I'm looking to get a new rod and need a reel to pair it with.
Have been a Penn user but the reels just don't hold up anymore. Replacement gears need replacing seemingly instantly. Van Staal seems to be many guys choice. Looking for opinions on Shimano and Daiwa. What models do you use, how do you like them, can they handle the abuse, gears good quality, repairs easy......any info would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

$$$- Van Staal, Daiwa Saltiga, Zeebass, Shimano Stella.

$$- Daiwa Saltiga Surf, Shimano Stradic, Finnor Ahab.

$- Penn slammers, Penn 704Z,Daiwa BG Series.

Have owned every reel listed above except Zeebass. They all work very well for their respective price ranges. If you are gonna splurge, I would go with a VS200 or Daiwa Saltiga z4500 for surf fishing. The Saltiga fishes like a wet dream.......smoooooooooth(sorry) and has a great drag. The VS is built like a bulldozer, has a great drag, and can be submerged.

If you are going to get the reel wet or submerge it at all then the choice is VS.

If you want a workhorse reel, with a dated design but still tough enough to stand up to most surf fishing, and for a great price, check out the Daiwa BG series.

Thanks for the input. I had a Daiwa BG. Still have the spare reel that came with it, don't know what happened to the reel though?!? Leaning towards the VS250 but would like to check out the zeebaas, coughing up that dough is going to hurt for a VS let alone the Zee, but I like the repair it yourself feature of the Z. still shopping I appreciate all the info.

I'm still in the cheap old used reel bracket, but if I was going to throw down some cash I have been recently thinking that it would be for the stripped down Zee, partly because it sounds like a better product all around, and partly because if I am going to be paying top dollar, I would prefer to support a small company and Rob Koelewyn to help them along (although I don't know how independent ZeeBaas is or much info on them, as a disclaimer). Just a personal preference to support the entrepreneurs who are coming up with the good designs and ideas, rather than the big guys who swoop in to profit on a tested product.

:lurk:

We haven't had a good reel talk here in a while. Let the games begin

i own the whole shimano spheros line. 4000 for scholies, 6000, and 8000. only difference between 6000 and 8000 is spool depth. for the price i love the spheros 8000. 6000 doesn't hold enough line. i had is 3 years. holds up great if you want bass on a budget. you do need to rinse it though every time you got out. i dunk ALOT. i mean unscrew the plate and give it a quick splash of freshwater. this year i tried packing the reel with grease and only rinsing from the outside. that didn't work. gears got corroded. for most guys that's a pain, but i can't afford to throw down on the vs.

i've used penn slammers before that. i'm much happier with the spheros.

I'm looking to get a new rod and need a reel to pair it with.
Have been a Penn user but the reels just don't hold up anymore. Replacement gears need replacing seemingly instantly. Van Staal seems to be many guys choice. Looking for opinions on Shimano and Daiwa. What models do you use, how do you like them, can they handle the abuse, gears good quality, repairs easy......any info would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

penn 704 spinfisher if you can find it that is

the old school green/blue one