Cool, if you can get one God Bless you. I'll have to sell my van to buy one and be lucky enough to buy a bag of Sluggos with the leftover............

I saw an Okuma that handles SBFT with no trouble and is still in action. Let me tell you that thing hasn't had any maintenance other than a salt water wash down....

:wall: I'm telling ya again. it is for securing the plug:usd: If you are concerned about it hitting the reel and scratching it turn the plug upside down

I hook my lure on to the side of my largest guide. Why would you want the treble hooks so close to your hands in case ya wipe out on the rocks?!

If that dumb post is for a plug I bet they will get sued as soon as they sell one since it WILL land on it and break a rib, or drive the hook into your belly. :( In the real world, we all stumble and fall on top our our gear.

Could that thing be a spot to lash a wrist cord/security rope?

I'm sure it must say somewhere, but it is more fun to guess it's purpose.... lol.

The reel could cost a lot less if it wasn't for all the DUMB holes all over it. Why ya need holes around the line roller. :P All reels look the same in the dark - no?

I remember seeing the VS400 for under $1400 - should have purchased some and sold them for a lot more # on Ebay. ;) Would have been a better return than my 401K stocks!

MD we could get a group together
 

and buy one just to look at...you know take turns :usd:

That is just too much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ :eek5:

*beep* Hello onstar.. I just lost a jig

onstar - We'll have that jig back to you in 10-15 minutes..


Thank you onstar!!!

:devil:

:rotfl::rotfl:

I was in a Connecticut tackle shop yesterday. The owner said he already has deposits for the 1st 5 reels he can get his hands on. He is selling them for over 1500.00.

I met Robert W Koelewyn, the designer and maker ane say the reel at Pat Abate's surf show today. I was very impressed with him. I did not get the feeling he was designing some chi chi reel to sucker yuppies- but that he decided to in his mind design the very best reel he could imagine bringing together his vast experience at Van Staal and as the owner of an aerospace manufacturing machine shop. He put alot of thought into the reel which looks like it is a peice of a blackhawk helicopter. Workmanship is amazing. If I had a ton of money I would think about it. But I don't. Again, I think the guy has the proper intentions. The price I think was $1200.

Sort of depends on your definition of "the proper intentions". Might I suggest that designing and building a Ferarri, where price is no object, is a much easier (and infinitely less useful) task than designing and building a Toyota? The fishing world needs better 706s, not better Van Staals.

Don't get me wrong-I will be the first one to buy a dunkproof 706z which is what I need. However, it is nice to know that american craftmanship and enginnering is alive an well in a factory in Milford Connecticut. Even though this guy is sparing no expense, what he made could not be considered easy. My timex watch is waterproof and tells time and that is all that I need. But it ok by me that there are a few Patek Phillipe masterpeices out there to advance the art of watchmaking.

Yea, but only because they didn't have taupe in stock. It's hell matching these brown wading boots!

-spence

Let's be serious here. I fished with 3, 704's converted to manual pick-up for the last 30 years. Probably caught 5000+ bass and blue. My family chipped in and bought me a VS250 2 years ago. Great reel.

Would I buy one for myself...no. Is it worth the money...yes.
Would I spend $1,500 for a spinning reel. No way! I have driven cars that cost less....
Just got to put it in perspective. I make pretty good money and can afford one but I feel that the price is excessive regardless of the quality/features. I mean, my God, it's fishing ! Maybe if I was commercial and really needed one to put food on the table I'd consider it but I think that the price is out of line for a hobby. You can buy 2 VS250s with money left over for waders and an Aquaskinz top for that price. Just my opinion.

:claps: :claps:

at that Price
 

i'd have to sleep with it each night...

it just made the Saltiga affordable...

ditto on the holes....decorative ......water sprayer...

dream on... dutch dude.

That's basically my feeling. More then twice as much as a VS? Is it twice as good? I just have trouble believing that.

People will definitely buy it though.

"He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it - namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain."

- Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

If peole are lining up to buy this water at $30 , why not a $1200 reel?:huh:

I think it comes down to the VS debate on steroids...

If it is the best reel in the world, some serious anglers will buy it for that reason. The other significant sales will be from those that want to be seen with it... I really like the VS and I probably would like this one too but it is tough - for me - to justify stocking the stable with the current VS and Saltiga rate...

Me, I'm still looking for the sub $250 submersible reel. Imagine if the Nautil did not have a PLASTIC :doh: housing . That reel would have been a lot better...

chef...
Great point.
There is a niche market for everyone. People paying 30 bucks for a drink of water, and the guy grabbing the free stuff outta the bubbler, both thirst quenched.
Where I work, true story, very weel dressed young guy comes to counter with a $59 bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, I'm just finishing up waiting on a biker dude with a 9.99 bottle of Guzzlers Vodka.. biker guy looks at the young fellow, winks, and holds up his jug.. "Both do the same thing, get ya drunk, make ya puke, only difference is, I wake up with an extra $50 in my pocket!"... maybe, maybe not :huh:... young guy just looked like he was disgusted...
Like my friend that sells used cars says, "There is an ass for every seat!"

I gotta buy another spinning reel soon, (new 1088) don't wanna (really can't) go over 150 bucks.... wanna good one tho.....

While we are Quoting people PT Barnam Said "theres a sucker born every day".

I think we are more apt to see a dunkable, improved 704/6 clone at $400-$500 before we are likely to see one at $130-$250.
Why would a company take on the inherent risk and cost of a new product for the lower end of the market when there is nothing in the middle? Now, they may say they mean to produce it cheaply and they may solict input to that end, but I really can't see them passing up the vacum that exists in that middle range.
I think VS has got it down pretty good with respect to price matching quality - how much more value can you add in order to justify another layer on the market?

Over time I have heard a lot of guys talking about the 704/6 reels. I don't fish with them, nor have I ever, but it seems that everyone seems to think that they are a great reel as far as price and durability. Seems to me to be a reel for the common man, which I am one of and probably make up most of the fisherman out there. It would be great to be able to afford 1500 dollar reels but I sure in hell can't. Most think that they could be made better and would be willing to pay additional money if these upgrades could be addressed. I would love to know what modifications would need to be made to make them better. Maybe it is something that could be done at a reasonable cost, maybe not. Maybe it has already been done. Anyone know? Anyone got a busted one they don't use that I could take a look at to see if I might be able to figure something out. Not saying I can but would like to maybe give it a try. Hope this doesn't fall under the spam heading if so sorry and never mind. Paul

So if I could change anything on a 704 it would be to make the dog spring stronger and the body and drag system waterproof. other than those 2 things, it's a great reel.

Other than the things that Piemma said a paint that dosen't rash

First let me say that I am not justifying this reel, just giving you the info that I got. I saw this thing and spoke to the maker yesterday at River's End. It's $1,299 and what he said is that the holes on the knob allow air to pass thru to allow longer casts???? Whatever. And that duhickey that sticks off of the stem is a switch for the reel if you want it with a bail that allows manual flip of the bail or automatic, and also serves as a hook hanger.
I still use a 20 year old 704 as my main reel and it still catches many bass.

:rollem: :laughs: :rotf2:

Hi Marc :wavey:
Yeh, I got one... PM coming

15
 

Daiwa Black Golds or something else to beat to piss for that price....no way here :doh:

I`m not marrying a friggen reel