Cabelas Reel Review

[basswipe]

If you guys remember from my "I love surprises" thread in the Scuppers about two weeks ago I posted I got an email from Cabelas telling me I had a $50 credit.I was also able to apply a $20 coupon to the order.I was gonna go for the Penn 650SSm but being as they STILL haven't been shipped by Penn I ordered Cabelas new Saltstriker Metal reel(SSM60).So I basically got this reel for under $10.I AM going to beat on this reel like an old Mopar Slant six.

First impressions are its a good solid reel.9 bearing drive makes it very smooth for sure.The line laid on the spool very evenly after filling it.Holds 200yds of 20lb mono and weighs in at 20oz.

I put it on my 10' Quarrow rod and walked down to the beach and cast a 2.5oz pencil about 1/2 dozen times.Cast fine and got great distance. Line came in nice and even on the spool everytime.It will more than likely end up on a Batson Rainshadow 1088.

Cabelas claims that the 9 bearing drive is fully sealed.Its not sealed in the sense that there's a gasket.The inside of the sideplate has flanges that sit against the inside body of the reel and the body itself has a small ridge just under the rotor for the sideplate to sit on.The sideplate overlaps slightly onto the body of the reel and the sideplate screws have gaskets. The actual bearings themselves are of course fully sealed as well as the drag.

I filled the kitchen sink with water and dunked it several times with out any ill effects.When I just let sit in the sink for awhile moisture eventually found its way inside.Under normal surf fishing conditions it would be very hard for water and salt to get inside and impossible for sand.

So the initial review would be that the Saltstriker Metal reel is a good solid smooth reel that would suit the average surfcaster very well.For hardcore guys that fish all night up to their chins in water or like to swim out to rocks this reel probably shouldn't be your first choice.

The true test will be time.I will post again in late spring and report on actual performance under fishing conditions and again at the end of the season for a final review.

[Jenn]

Bought one maybe three seasons ago and to be honest with you I wasnt expecting much from it (was a supposed to be a cheap "back up" reel) but to my surpise I have used it more than I planned and think its held up quite nicely!

[mikecc]

The reason they have not shipped the 650SSM is they are still overseas. The first shipment hits this country end of this Mo. first of next.

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by mikecc

The reason they have not shipped the 650SSM is they are still overseas. The first shipment hits this country end of this Mo. first of next.

That's what Cabelas told me.I got tired of waiting and for almost next to free can't complain.I would think at 20oz it should balance well on that 1088 you built me.The Spheros 8000 I was originally going to use on it is 19.8.Even if this Cabelas reel craps out on me I got the Shimano which I know is a good reel.

Jenn,they're selling those older ones now for almost half.I actually thought but getting two of those but went with the all metal for the durability factor.Its gonna take a beatin'.