Shimano Stella - any surf guys use them?

[maddog2020]

I hear people talk about the Van Staals and the Daiwa Saltiga Z spinning reels for surf use (water proof). Of course the other group go w/ Nautil (Neptune was the original name) or Penn packed w/ marine grease.

Any one fish the Shimano Stellas in the surf? Curious to the durability of them.

I use the Shimano Spheros and like them a lot for the $. I use the Stradic as well (smoother, but I don't like the faster gear ratio) but not near as much as the Spheros. I've gotten splashed plenty of times by not paying attention to the water .... lol. I've never submerged one and had to tare it a part yet either.

I'm waiting for that new Daiwa waterproof "emblem" style surf reel that mikecc teased us with to show up!!!

I can't get myself to buy a Saltiga Z. I can buy the other "waterproof" reels used for a lot less $$. Some how I can justify owned several medium prices reels over one extremely expensive reel.

[american spirit]

i'm a new spheros user. i have the 4000 and 6000 and 8000.
i frequently dunk the 6K and 8K. i tend to be very rough on all my equipment. i pack all my reels with grease. i remove the body after every use and lightly wash the guts just to get the salt off.

no problems yet. i had a penn slammer last year and so far have been more satified with the performance and durability of the spheros.

[fishaholic18]

VS...enough said.
I use my rod as a walking stick, the reel has been 3 feet under many times, I don't even rinse it everytime, works like new when I need it. How can u compare that to any reel? Ask Canalman, he'll confirm. I've used Stradics,Spheros,704s, 710s, Daiwa Emblems, and a few others, they work great if u feel like taking them apart after every use, not me, I want to go to bed when I get home from fishing. Not do reel surgery.

[Mike P]

The problem with using reels like the Saltiga and Stella from the sand is that they're built to very close tolerances, and sand can get up between the rotor and the spool and cause grinding, and in extreme cases, binding. That new "Saltiga Surf" has an Emblem-style spool and rotor design and should be able to tolerate a diet of sand better.

The reels that digest sand best are still the old Penn 700 series Spinfishers. Loose tolerances between the spool and rotor cup. Give 'em a quick dunk, and grind the sand out on your next cast. Van Staals are built with closer tolerances between the cup and spool, but you can dunk them and rinse the sand without a care in the world.

I haven't had a Saltiga apart yet, and don't know that I'd even like to try, but they supposedly have bronze and stainless steel main and pinion gears. The Penns have a bronze main and a stainless pinion, and the VS reels are all stainless inside. I think the Stella has aluminum gears, something Shimano calls "Duraluminum". Not sure how they'd hold up for "guerilla jigging" in the Canal.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Van Staals are built with closer tolerances between the cup and spool, but you can dunk them and rinse the sand without a care in the world.

Exactly Mike, I've had sand in mine many times, a quick dunk and it's gone.

[JFigliuolo]

Last night as we were marinating in salt water, my partner made the comment "Thank god we have VS's"

It really is true. I'd wager we fish some of the most physical areas in RI. Our stuff gets tortured water/rocks/sand. The VS's work like new.

[Shuley76]

I just use what works...if it reels the fish in...works for me!