i owned one vs250 and vs150 both are second hand sold both of them after the last season....
looking for new alternative for the coming season. i am very interested in the saltiga z.. what are you guys' experience with this reel.. i fish a lot in wetsuit => deep wading on sand bar or rocks, but not drifting in currents... can those reel handle dunk, semi-submerge ( i do rinse and clean my reel after everytrip). what size will be great for 10'-11'???? how is the drag??? thanks..

Talk to JoeP.

Make sure you let us all know,,, I am interested to know,,,, I have a VS and have been very happy,,,,, Might try something different for a back up,,,,,,

I don't remember exactly what tlapinski did to his Saltiga, but there were a lot of bearings and other parts that had to be replaced at the end of one season due to corrosion. Waterproof it is not, if you get too carried away with your wading. It was covered by Daiwa if I remember correctly.

I don't own one but the general consensus I get is it is dunkable; submerging might be pushing the envelope though.

It couldn't even crank any more when I sent it in this year. Started off with just a "hitch" in the spool at top and bottom of oscillation, then became simply a vessel to store extra line not too long after. Despite my best efforts, I could not get her to even move. In 2005 I broke the foot and also wasted the insides. Had corrosion on the internal bearrings and it was louder than a dry 706. All was replaced and I went back at it this year. I fished less this season than the one before, and it still crapped out around mid September. The "hitch" developed when I set the hook on what turned out to be a rock. I was amazed that a reel that is designed to handle tuna while deep jigging broke when I set the hook on an immovable object. How many times have we all done that while using anything from a $20 Benny's reel to a VS and the reel would keep on working? It's back to Van Staal for me.

Send me a Zee Baas..... :devil:

I still wouldn't not consider a Saltiga though, there's a lot of happy users out there. It's not my home territory, but the Canal is a spot where I hear the Saltiga has become a very popular choice.

We were talking about it in the shop a month or so ago. Back Beach and Ed B brought up something I never really considered, they both really like a smooth reel since they use the reel to feel a hit as much as the rod.

I always have my rod tip high, so the tightness most Van Staals have when cranked has never really been a factor for me.

The fact you wetsuit and are concerned about submersion might be something that points to sticking with the VS though.

thank you guys.. i guess it is time for me stick with the "proofed" van staal, but do they improve their drag system on the new 275???

thank you guys.. i guess it is time for me stick with the "proofed" van staal, but do they improve their drag system on the new 275???

never heard anything negative with the current drag system...:huh:

never heard anything negative with the current drag system...:huh:

I agree. To date I don't know what the issue is with the current drag system. I hear it has a problem but nothing more.

An issue do I find with the current drag is lack of initial "range" when the drag is new. Find a tuna or some big bass to break it in and it's ready to go. Leaving the drag "on" when the reel isn't in use will help compress the stack a little bit and take the edge off the drag as well.

I actually like the current drag system even more as it ages; if it feels good at the end of the season I include a note for it to be left alone when the reel is serviced.

275???

& as for the 275. I have heard that it is not well suited for most striper fishing.

The stats speak for themselves-

-The pickup rate is 40"
-& it holds about 500 yards of 20lb test mono.

as with any reel it is not made to be reeled underwater the seal on the spool shaft will suck in the water and thus cause water to enter I know replace all bearings this past year..:jump:

& as for the 275. I have heard that it is not well suited for most striper fishing.

The stats speak for themselves-

-The pickup rate is 40"
-& it holds about 500 yards of 20lb test mono.


interesting...i heard differently, what are the van stall's pro staff's opinion on this.....

interesting...i heard differently, what are the van stall's pro staff's opinion on this.....

DZ thought the reel lacked cranking power and was simply too fast for the way he fishes.

For a contrast, Steve McKenna thinks it is Van Staal's best reel ever.

I finally gave the 275 a good fondling this weekend. I really like it. I am a fan of a faster retreive because I find it easier to reel slower when needed than to reel faster when needed. I plan to pick up a silver 275 this spring and will post my results as always.

I changed to the Saltiga reels 3 years ago from Van Staals and have had ZERO problems with them. I even had them serviced for free by Daiwa last year just for a clean & tune-up. However, I don't reel them underwater or swim with them. They do get briefly submerged pretty often and get wet just about every time I fish - and again no problems. I rinse them off with freshwater every time I use them.

They are very tough reels and more comfortable to fish with than Van Staals (i.e. smoother, easier to cast, etc.) in my opinion.

As a comparison, the Van Staals I had for 2 years were great reels also but leaked oil and had a drag adjustment issue.

I think they are both TOP reels but they both will have their issues from time to time. It's simply a matter of personal preference when deciding on these reels.

I've searched the reels you are talking about and they are in the 400 to 700 dollar range. Are there any decent surf reels out there in the 100 dollar range?

Those saltigas have a distinct sound when they are singing in my ear on a good fish while I'm unhooking teens... :wall:

they look nice, and feel nice, but will they hold up better then the VS when I take my yearly fall on the rock? :soon:

how is daiwa's customer service??

I changed to the Saltiga reels 3 years ago from Van Staals and have had ZERO problems with them. I even had them serviced for free by Daiwa last year just for a clean & tune-up. However, I don't reel them underwater or swim with them. They do get briefly submerged pretty often and get wet just about every time I fish - and again no problems. I rinse them off with freshwater every time I use them.

They are very tough reels and more comfortable to fish with than Van Staals (i.e. smoother, easier to cast, etc.) in my opinion.

As a comparison, the Van Staals I had for 2 years were great reels also but leaked oil and had a drag adjustment issue.

I think they are both TOP reels but they both will have their issues from time to time. It's simply a matter of personal preference when deciding on these reels.

I've searched the reels you are talking about and they are in the 400 to 700 dollar range. Are there any decent surf reels out there in the 100 dollar range?

The Penn Z series (unfortunately no longer produced) is the gold standard for many in the $100 range. eBay, garage sales, and tackle swap events are the main places the 704 and 706 are scored these days.

For new reels, the Shimano Spheros has been a good, tough reel for many anglers. Prices range between $79 and $110 depending on the size.

The Penn Z series (unfortunately no longer produced) is the gold standard for many in the $100 range. eBay, garage sales, and tackle swap events are the main places the 704 and 706 are scored these days.

For new reels, the Shimano Spheros has been a good, tough reel for many anglers. Prices range between $79 and $110 depending on the size.

thanks for the info. I did see a few of the 706's on ebay earlier today....I'd like to go new so I'll be taking a good look at that Shimano Spheros you mentioned....

is it cheaper to get daiwa slatiga z from japan??? just curious.. since i have some family relatives they live in japanand gonna visit NY soon.. or it really don't matter that much.........:hs:

is it cheaper to get daiwa slatiga z from japan??? just curious.. since i have some family relatives they live in japanand gonna visit NY soon.. or it really don't matter that much.........:hs:

Pete _G recomended the following...I know it's not a slatiga but it seems a nice reel. check out the features. Seems like a good compromise to those more expensive better reels.

http://www.saltwateredge.com/SHM01.html

is it cheaper to get daiwa slatiga z from japan??? just curious.. since i have some family relatives they live in japanand gonna visit NY soon.. or it really don't matter that much.........:hs:

Yes, depending on the dollar/yen exchange rate. I paid $562 last July for a Saltiga 6000Z, which retails for $799 in the US. I got mine from GinrinPeche.com Another source is JapanTackle.com

Shipping from Japan usually runs about $30 via EMS and they will deliver on a Sunday ;)

Sometimes the Japanese sites also offer free shipping on orders over $100.

There are other Japanese market reels you can check out too, like the Basia and the Tournament Surf.

And don't worry about a Japanese manual--that's what you get anyway, even if you buy a Saltiga in the US :doh:

Yes, depending on the dollar/yen exchange rate. I paid $562 last July for a Saltiga 6000Z, which retails for $799 in the US. I got mine from GinrinPeche.com Another source is JapanTackle.com

Shipping from Japan usually runs about $30 via EMS and they will deliver on a Sunday ;)

Sometimes the Japanese sites also offer free shipping on orders over $100.

There are other Japanese market reels you can check out too, like the Basia and the Tournament Surf.

And don't worry about a Japanese manual--that's what you get anyway, even if you buy a Saltiga in the US :doh:

I know we are talkin reels but they sure have alot of nice looking plugs on that page. This being one. 1.3 oz.

Pete _G recomended the following...I know it's not a slatiga but it seems a nice reel. check out the features. Seems like a good compromise to those more expensive better reels.

http://www.saltwateredge.com/SHM01.html

:hee:

Those saltigas have a distinct sound when they are singing in my ear on a good fish while I'm unhooking teens... :wall:

they look nice, and feel nice, but will they hold up better then the VS when I take my yearly fall on the rock? :soon:


Yeah but the VS's also have a very nice drag sound - and other than that night yours rang more than mine last year...

:D

I love reel talk..
Specially when Toby an PeterG chime in.
Toby beats em up good.
Peter is well spoken an Knows the product well.
There was a considerable buzz around the new High speed VS 275 when they where in the hands of the demo guys..
Seems they where trying to compete with the new Japanese Saltiga's.
There is a new market for these boat guys trying to land these big game fish on spinning gear..Not sure why perhaps casting is part of the equasion an most upper line class convetional gear is not suited for these applications.
There are times a faster reel could certainly be a asset.
Like in the canal.I use a saltiga 5000 Z there without the GT spool.
I would highly recommend making sure u get the GT spool if u decide on one in the 5000 size.I love it it's as fine an smooth a machine as I have ever feltl.While destroying every other fast retrieve reel I have tried at the canal the Saltiga has held up well for me..While it's kinda big for most humans, Slip uses one in the surf.
As far as tightness goes thats one of the reasons I sold my VS.
I use a 706 Z an I could not get use to it.
I want to get a VS 300 this season if I can find a decent (Loose) used one..
Or when my back pension comes in..
Here lots of good things about the shimano sphero's reels.Seems like a good quality affordable reel...I think if I had to knowing what I do now.I would go that way before I got whatever is currently available from penn.
I might also consider a diawa emblem.
While both these reels won't take a pure submerging on a regular basis they will certainly do the job for most surf applications..

Based on what I've read here and surfing through a few sites on-line I agree that the shimano sphero's reels seems like a good quality affordable reel so I will be looking to pick one up. I am going to wait for the MSBA Expo first though.....

Get it from Peter at the SWE.They are a fine shop that stands behind what they sell an equally as important they are a sponser here.The markup on reels are minimal so to think u will find a better deal ur probably only talkin about pennies..
U would not even know about it if it was not for guys like The Saltwater Edge who sponser this site..
We all took the time to educate u.
So...
Do the Right thing...

Nib hits the nail on the head again! :wavey:

Besides awesome stock, selection, knowledge & service... Pete G. & crew at SWE are among the finest people you could possibly buy your tackle from! Always a pleasure dealing w/ them...

Well, except maybe for Joe at SRI! (What great sponsors we have here!)... He once threw in an extra Tattoo $20. plug to my order of 7-8 plugs, that I'm sure must have killed his profit- margin on that order! But he now has a plug- ho customer for life!... and that "free" blurple 3 oz. Spook now has a prominent place in my night rotation! :cheers:

i've been using penn spinners and abu conv. for years . no, make that decades. the penns i can take apart and put back together in 10 min. parts are easy to get. and when everything just plain wears out, i buy another and use the old one for parts. i fish so co. rocks, beach, whatever. rinse off my gear every time out. clean them inside and out once a month. 100.00 a shot. don't have to worry about sending it back to be serviced at 50.00 a pop every year. just my 2 cents.

joe's good people :btu:

Nib hits the nail on the head again! :wavey:

Besides awesome stock, selection, knowledge & service... Pete G. & crew at SWE are among the finest people you could possibly buy your tackle from! Always a pleasure dealing w/ them...

Well, except maybe for Joe at SRI! (What great sponsors we have here!)... He once threw in an extra Tattoo $20. plug to my order of 7-8 plugs, that I'm sure must have killed his profit- margin on that order! But he now has a plug- ho customer for life!... and that "free" blurple 3 oz. Spook now has a prominent place in my night rotation! :cheers:

I have no issues with buying from contacts made here. And you are so right that I wouldn't have known about it if not for here. I was merely waitng for the show to do some comparisons maybe see what else is out there...figured there'd be some side by side comparisons and all....but I need a nice stick to go with it as well....I prefer local shops as compare to chain stores. Better knowledge and better service.

So now that's out of the way.....lol

SWE???????

Hi Friends,

I know this question kind'a strays from the thread, I apologize. But...

A "big buck" reel I never see mentioned is the Shimano Stella. I have spun a couple of these, they seem to run smooth as silk and seem well built. Has anyone had experence with these?

Think Spring, Al

Not for the (high) Surf... Heavy as an anchor... & not submersible/ sand- friendly! :eek5:

SWE???????

Saltwater Edge? :wave:

www.saltwateredge.com

Hi Friends,

I know this question kind'a strays from the thread, I apologize. But...

A "big buck" reel I never see mentioned is the Shimano Stella. I have spun a couple of these, they seem to run smooth as silk and seem well built. Has anyone had experence with these?

Think Spring, Al

Smooth as silk for sure, but not even half as tolerant of getting wet as the Van Staal is. General consensus is it trails the Saltiga as well.

Potent drag and very capable boat reel though; I know more then a few charter captains that like the larger models for light tackle sharking. Great tuna reel as well.

The differences between the high end reels in this thread is much more a matter of application rather then overall quality.

Thanks LeCounts & Pete, seems these may be a good reel for me as all I do is boat fishing these days.

Al

The differences between the high end reels in thread is much more a matter of application rather then overall quality.

:happy:

Saltwater Edge? :wave:

www.saltwateredge.com

Thanks for the link. I have to see what's going on tomorrow as I might take a ride down there. I just got back from the cape today and saw the reel you recomended. Nice reel!!!! I was looking at the 8000. I was also looking at an 11' Tsunami rod to go with it. I don't recall the model but the kid said it was new this year.

Anyway, when I get there any other recomendations you have for a nice set up will be appreciated.

Thanks.

kids look.
VS and a shimano sustain in a bag, i really hate that cheap metal they use inside these reels, i put a whippin on both of these, look whats still alive