grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............... :sick:

Is that good or bad?

-spence

Thats nothing
I talked with 1 guy that has already distroyed 2 "new style reels"

Did he run over them with his truck :confused:

-spence

he has a nice puddle of oil around him in the water..looks like a chum slick

I can hear Toby already, :lossinit:, but who would really want to own one of those hunks of chit? A shop in Falmouth now stocks them and for the life of me I don't get it. Get a Daiwa Saltiga if you want to pay big dough. I have played with both and at least those reels seem like they "might" be worth it.

VS= :rocketem:

OK Toby, you may fire at will. :eek5:

I can hear Toby already, :lossinit:, but who would really want to own one of those hunks of chit?

Steve,

Try fishing Squibby or Gay Head from the beach (up to your neck in water) with anything else, and you'll appreciate what a Van Staal can do. Heck, you don't even have to go that far. Go snorkeling in Falmouth with one. :cool:

For me service is everything and everything needs service.

(Remember shimano platinum service = 48 hours...and if you have a real problem you have a new reel in your hands)

Ben, I guess your right in one respect. Maybe Squibby or Gayhead you might need one but I still would be fine and my reel would be out of the water, me being so tall and you being a tad shorter. Here on the cape, even in Falmouth, the bass have this habit of swimming right up close to shore. Maybe if you guys weren't walking around in the water with them and scaring them half to death all the time they would do that where you fish. :humpty: :laughs: True surfcasters out where I surf fish on the outer cape never set foot in the suds (cept bassmaster and that drives me nutz when I fish with him). In %%%%%%% we have this spot called *&****&^*$#. It's pretty good in the spring and fall. Reminds me alot of RI. All rocks but the best fishing is right in them and around them. ( if Bassmaster sees this he will go nutz but everyone knows the place anyway) I fish that whole shoreline in November almost every night including all the jetties to the point and if you put one toe in the water they spook, a good 3/4 of a mile of rocky shoreline mixed with sand flats and boulders. Awesome needle spot ( they luv stubbys with feathers there bigtime). My old 704's would get dunked in water and sand all the time and they still work and my Spheros' and Stradics do too and all you do is hose em down and a touch of WD-40 and your off. I still don't buy it, at least not for the cape and try not steppin' on em it might work to your advantage! :laughs: :wave: :spin: :usd: :bo: Salters soon! (Saltiga) :angel:

Geeze, learn to cast and you won't have to stand up to yer neck in water. OK, that was my funny for the day. I've read countless VS threads, and they've convinced me NOT to buy one. What I've learned is: 1;They are pricey as all hell. 2; You gotta send 'em back for service every year and add another half a c-note. 3; Their lightning service will get it back in a couple of months, maybe, if they don't change hands again. I honestly don't get it. You coulda had 6 or 7 704z's which you can service yourself. Really wish I had that kind of ching. Not putting anyone down, mind you. It's just that my checkbook won't let me rationalize that way.

I've read countless VS threads

I have too, especially on SOL. What I find amusing is that one out of ten guys who post to those actually owns one. The rest "heard from a friend whose buddy" had one crap the bed on him.

The two I own have never been to any of the various owners for service. I could give a crap about the warranty at this point, since they clip you for "wear and tear" items anyway. They're even simpler inside than a 704 or 706. The hardest part is getting the plate off, after that, anyone can clean and grease them. Oil leaks and you can't find the O-rings and seals? No prob, just grease them like you'd do any other reel.

When I look at the schematic of a Stella or a Saltiga, I :shocked: :eek5: :conf:

I'm on the fence about VS. I used an older 250 last season that I picked up at a good price on several rods. I need another reel so I've got a backup and so I don't have to swap out so much.

Mulling through the options, nothing seems as good. I like the VS but don't want to spend the dough for another, nor do I want multiple reels that I can't service.

So instead of a VS250/200, what reel should I get for my 1204? Probably braid, and won't be dunked as much as I do the VS.

-spence

spot called #########.

. ( if Bassmaster sees this he will go nutz but everyone knows the place anyway)


Salters soon! (Saltiga) :angel:
dangerous spot

:hihi: :hidin: :faga: :call: :call: :eek5: :hang: :uhoh: :spam:



Saltiga is looking good to me too.

I like what Mr. Sandman says about the service on the Shimano also

Oh great another VS thread :yak:

Is weewee trying to scare other VS owners into selling him their reels cheap???

I'll be honest with you guys...

I do enjoy fishing with VS reels, whether conditions require them or not.

I haven't had one problem with any that I have owned personally.

(I did have a beef with a set of VS pliers a while back, I got so pissed off that I destroyed them with a rifle on the 100 yard firing line, but I digress).

Let's forget about the merits and disadvantages of how others think the VS reels perform.

Just from an ownership perspective, what I've found is that it's a pain in the arse to have to send in multiple reels for servicing every year... so... I am down to just one VS. It's an old style (factory retrofitted) black 250. It's the perfect size for most of the immersive fishing I do in Rhody, Long Island, and Mass (and yes, there are certain places in the OBX I would fish it). There really is no substitute (I haven't checked out the Saltigas yet, they don't make a size that exactly corresponds to a VS 250).

I can justify owning one and sending ONE in every year. Not 2,3, or 4.

My backups are modified manual Penn 704z and a 706.

Am I every going to plunk down $800 for a Saltiga?

I doubt it. I'm getting really picky about what I'm spending my money on nowadays.

Ben, buy a boat. If I lived where you lived I would. Can you say Fisher's Island, The Race, Valiant Rock etc., etc., etc. :buds: You can come up here and surfish with me anytime anyway. :hihi:

I might just do that Steve, when I turn into a crusty old fart. :rotf3:

p.s. Owning a couple of VS's is definitely cheaper than owning a boat. :whackin:

I can hear Toby already, :lossinit:, but who would really want to own one of those hunks of chit? A shop in Falmouth now stocks them and for the life of me I don't get it. Get a Daiwa Saltiga if you want to pay big dough. I have played with both and at least those reels seem like they "might" be worth it.

VS= :rocketem:

OK Toby, you may fire at will. :eek5:
Already made the switch. At the start of last season, I owned 5. This season is about to start and I own 1. I did buy a pretty Saltiga not too long ago. I dumped the VS's for the reason stated by Ben, paying for the yearly service. That is my major gripe with them. This damn Saltiga better work out. As I told Ben when we were talking this past weekend, I spend all this $$ on spinning reels and still throw conventionals 75% of the time. My problem lies in the times I do throw spinning, I need something that is capable of being under water, handling braid, and is "fail safe". It would be so much easier if I didn't fish so damn much.

I don't get the expensive service and no decent warrenty on a costly reel. I could probably use a saltiga for those exteme nights but I would like to hear how diawa handles the service first. So I am waiting for Toby to test drive it first. :bl: Next year. For now I will stick with what is working for me.

This damn Saltiga better work out.

Am very interested to hear your feedback on that very pretty reel. I might re-assess if the reviews come back positive. :tooth:

Fishweewee-

From talking to Toby a little over the past few months I don't think I put my reels through the same abuse as him (I don't skish or reel underwater but I do get my reels splashed & dunked alot), but to give you a quick review I fished 2 Saltigas all last year and they are as good as new still. Also, I did not pay $800 for them, you can find them around the same price as a VS.

This is after I fished 2 VS's for the 2 years before that and had albeit "small" problems with them (leaking oil & a tempermental drag knob), but still problems. I liked the VS's, but not nearly as much as the Saltiga's.

Joe

good thing your not an australian or a southern baptist !

Is that good or bad?

-spence

I dunno Spence, isn't 6 weeks an awful long time just to clean, lube and put new drag washers in a reel?

Guess it depends on the expectation. I've never sent mine in yet...

Dare I ask how much the upgrade costs? I don't think I want to know.

-spence

Uh oh.

Upgrade could be $200 or more. Not including the $35 annual service fee.

Why would ya need the upgrade? If it isn't broke don't fix it.

I heard it was a small fortune as you need a new spool as well. It would be nice to have the sealed drag, but I don't plan to do it until I feel I need to. The regular drag seems to work just fine...

-spence

I heard it was a small fortune as you need a new spool as well. It would be nice to have the sealed drag, but I don't plan to do it until I feel I need to. The regular drag seems to work just fine...

-spence

Don't do it. There's nothing wrong with the stainless steel shaft on the old reels. WTF would you want to spend 200 beans for titanium and a drag you can't service or replace yourself, plus a new spool? Bad enough to have gears you can't get to easily.

I paid around 400 clams for each of mine. I should spend half again that much on each for a very dubious "upgrade"? No thanks :D

Yea, I got a great deal on the older model and the thought of spending 1/2 to 3/4 of the original cost again is pretty silly :whackin:

-spence

I could probably use a saltiga for those exteme nights but I would like to hear how diawa handles the service first.

I'm thinking you could probably get it done at any Daiwa warranty center. Is Bucko's a Daiwa service center?

Dunno how Daiwa's factory parts/service folks are--I've only used them to get a spare spool and some bearings for my old Sealine Slosh-30. They shipped the parts fairly quickly and billed me later.

And I don't think you'd void any warranty by doing self-service. Altho I don't know whether I'd like tackling a 15 bearing gizmo.

:huh:

I recall reading a thread (somewhere) where a U.S. Saltiga owner tried to get Daiwa USA (located in California) to service it.

Daiwa USA service department punted to Daiwa Japan.

...

I got my Saltiga from a tackle shop in NJ that will service the reel for free. Just pay for shipping to the shop. I would expect that parts would be extras.

:huh:
Daiwa USA service department punted to Daiwa Japan.

...

If this is indeed the case, this would be my main concern...

As for "fixing it yourself"...sure you can pump some lube in it but I have reels I thought were fine and worked well, when I send them back, lots of parts got replaced (at no or little charge to me) that I would have not considered replacing. In some cases entire reels were replaced with new. Also, these new bearings are pretty high tech. Each has a version number. When you send the reel in for service they replace the bearings with the current state of the are version (again , no or little charge). (these are not cheap to buy off the shelf either) So I think it really pays to have someone who really knows what he is doing and knows where the key wear points and typical trouble spots are. This is why service is so important to me. I don't want to become a reel mechanic and I don't want to stock lots of parts....I have enough problems with plugs and jigs as it stands. :bo:

Well, for what it's worth, I called up the Daiwa service center in California.

Service for the Saltigas is not an issue - since they're being sold here (albeit on a limited basis - whaddya expect with an $800 reel!) ...

...they will be serviced here.

-WW

Anyone know why the 4500 weighs less than the 4000???

-specne

Anyone know why the 4500 weighs less than the 4000???

-specne

Funny, I was just looking at the specs you sent me and that jumped right out :confused:

According to Hatteras Outfitters and that other website, the 5000 weighs 20.3 too, but Cabelas has it as 29.1

I think Daiwa might have re-badged the whole line when they came out with new models, and Cabelas and BP are still using the 2003 nomenclature :huh:

Been doing this all day looking up stuff .

Now I am thoroughly confused on the product specs.

What a retarded way to market a product.

I sent Daiwa an email asking for clarification. Should have a response in 2-3 weeks :huh:

-spence

Here's the weights for the Saltiga models, right off a major japanese vendor website. I understand that the 4500 and 6000 model are lighter because the same spool is used, but the spool is deeper for more line capacity.

Saltiga Z
Model Weight oz
4000 20.5
4000H 20.5
4500 20.3
4500H 20.3 　
5000 29.4
6000 29.4
6000GT 29.1
6500 EXP 29.8

I'll weight in my fully spooled with 65 # whiplash 6000 GT and report back in later.

I'll weight in my fully spooled with 65 # whiplash 6000 GT and report back in later.


Could you also let me know how many yards of 65 whiplash you fit on that baby? :)
Thanks

I was reading the specs on sites also and saw that the new models of the reels said that the 5000 weighed the same as the 4000 = 20.3 oz so That is why I thought of getting a 5000 since it would hold the required amount of line I like to have on. I wonder now if it's a typo.

Pretty sure the 5000 weighs 29.x ounces...

-spence

The 4500 weighs .2 ounces less than the 4000 only because of the depth of the spools. The spool on the 4000 holds less line than the 4500 so the decreased depth of the spool causes the slight increase in weight, I guess due to a little more aluminum used in the 4000 spool. I have both reels -- the reels are the EXACT same except only for the spools. Actually, only the spools have the numbers 4000/4500 written on them so the 2 reels are identical. I've weighed my reels and the .2 ounce difference is about accurate.

This same slight weight difference caused by spool depth is also in the Shimano Stella 6000 (23.6 oz.) and 8000 reels (22.8 oz.); the Sustain 6000/8000 reels; etc.

Also, the Saltiga 5000 does weigh 29.1 or so ounces, not 20.1 or so. The websites that list it as 20 ounces are mistaken. The 5000 is the same reel as the 6000 with a smaller spool.

Joe--are the line capacities for the 4500 and 5000 listed on those sites accurate? If so, would I be correct in assuming that the 4500 holds as much line as the 5000 at a weight savings of more than half a pound?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....


Ben :wall:

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I think I fit something like 270 yards of 50lb powerpro with 25yards of 20lb backing on my 4500.

I think I fit something like 270 yards of 50lb powerpro with 25yards of 20lb backing on my 4500.

Mike How do you like that reel in the sand? can it take it?

That capacity may work for me.
I would just need a spare spool, I can imagine how much they cost :vamp:

What the hell is sand? We dont have sand over here.

I used it 50 percent of the fall last year and never had an issue.

It's worth the money, but then again I dont do anything but fish. I can see a guy having multiple hobbies finding it expensive. As you know, good tools are not cheap.

Spare Spools - $140 bucks. http://www.japantackle.com/Daiwa_reels/Daiwa_Saltiga_z_spin.htm

I just want a colored one like these. Don't ask why, I just need it.

http://www.plat.co.jp/english/daiwa/ize/saltiga4500.htm

Mike-

What Tattoo said is about accurate. I think last year I fit almost an entire 300 yard spool of 50 pound Power Pro with 17 pound mono backing. This year I'm using less Power Pro just because it's cheaper and I'll never get into the last 100 yards of the braid anyway.

The 5000 definitely holds more line than the 4500 and is a much bigger reel, but if you're gonna buy a 5000 why not just get the 6000 -- same reel and more capacity.

By the way, the Daiwa website is incorrect when it has the 4500 and 5000 as the same reels.

Joe

For the curious . . . a personalized blinged out 4500 is $825 :wall:


Just build another cabinet - Ya know ya want one Slip :D

Yeah but if you shop around you can get an un-blinged out 4500 for about $200-$250 less. Works just as good.

flaptail im going to rip your head off and %$%$%$%$ down your throat

:huh:

:huh: :beat:

:bshake: :sleeps: :smokin:

So a 5000 goes 795 an a spare gt spool goes 146 for total of 941 plus shipping.I think I'm gonna go back to usin a clorox bottle an a handline.

The weight on my Saltiga 6000 GT fully spooled with 65 # whiplash and 15 # mono backing is 30.4 ounces. I didn't measure the amount of line but I would estimate at least 250 + yards. I'm going to do some test casting so thats the most important result to me. Hopefully I can hit the 130 yard mark with a 5 oz jig. Need to hit that seam out in the middle of that rip. :btu:

The thing with Van Staal is that THEY hate the service plan too.

I've been to the old Hopedale facility during reel repair season, and it's not pretty. There were hundreds and hundreds of bins on racks with completely dissassembled reels in them and a huge (5ft tall, maybe higher) pile of un-opened cardboard boxes with MORE reels back for service in them. Also, when they tell you they completely disassemble them they're not BS'ing you.

You can take apart a VS quickly, but to thoroughly clean, inspect the parts, reassemble it, and then box and ship the reel takes time. I'm not saying 6+ week turnaround is ok, just that there is a reason.

Also, (not counting 2 specific instances) add me to the list of people who have never actually seen a broken VS. One time a customer came in with a reel he ran over with his truck, and the other was with the Ironman's now 11+ year old VS100. A couple years ago he decided to finally service it so he sent us out to kill the reel on some BFT that showed up off Newport before we sent it back. I tried, and the reel sounded like death when I was done with it. The drag was fried; it had the old Penn drag washers back then. But it still turned and caught fish, even with broken parts inside (a bearing had failed).

I just thought of one more broken VS, Tattoo got pummelled by a wave and totally f'd up the handle on his, but we swapped in a replacement and it was fine. Seeing a reel's handle get that bent and having the rest of the reel suffer no damage from the impact was pretty impressive.

Lastly, VS is aware that people would like to service their own reels. Not only that but they would LOVE to unload that task to consumers since it costs them time and money. So it's possible (maybe even likely) that will happen at some point. The real issue right now is that if you put a VS back together wrong (so I've been told) you need a Dremel tool to get back into it.

Something to consider-

the more reels they sell, the longer its going to take for your reel to be serviced until they either hire more staff, or sub-out servicing.

next year my reel will go back before X-mas.

Another example of people being caught in the hype and spending way too much money for something that isn't worth the cost. At least I can say I told you so and have not swayed with the hype. :rocketem: VanStal sucks. :uhuh:

Well Flap, you know what they say about opinions :)


You got the right idea Eben.

I have a used one and plan to service it myself.

Another example of people being caught in the hype and spending way too much money for something that isn't worth the cost. At least I can say I told you so and have not swayed with the hype. :rocketem: VanStal sucks. :uhuh:
u should know u would wright anything for a free plug