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I have a Saltiga 4500 on an 11' 1322 Arra and love it. My first impressions were that the reel was a bit small ( compared to a VS 250 and a 704 ). After filling the spool with line I managed 25 yards of 2lb mono as backing and 275 yards of 50lb Power Pro. If you hook into something from the surf that takes 200 yards of line guess what, your not fishing at that point, your praying.
The first thing I noticed was the increased distance casting plugs than with my tried and true VS250. Without a doubt it cast further than a VS. The VS's large diameter spool is where it gets it's capacity, but looses on distance.
The manual bail takes a little getting used to ( maybe 15 casts ) but before you know it you dont even know your doing it. I wish there was a way to go totally manual and just use the roller but that doesnt appear to be an option.
Dunking, I've had no problems. Recentlly on a trip to an ilans where the wind was blowing 25 - 30 and I was up to my chest in surf ( and nice and dry, thanks Aquaskinz) The reel was under water, took it out and kept casting. Put it down in the sand to take a break afterwrds, washed it off and kept fishing. I fished it the next day with no problems. Drag is still smooth, no grinding from left over sand, nothing.
The drag is pretty amazing. 30 lbs of drag or something crazy like that. Quite possible the prefect reel for landing baby seals on the outer cape.
All in all the reel is great, especially if your looking for a distance reel. I'd buy another without thinking twice about it.
Is it better than a VS? Who knows. I am pleased with both of my VS 250's just as much as this reel. Ask me this same question when I send the VS's in for service and the bill is more than 36 bucks.....but thats a different story and another thread.
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