What's the verdict on the narrower reels like the VSX?

[Captain Fred Archer]

My guys and I too really like the VSX's. They are real workhorses and are easier to handle than wides as far as weight when you move them up a few line classes and minimizing reel wobble when you're stand up fishing. We recommend the 16VSX's for pitching baits to teased up makos and smaller threshers in the New Shark Troller's Bible that is about to publish. The 50's with 80# are a better choice for the "standard" 250-350# threshers, and when it comes to the real beasts, we move up to 70V Penns or Accurates. Since we see, identify and size up every shark that we get up with the way that we chum them, we can do a perfect match as far as putting the right gear on the right fish is concerned.

Some picts from the new book...

This size thresher is possible on thirty, but a far more practical fish on 50#. And you will have to chase him.

A nowadays pretty much average keeper mako shark. No problem on a 16 or even an Accurate 12.

Some of the reels being discussed here, plus a 300 Torque, a good, basic 30# mako pitching reel.

An "anti-tank gun" Accurate 70.

A 300# plus thresher and his breakfast that he barfed up while we were hanging him. We bait this size fish and up with the anti-tank guns.

This size (gulp! You better believe it!) too.

The book cover.

Website www.FredArchersWorldofFishing.com