Looking at picking up the 150 to go with my 8' St Croix and wanted to see if folks had any experiences to share. Granted the bail version is new but any thoughts/feedback would be appreciated.

No bail. Once u go bail-less, you'll never go back.

imho-bails suc.

What's a bail? :huh:

Did you put training wheels back on your bike after you learned how to ride?

No bail.

No bail. Once u go bail-less, you'll never go back.
That about sums it up

Did you put training wheels back on your bike after you learned how to ride?

No bail.:laugha: :laugha:

Bail? Nope................

I found one time where I really like a bail. Wetsuiting. If you get blown off a rock the line often gets knocked off the roller and if it's night time it can be tough to see that it happened, so I have to check everytime I get sloshed around. A bail would solve/prevent that problem. But obviously that situtation is fairly rare and usually I move after a few hits like that.

Otherwise, bailess, all the way. If you like your bail though (many do), the bailed VS is passing the test in the surf. The first couple of test reels have been in intentionally malicious service for almost a year now. The bailess reel should actually be more durable then the bailess due a redesign that eliminates most of the flex in the drivetrain.

Let me make sure I 've heard you all

F the bail. Good. I was actually wondering why even design one with the bail, unless they were experience an issue with the originals. And I have not heard/read such problems existing.

yea what they said :eek:

I was kind of worried about getting used to bailess reels, seeing that I've used a bail forever. But after a few times out with my VS, it's like second nature, I don't even have to look at the reel anymore to put the line on the roller. I dread having to use a bail reel again.

The only thing I haven't tried is drifting an eel out on an outflow, not sure how it will be getting line on roller if a fish hits while free spooling.
Has anyone done this?

Dave;
What I do eeling...
When I get the hit, I drop the tip and freespool the line (2-5sec depending on eel size) while raising the tip slightly, then drop the rod tip and pull the line on the roller and set the hook in one motion... that makes it sound alot more complicated than it really is....
If I was free spooling an outflow I would have my rod tip high anyways so I would just dip and then set the hook.... first couple of times I missed, second nature now...

That is the exact reason why I don't mess around with bailess. I fish eels 90% of the time. When fishing eels a bail is definetly more convienent, why mess around with trying to get the line under the roller while a fish is making its run. More room for error in my opinion.

I primarily fish eels too and I love the bait runner features...

Dave;
What I do eeling...
When I get the hit, I drop the tip and freespool the line (2-5sec depending on eel size) while raising the tip slightly, then drop the rod tip and pull the line on the roller and set the hook in one motion... that makes it sound alot more complicated than it really is....
If I was free spooling an outflow I would have my rod tip high anyways so I would just dip and then set the hook.... first couple of times I missed, second nature now...
OK, figured that's how it was done. Thanx, I'll give it a shot soon.

RR; it's easier than it sounds..

I bet it is, Im not trying to knock bailess but for most of the fishing I do having a bail is just plain easier. I always close my bail manualy and have never once had my bail shut on a cast.

Faced with a similar decision 1 month ago. No bail is the way to go if you are used to it. It is so elegant and fun to use.

The only thing that made me blink was the new anti-reverse clutch. The bail-less version has some give. The bailed version is like a rock. Also I lke the new handle - a little longer - real reason - sucked in by eye candy. In the end I went with the bail-less and never looked back.

Can someone put up a pic of a reel without a bail?What are the benefits of bailess?

Advantage: no bail to mistakingly flip over and cause a snap off.
And VS is so smoooooooooooooth.
Only complaint I have is that once in a while the line will catch on the counter weight sometimes when I'm putting the line on the roller. Anyone else have that problem? Hate to have a hit if that happens.

Advantage: no bail to mistakingly flip over and cause a snap off.
And VS is so smoooooooooooooth.
Only complaint I have is that once in a while the line will catch on the counter weight sometimes when I'm putting the line on the roller. Anyone else have that problem? Hate to have a hit if that happens.

I've had that happen a couple of times on my 250. Both times my hand was a little low and I was pulling the line down instead of straight back.

These bails won't snap shut.

That is the exact reason why I don't mess around with bailess. I fish eels 90% of the time. When fishing eels a bail is definetly more convienent, why mess around with trying to get the line under the roller while a fish is making its run. More room for error in my opinion.


Fish circle hooks and you won't have a problem, you'll miss less fish and you'll kill very few. Circles are BY FAR the best eel hooks IMHO.

Fish circle hooks and you won't have a problem, you'll miss less fish and you'll kill very few. Circles are BY FAR the best eel hooks IMHO.
And that's a fact, Jack!
7/0 Gami Circle....

I have fished with circle hooks before and absolutely hated them. Lost more fish than I can count, weather it was from setting up on the fish to hard or the hook simply not connecting with the fish's lip. One of the best part of fishing is setting the hook and I lose very few fish with a straight hook. The way I look at it is I would rather gut hook the fish of a lifetime than drop it due to hook failure. Call me a heathen

max, oh yeah- you heathen, whatcha mean by setting up too hard with a circle hook?

When I did try fishing with circle hooks I would accidently set on a fish instead of just reeling up the line tight like you are supposed.

betcha that has happened to alot of guys, me included.

A big part of the fun of fishing an eel is slamming the hook home and having the tip stay down :humpty:

It's hard to unlearn 30 years of doing it one way--especially at 3 AM, 4 hours into a tide, after being awake since 6 the previous morning.

I rarely--if ever--gut hook fish with eels. Bass usually take the snake back in their throat and crush it before they swallow it.

Hi guys..I's new to da board...
I fish all over Cape Cod, and Plum Island, salisbury beach, New hampshire coast and Maine...


In short.... I have and fish both type of systems...

Bail: good for Plugging quick retieve lures and you don't have to fumble with the line...
downfall: poor or weak bail springs cause you a loss of a lure....

Non-Bail: THE BEST FOR LIVE LINING ANY KIND OF LIVE BAIT...
Downfall: like stated eariler...."on the rock, good wind and a nice coat of alage on the rocks...if you need to play with your line....you're going swimming..."

If you hate bails....try a conventional... out casta a spinning reel anyday... But get a good wind in yer face....NICE birdsnest...

Any which way you go, they all have a purpose for how each and everyone of us fish....

and like a##holes.....opinions are the same thing...we all got em...and they all stink...

J.D.

I've been out for two outings with new (to me) bail-less reel, about an hour or so each time. It's a muscle memory thing, you pick it up pretty quick.

I've had no feedback on 150 with the bail. My shop has sold a couple. I suppose it will be better for fishing live eels as the manual bail VS poses some problems when trying to put your line on the rollerafter letting the fish run. Also, the 150 is a tad small for surf fishing. VS is coming out with a 200 with bail shortly. This will be better suited for the surf and live eeling.

Hi guys..I's new to da board...
I fish all over Cape Cod, and Plum Island, salisbury beach, New hampshire coast and Maine...


In short.... I have and fish both type of systems...

Bail: good for Plugging quick retieve lures and you don't have to fumble with the line...
downfall: poor or weak bail springs cause you a loss of a lure....



Is the bail flipping over on a VS? I don't recall mine doing that. If it did, I would have already got rid of mine and given a seriously negative review to VS. After I bought my first bailess VS, I sold all my Shimanos for that very reason.

My reel is a prototype, so it's possible it's different from yours, but I don't think so. If the bail is flipping over on a VS something is wrong, I'd give them a call and consider sending it back.

the only problem with my bail flipping over is the 30 pound power pro cutting my finger off. I don't find my reels bails flipping very often but I did make fun of my friend for his doing it a lot and then last night bam almost lost a finger. Seriously that stuff is dangerous!

I got a leather finger guard for fishing with braid. it helps a lot especially w/50 lb power pro:humpty:

oh thats a good idea I usually use sports tape

How much would a Bailed VS with a Baitrunner go for ??:buds:

Or better (or worse) the Z-Bass.... Gotta be close to $2000 for that :eek: :shocked: