planning on buying a VS over the winter. what's best overall one to have on a 10 foot 1201M and a 9 foot batson. i'm thinking the 150 is too small and the 275 is too big. so not sure between the 200 and 250. is the weight difference noticable in the 200 vs. the 250? do i really need a reel to have 490 yards of line on it?

The 200 hundred and the 250 are the same reel with a different spool and rotor. I have both and there is a slight weight difference but it is negligible. If you want to use it on a 9' I would definitely with a 200.

200
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200

Ditto 200, I fish both rods you mentioned with my 200 and the fit is perfect. PM me if you have any questions.

I have the 200 and use it on a 1201L-4" and its a great fit. I also use it on an 11' rod but think i would prefer a 250 for it.

Pssst.

200

i fish a 9 and 10' rod, and i use a 200... dont wait till winter, because you will be watching tv playing with it for months... get it now!

200
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I use a 200 on mine...

200 or 250 is fine. everyone always says the 200 when you say 9 and a 10 but they never have a reason why. the 250 barely weighs more than the 200 so the weight of the reel is not a consideration. i think the 200 looks slightly better because it's a little smaller but really can't come up with another reason. Since you're looking for used I would just say go for the best deal you can get on a 200 or 250.

250 is nice in that if you lose some line, there is less of a gap between the spool lip and the line than there would be on the 200. You lose the same amount of line on the 200 and you get more of that lip showing, and more resistance, shorter casts. If you're using 65 pound stealth then you'd really notice it. 20 pound fireline or 30 pound sufix, not much difference.


With that said as just another perspective, i'd get a 200 for 9 footer and either 200 or 250 for a 10 foot. The 250 works well on 11 foot rods too where the 200 feels a little light.

Well I have a 200 on my 9 footer and a 250 on my 10 footer, I think this works best, I don't like the 200 on a 10 foot rod because it doesn't balance correctly, Pick the rod that your going to use the most and buy the reel for that rod, then start saving for a second reel.

I use a 250 on my 10' rods, really like the balance. It works on my 9'er, but seems a little more awkward. I rarely seem to use my 9, so the 250 works best for me.

I guess if you want one VS for both the 200 is the way to go... But personally, I like the extra line capacity on the 250. Can double for a tuna reel as well if need be- don't think the 200 would have the capacity for that. Nice if you ever get an invite out on a friends boat- spool it with JB60 and you're golden.

Good luck- I don't think you can go wrong with either.

200...

I use my 200 on my 9' rainshadow, and my 10' lami. I don't have a problem using it on my 10' one bit and I fish that rod 70+ trips a year.

I've also fished a 250 on a 10' and didn't even know the difference between the two reels "weights", we're talking oz!

Also with the 200 you get a slower retrieve which everyone knows that the slower your reel the better off you are.

The spool holds a crap load of line but your never going to use all of it. Unless you can't fish with braid.

...a 150 is too small for a 9' rod?

I may not be to small for a 9 foot rod but it is for my hands
the handle is to small for me

...a 150 is too small for a 9' rod?

It all comes down to feel.

I really think the 200 is the best overall if you're gonna get one.

200 on a 1201m or 1201L are my go to setups.250 with a cut down 1201m is my go to setup for heavy plugs and riggies, but the 200 feels good on that setup too.

250 on a graphite 9' feels funny to me. Center of gravity is too low and feels awkward casting.
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200..

It all comes down to feel.

200 on a 1201m or 1201L are my go to setups

Just an aside, anyone not swimming with their reel and considering a custom 1201L (or any other L type 10 footer) who wants to stay light but have reserve power.........the setup in this thread has proven pretty impressive (albeit at a $ cost) and is well worth considering. It would also balance sweetly with a VS150 (although the guide placement would need to be tweaked).

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/rod-building/65232-gsb1201l-lowrider-layout-i-e-10-footer-lowriders.html

I have a 150 and a 250. The 150 is perfect on my 9' footer and is acceptable all the way down to a 7' footer, probably a little overkill though. But if I know I'm gonna get wet, it's the right choice. I use the 250 on my 10' and 11' rods and it feel good on both.

I think either way, 200 or 250 you'll make it work. Bottom line, VS makes a great product and it's the tool you need if you plan on wading aggressively or wet-suiting. I couldn't believe I was parting with that kind of money when I bought my first VS, but I have never regretted it, ever.

ab

I may not be to small for a 9 foot rod but it is for my hands
the handle is to small for me

you just need to upgrade the knob to the one that comes on the 150 bailed. it will run you about $80 but well worth it imo. that knob is bigger than the one on the 200/250 and rectangular/oval.

I couldn't believe I was parting with that kind of money when I bought my first VS, but I have never regretted it, ever.

ab

true story

you just need to upgrade the knob to the one that comes on the 150 bailed. it will run you about $80 but well worth it imo. that knob is bigger than the one on the 200/250 and rectangular/oval.

I sold the VS150 Rick Bomba so problem solved I don't have a problem with the knobs on the 200 or 250

I should be getting my new ZeeBaas 27 tomorrow or Friday can't wait to break that baby in

I sold the VS150 Rick Bomba so problem solved I don't have a problem with the knobs on the 200 or 250

I should be getting my new ZeeBaas 27 tomorrow or Friday can't wait to break that baby in

be interested to see how you like it. i just keep bringing out the van staals. just like how they feel and the line pick up better. the drag is sick though.

...a 150 is too small for a 9' rod?


not at all. one of my fav's is an allstar 1087 with a 150 great lightweight combo.

i put the zb 25 knobs on both my 150 and 200 and problem solved.

...thinking of finally biting the bullet and getting the 150...bail or no bail...was thinking no bail...thoughts?
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i'd go no bail

no bail.

...thanks y'all...just pulled the trigger...!
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...thanks y'all...just pulled the trigger...!
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Its about time!!!!!! ;)

...fished it this am...kind of flawless...
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It all comes down to feel.

I really think the 200 is the best overall if you're gonna get one.

200 on a 1201m or 1201L are my go to setups.250 with a cut down 1201m is my go to setup for heavy plugs and riggies, but the 200 feels good on that setup too.

250 on a graphite 9' feels funny to me. Center of gravity is too low and feels awkward casting.
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How much did you chop off the 1201m? I just built one full length but I am tempted to get another one and chop it down to 9'.

6" off the butt. really seams to have stiffened it up. although it may just be the variation between 1201m blanks - i'm certainly not a rod expert

i feel much more confortable throwing bigger wood (up to about 5 oz, say large jointed bigwater diver size) and riggies with it than by full length 1201m which is great for slightly lower loads

6" off the butt. really seams to have stiffened it up. although it may just be the variation between 1201m blanks - i'm certainly not a rod expert

i feel much more confortable throwing bigger wood (up to about 5 oz, say large jointed bigwater diver size) and riggies with it than by full length 1201m which is great for slightly lower loads

Thanks man, I was wondering how it would stiffen up. Maybe I will play it safe and chop a 1L.

-Al

Sorry for derailing this thread. 200 gets my vote as well if you want to use it on 10 and 9'ers. Mine bounces around between a 10'ssu1m, 10'gsb1m and a glass 9'er. Very happy with it on all of them. I was thinking of getting a 250 but the 200 works so well for my fishing Im just going to get another one.

-Al

Cutting a blank from the butt does not "stiffen" it, rather it moves the flex closer to the butt and slows the action some. Slower action and a shorter rod are good for heavy loads.

Cutting a blank from the butt does not "stiffen" it, rather it moves the flex closer to the butt and slows the action some. Slower action and a shorter rod are good for heavy loads.

So if I chop a 1201m a foot from the butt it will feel slower/more parabolic than a full length one? Thats what Im after, a slow 9'er, but not glass slow, with lots o balls.

So if I chop a 1201m a foot from the butt it will feel slower/more parabolic than a full length one? Thats what Im after, a slow 9'er, but not glass slow, with lots o balls.

Yes, I would think so, but I've never tried it. That is what they do with the 1201L for this "montauk eel rod". Should work about the same with the 1201m, but give you a more powerful rod obviously than a 1201L (and probably more than a 1081m). You might also try to hunt down a kennedy-fisher 8720. They are very slow and very powerful (10ft). Perhaps they made an equivalent 9fter....someone like saltheart or mike P likely knows.

Cutting a blank from the butt does not "stiffen" it, rather it moves the flex closer to the butt and slows the
action some. Slower action and a shorter rod are good for heavy loads.

The flex is actually moved closer to the tip thereby making the rod slightly less slower. The section of the rod from the reel seat to the butt will never flex because of the stout design feature of the reel seat. Now if you cut the bottom of the blank there is a section that will not flex as mentioned above which moves the flex towards the tip.
If you have a 1201 give it a shake as is and observe the distance of the tip from a neutral position then reposition your hands one foot from there prior position and observe that distance. I latter will flex less.
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you just need to upgrade the knob to the one that comes on the 150 bailed. it will run you about $80 but well worth it imo. that knob is bigger than the one on the 200/250 and rectangular/oval.

...where does one get these knobs? and it balances alright on the non-bailed 150?

Doc - Give my 200 a whirl before you order up a new handle.....

...just as a follow up...loving my 150...cant imagine not having it...totally worth the money in my opinion....

Especially since you were taking waves up to your chest and face last night. You never would have been able to stay there with your old reel. Too bad you had to leave fish as the tide came in.....

...where does one get these knobs? and it balances alright on the non-bailed 150?

No issues with balance IMO. Just calls River's End in CT and tell them you want to install it yourself and order the parts from them. They will give you waht you need. It couldn't be easier!

So did I! Replaced my Saragosa for a VS200.

The bail-less Saragosa is worthless. It spins during the cast and catches the line......ending the cast and breaking off the lure. Lost 3 lures in 12 casts.

Brought it back to the dealer for my money back. No problem with them because I exchanded it for the VS 200. Worked with it last night and it is a dream to fish with.

Yes, I would think so, but I've never tried it. That is what they do with the 1201L for this "montauk eel rod". Should work about the same with the 1201m, but give you a more powerful rod obviously than a 1201L (and probably more than a 1081m). You might also try to hunt down a kennedy-fisher 8720. They are very slow and very powerful (10ft). Perhaps they made an equivalent 9fter....someone like saltheart or mike P likely knows.

JKF 8708 is the 9' equivalent of the 8720.

Good luck finding any. I bought the last 8720 that Pat Abate had in the late 1990s, and he had just sold his last 8708. To a well known fishing writer who once wrote in a book that there were no graphite blanks worthy of making into a conventional :biglaugh:

I once bought two GSB 132 1M blanks from M&Ds, and had Mike build them at 10' by chopping the butt (as he had no 120 1M blanks available then). One was built spinning, the other conventional. Bought them less than a year apart.

One--the spinning rod as my luck usually runs--came out stiff with the flex moved towards the tip. I used it for jigging before I bought an All Star 1209. The conventional came out soft and slow, flexing into the reel seat--it has no power to turn a fish in the Canal, although it's a heck of a beach eel rod (which does me no good now since I swore off heathen fishing) :grins: