I will be sending my broken Cabo 40 to Tulsa for repair/replacement, but that still leaves me without for the immediate time and I see some time to fish over the next five days.

So, do I get another Cabo 40, or a Stradic 5000? It will be a boat reel that also does duty for shore albies if I do get down to the Derby.( Most of my boat fishing is livelining with an Abu Record 61 or Avet MXL MC so I don't need this spinner to cover that.)

The 13oz. weight of the Cabo is appealing so do not want to stray far from that. I put a Penn 6500ss on the rod and that just isn't going to do it, even for this weekend.

Thoughts?

Hands down for the stradic for me. Love that reel. I have a cobo and cant stand it and penns have become junk imho. I have one penn left and its only for friends to use, i am switching everything to shimano.

But that is just my personal experience amd 2 cents.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Skippy has the right idea. The Stradic 5000FJ is one of the best reels I've owned. I have one paired with a 7'6" Star "Seagis" 10-20 lb rod and it's done everything from schoolies and albies to 80-pound tarpon. One of my favorite features of the reel is the egg handle. It's also super compact, making it feather light. Fits just over 250 yards of 20-pound braid. No need to use anything heavier, as the drag is only about 18 pounds. If I have (or had) one complaint about the reel it's that the bail closes accidentally on the cast from time to time, and on the first day I lost a couple lures as a result. To counter this I inserted a small (3/8") nylon washer between the rotor and the non-roller side of the bail. Re-tighten the screw (apply lock-tite first) to your preferred tension and you'll never have the problem. You'll have to operate the bail manually, but I prefer that anyway. Putting a dab of grease on the nylon washer smooths it out a bit.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Hi Ross, I use both of them for albies an bones. They both fit rods from 7 to light 9 ft well. 20lb braid gives you a great cast and holds up well with the tunas. I use a minimal amount of backing as I've come close to bein spooled a couple times as the biggies don't really give a damn about how expensive line is LOL. the Stradic has been around a lot longer so that is it's best point. The bugs are worked out of it. The price for the Cabo is not bad like the Stradic. The Sustain 5000 is very nice as I haven't been able to kill it yet-3 yrs LOL. The cost of repairs can be tough on any off them. New sometimes is cheaper. Hope to see you on the Island . Ron

I'm a Stradic fan. Based on personal experience I've had trouble with Cabo's anti-reverse when they inadvertently gotten wet, which may be something the mfg. has improved. I do like the Cabo drag.
I own a few Stradics and they've held up well - pretty good little work horses. The drag washers do seem to need cleaning regularly if the drag is to work smoothly. These are reels I often use in the surf, not exclusively from a boat.

I have a bunch of the Cabos 50s. I honestly think you can't beat them for the price. They have all caught a ton of fish and no issues plus they have a great drag.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Dude,
I lost my new Cabo 40 on a trip out with #^&#^&#^&#^&y (rod came out of the rodholder somehow).

I had to scramble to get a replacement and got a Cabo 50. It's awesome. I think it has over 30 pounds of drag. I put 40 pound Super Slick and paired it with a 7'9" Cabelas SSZX-796H-F that's rated 3/8-3 and was pulling 25-30# fish in with no problem.

I own a bunch of Stradic 5000's . Luv em
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I own a bunch of Stradic 5000's . Luv em
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

He finds they cast bobbers great and can handle any sunfish in the pond as long as you don't get too rough with it.

now THAT is funny

Hi George

Should I be concerned that the Stradic is listed in Shimano's fresh water line up instead of with their salt water reels? Why would they do that?

Should I be concerned that the Stradic is listed in Shimano's fresh water line up instead of with their salt water reels? Why would they do that?

Dude I'm telling you, completely disregard that statement. Once again, that's my number one reel, and apparently many others share the same sentiment. The thing rocks. I've never had a problem with it, and I use it nearly every day. They probably have it listed in freshwater because many people believe you've got to have heavy gear to land heavy fish, and I'm telling you that thing can handle big fish. Never mind bass to 40 pounds, I've landed several tarpon from 50 to 80 pounds with it.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Should I be concerned that the Stradic is listed in Shimano's fresh water line up instead of with their salt water reels? Why would they do that?

Not at all i have been beating on my stuff for a few years now still as fresh as day 1.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I have a Stradic 4000 (not sure on the age, wanna say at least 5 years old), the anti reverse will sometimes swing in reverse at the absolute worst times. I've tried fixing/adjusting and or tweaking it numerous times....seems ok, then a few fish later, the handle goes both ways....

Anyone have this happen? Thinking of sending it in but it doesn't always do it???

I too am in the market for a smaller size reel, but am on the fence about purchasing another Stradic, perhaps I was just unlucky and got a lemon?

Could not order a Stradic FJ5000 through my local B&T as they are discontinued and the new replacement reel is not out yet. Called around and ended up at Surfland this afternoon. Good visit and got the last one they had. Martha is well. After looking at the Cabo and reviewing the schematic sheet, she agreed that I would be better off sending it in to Quantum, as she has had difficulty getting one of the parts I would be needing.
A couple Hogy epoxy lures, in case I do get to albie country, and a nice sweatshirt for the better half. Martha said Tattobob had been in earlier so I called him on the beach. He said it was munged up so he was just hanging. I was going to go visit him, but had to get back as my electrician had an issue with a commercial service upgrade that I had to deal with before the long weekend. Bob will probably think I was too cheap to pay the five bucks to get into the Refuge..........

So thank you all for the input.

I have 3 stradics
they still work even though they get treated like Clammer owns them
a little corrosion adds character
so knowing you they will get rinsed off

Have a Carbo40 in my boat with 12lb golden Stren & 30lb shocker.
Lightweight workhorse love it.

Spend a bit more and get the Saragosa

Should I be concerned that the Stradic is listed in Shimano's fresh water line up instead of with their salt water reels? Why would they do that?

Marketing. Lots of Stradics are used in the salt, but, you should also consider the Saragossa. Way simpler internally, and easy to service yourself.

Marketing. Lots of Stradics are used in the salt, but, you should also consider the Saragossa. Way simpler internally, and easy to service yourself.

Can't dispute the simpler internals, and the 'gossa seems beefier.

But my shoulder that needs two surgeries appreciates that the stradic is 8 oz. lighter in the 5000 size than the saragossa if throwing at hardtails from a beach or jetty for hours, day after day

Check out the new spheros, great reels
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Stradic all day long! I have been fishing with the Stradic for years and have never had a problem. They have just come out with the new and improved model (although I don't know what is improved).