Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - Van Staal Reel Servicing Turnaround = 6 Weeks!

fishweewee · 03-15-2005, 09:59 PM

I'll be honest with you guys...

I do enjoy fishing with VS reels, whether conditions require them or not.

I haven't had one problem with any that I have owned personally.

(I did have a beef with a set of VS pliers a while back, I got so pissed off that I destroyed them with a rifle on the 100 yard firing line, but I digress).

Let's forget about the merits and disadvantages of how others think the VS reels perform.

Just from an ownership perspective, what I've found is that it's a pain in the arse to have to send in multiple reels for servicing every year... so... I am down to just one VS. It's an old style (factory retrofitted) black 250. It's the perfect size for most of the immersive fishing I do in Rhody, Long Island, and Mass (and yes, there are certain places in the OBX I would fish it). There really is no substitute (I haven't checked out the Saltigas yet, they don't make a size that exactly corresponds to a VS 250).

I can justify owning one and sending ONE in every year. Not 2,3, or 4.

My backups are modified manual Penn 704z and a 706.

Am I every going to plunk down $800 for a Saltiga?

I doubt it. I'm getting really picky about what I'm spending my money on nowadays.

03-15-2005, 09:59 PM	#16
fishweewee Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: . Posts: 5,935	I'll be honest with you guys... I do enjoy fishing with VS reels, whether conditions require them or not. I haven't had one problem with any that I have owned personally. (I did have a beef with a set of VS pliers a while back, I got so pissed off that I destroyed them with a rifle on the 100 yard firing line, but I digress). Let's forget about the merits and disadvantages of how others think the VS reels perform. Just from an ownership perspective, what I've found is that it's a pain in the arse to have to send in multiple reels for servicing every year... so... I am down to just one VS. It's an old style (factory retrofitted) black 250. It's the perfect size for most of the immersive fishing I do in Rhody, Long Island, and Mass (and yes, there are certain places in the OBX I would fish it). There really is no substitute (I haven't checked out the Saltigas yet, they don't make a size that exactly corresponds to a VS 250). I can justify owning one and sending ONE in every year. Not 2,3, or 4. My backups are modified manual Penn 704z and a 706. Am I every going to plunk down $800 for a Saltiga? I doubt it. I'm getting really picky about what I'm spending my money on nowadays.