drag out of the box with it. Great drag and like it a lot. I have not had a lot of fish on it yet but got it late in the season and this summer will tell. I have about a dozen Penn Slammers, some over 5 or 6 years and none of them have been worked on yet but I do have a couple that need a gear replaced. Not bad for charter reels...

[SeaBiscuit]

Curtis,
that is a million dollar question.
A couple of friends use Shimano sustains ($250) and like them "for the price".
I can better tell you from experience what WILL NOT work and that is Shimano Stradic & Spheros, any Fin nor or quantum.
The metal baitrunners seem like a good idea, but are heavy
The mid price Daiwas I use now (advantage and tiera) are holding up, but it's too soon to tell.

Believe it or not there is something to be said about the good ol' reliable daiwa B&G (black and gold) series. These have been the favorites of Fla light tackle captains for almost 3 decades now. Not fancy, but at $75 a pop, I won't cry when I have to throw mine away. I have one season on a 5000 size with 50 lb braid with no problems.

Braid vs mono in my mind is not even a debate. You need the strength and capacity that braid will give you for popping (casting) and jigging (dropping faster)

Finally,
you may want to post this question at the jiggin' and poppin' forum. Some heavyweights occasionally visit there.

Good luck,
Biscuit

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Biscoto,
What sort of issues did you have with your Stradics? Do you feel they are not capable of achieving the drag that would be neccessary for jigging/popping? I have them from the 1000 to 6000 and use them religiously as you know. I have caught tons of Striped Bass on the 6000's, largest being close to 50 pounds. Granted, Stripers are a poor fighter pound for pound. The 2000's have accounted for many Spadefish over 10 pounds which I do consider a good fighter for the matchup. I respect your judgement as you know, and would like to hear more if you don't mind. I think you are gonna convert me to Diawa reel soon, pun intended.
Also, when are we going to see Curtis in Panama?
Holwachagot

Curtis,
that is a million dollar question.
A couple of friends use Shimano sustains ($250) and like them "for the price".
I can better tell you from experience what WILL NOT work and that is Shimano Stradic & Spheros, any Fin nor or quantum.
The metal baitrunners seem like a good idea, but are heavy
The mid price Daiwas I use now (advantage and tiera) are holding up, but it's too soon to tell.

Believe it or not there is something to be said about the good ol' reliable daiwa B&G (black and gold) series. These have been the favorites of Fla light tackle captains for almost 3 decades now. Not fancy, but at $75 a pop, I won't cry when I have to throw mine away. I have one season on a 5000 size with 50 lb braid with no problems.

Braid vs mono in my mind is not even a debate. You need the strength and capacity that braid will give you for popping (casting) and jigging (dropping faster)

Finally,
you may want to post this question at the jiggin' and poppin' forum. Some heavyweights occasionally visit there.

Good luck,
Biscuit

[squirtis]

Curtis, I have a Penn 760 Slammer, love it, but it is a little heaver than the Stella. Got over 50 pounds of drag out of the box with it. Great drag and like it a lot. I have not had a lot of fish on it yet but got it late in the season and this summer will tell. I have about a dozen Penn Slammers, some over 5 or 6 years and none of them have been worked on yet but I do have a couple that need a gear replaced. Not bad for charter reels...

Thanks very much...BTW you still coming down this way...

Curtis

[squirtis]

That is what I am talking about!!!

Perfect and knowledgable information...

coming from the west coast I have almost never used a spinnning rod...hahahahaha

The baitrunners look strong enough but fall apart quickly I agree..

Sustains I have heard good things about and will look into them as well..

Thanks Nick!!

Curtis

Curtis,
that is a million dollar question.
A couple of friends use Shimano sustains ($250) and like them "for the price".
I can better tell you from experience what WILL NOT work and that is Shimano Stradic & Spheros, any Fin nor or quantum.
The metal baitrunners seem like a good idea, but are heavy
The mid price Daiwas I use now (advantage and tiera) are holding up, but it's too soon to tell.

Believe it or not there is something to be said about the good ol' reliable daiwa B&G (black and gold) series. These have been the favorites of Fla light tackle captains for almost 3 decades now. Not fancy, but at $75 a pop, I won't cry when I have to throw mine away. I have one season on a 5000 size with 50 lb braid with no problems.

Braid vs mono in my mind is not even a debate. You need the strength and capacity that braid will give you for popping (casting) and jigging (dropping faster)

Finally,
you may want to post this question at the jiggin' and poppin' forum. Some heavyweights occasionally visit there.

Good luck,
Biscuit

[flatbottom]

a new spheros is out this season pushing a major drag increase, supposedly on par with the stella. I have not had my hands on one yet. I am going to look that direction first and see what it can do. They were displayed at the Dealer show last month. Maybe Squid has a few words about them. And there arrival times.....

[SeaBiscuit]

The baitrunners look strong enough but fall apart quickly I agree..

Curtis

Curtis,
there are some new METAL baitrunners out. I have not tested those, nor do I know anyone that has, however, the concept is a good one.
Good luck,
Nick

[JMS-ILM]

What sort of issues did you have with your Stradics? Do you feel they are not capable of achieving the drag that would be neccessary for jigging/popping?

i think it was arlen that had a stradic drag go from solid to liquid in mere seconds....i saw the aftermath....not pretty.

[SeaBiscuit]

Biscoto,
What sort of issues did you have with your Stradics? Do you feel they are not capable of achieving the drag that would be necessary for jigging/popping?
Holwachagot

Oh boy, I knew this was coming. Stradics are good mid price reels, actually better than most of their peers. What I have seen with stradics is corrosion issues and "sticky" drags. They are "sensitive" reels which work great until they develop an issue. When they do, they are no different than a 25 dollar reel, in that they will rarely be the same again, thus, disposable. Have you had much luck repairing yours?

By the way, do NOT switch to daiwas. Not any better really. Getting frustrated with disposable $ 100 - 200 reels.

I really believe that right now the stella may be worth the money.

Biscuit