Saltiga 4500 update so far. - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

tlapinski · 09-30-2005, 07:54 AM

I know several of you were waiting to see how the reel has held up, so I figured I would give a little update. I have been using this real pretty hard so far this season. From the early season back in April, through the summer, and into the start of this fall, it has been a great reel. I started off using 50# Stren braid, but swithed back to 50# Whiplash last week on Cutty. The reel has spent many nights under water whether wetsuiting or just deep wading. Not even a slight sign of jerkyness in the drag or any reduction in performance. The reel absolutely out performs any other spinning reel I have tried so far, and I think I have gone through them all. I didn't even touch my VS's until last week, and that was just to see how it would feel after not throwing it in a while. I will probably be picking up another one of these reels this off season and retiring my back up VS250 all together.

The reel has several 30#ers, and more 20#ers than I can count under its belt so far. I am 100% happy with every aspect of this reel so far.

Ok, now for the ONE issue I have had so far. Last week, somehow, about a 3/4" piece of the reel foot broke off. The reel still functions perfectly, but I am in the process of contacting Daiwa to get it fixed/replaced, or whatever they will do. It may have the stress of one of the greatest blitzes I have ever experienced, or just a slight flaw in the reel. Not sure yet. The reel did go through about 60 - 70 fish in 3 nights, with about half of them over 20#'s, so it took some serious abuse.

Well, it's off to Block today, so hopefully I'll be back on Sunday with more big fish under its belt.

JohnR · 09-30-2005, 08:45 AM

You Suck Toby! You get to fish Cutty and Block back to back, tons of sweet fish, and really work out that reel. I hope you have lousy time on Block and only get one fish (a Fifty

) and really test out that reel!

Good luck - sounds like a real sweet reel!

Thanks & good luck,

John

SocalStriper · 09-30-2005, 02:08 PM

I cannot believe how much they jack up the price for a spinning reel.
I have to agree though, daiwa dominates on quality.

Saltiga Baitcaster is $400 to bad its hard to work a plug with one

DRUMCORPFAN · 09-30-2005, 02:17 PM

good report, thanks for the info toby.

SeaWolf · 09-30-2005, 03:14 PM

agreed, good report toby. i still cannot believe you wetsuit for those 20#+ scup!

so, who else has a saltiga to critique after the season thus far? i'm still pleased w/ my vs250 in the wash and rocks. of course, nothing like the pressure put on a bass w/ an abu 7000c3.

bassmaster · 09-30-2005, 03:19 PM

toby, has the reel seen any sand?
thanks

Thom · 09-30-2005, 03:19 PM

I saw one of those on that AUCTION SITE at the time high bid 220.00 buck. If I wasn't going on a hunting trip I would be biding. THomt

JDK · 10-14-2005, 06:31 AM

I truly hope your experience with Daiwa's Customer Service is better than mine. It took them 6 weeks to repair, not replace, a reel that came broken in the box. I spent considerable time emailing and phoning with 0 satisfaction. Granted this was not a $300-$400 reel but I missed most of June and all of July using it.

To top it off, when the reel was returned, it had been put back together incorrectly and I had to fix it. Dawia will not be getting any more of my money.

Mr. Sandman · 10-20-2005, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDK

I truly hope your experience with Daiwa's Customer Service is better than mine. It took them 6 weeks to repair, not replace, a reel that came broken in the box. I spent considerable time emailing and phoning with 0 satisfaction. Granted this was not a $300-$400 reel but I missed most of June and all of July using it.

To top it off, when the reel was returned, it had been put back together incorrectly and I had to fix it. Dawia will not be getting any more of my money.

This is my biggest concern. I really want to get one for those nasty condition nights but I am waiting to see how Toby's reel is delt with (service wise, I can't live with a 6 week turn around.) I now how 5 stellas and had my first issue with one of them right before the derby. While IMO they are not as heavy duty as the saltiga's they approach that price point and are in the same league. Shimano's service is fast with the platimum service plan that comes with stellas, I got mine repaired within 24 hours and overnighed back to me...charge: $0.00 (I did pay for the shipping out to them though)

Speaking of excellent reels, have you seen that new shimano Torsa? Jezzzz, I don't think I have ever held a piece of precision machinery like that before, simply unreal.

JoeP · 10-20-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

This is my biggest concern. I really want to get one for those nasty condition nights but I am waiting to see how Toby's reel is delt with (service wise, I can't live with a 6 week turn around.) I now how 5 stellas and had my first issue with one of them right before the derby. While IMO they are not as heavy duty as the saltiga's they approach that price point and are in the same league. Shimano's service is fast with the platimum service plan that comes with stellas, I got mine repaired within 24 hours and overnighed back to me...charge: $0.00 (I did pay for the shipping out to them though)

Speaking of excellent reels, have you seen that new shimano Torsa? Jezzzz, I don't think I have ever held a piece of precision machinery like that before, simply unreal.

Sandman-

I have both the Saltigas (4000 & 4500) & Stellas (5000 & 8000). While I tend to "baby" the Stella more in the surf because of the feeling that it is not as "waterproof" as the Saltiga, I really think both reels are about the same when it comes to strength, drag-ability, cranking ability, ability to handle nasty conditions. Also, if you look at a Stella diagram there are plenty of seals in the reel to somewhat "waterproof" it. I love fishing the Saltiga's but I like fishing the Stella's just as much. I am starting to think it may be just that Daiwa advertises the Saltiga as "waterproof" while Shimano does not, leading to the feeling that the Stella is not as durable.

When you throw in the Daiwa service thing, which I will experience this offseason when I send my reels in, it may be just that the Stella is as good an option as the Saltiga.

tlapinski · 11-16-2005, 09:23 PM

Ok, finally have time to post up again.I got the reel back on November 2, I think.

It took about 27 - 30 days to get the reel back. I had to call Daiwa again and bitch at them about sending a $700+ reel in and losing it for the peak of the fall run. After expressing my discontent with the entire situation and telling them I should have bought a Shimano as they send a new reel when you kill one, I got my reel right back. I was psyched to put the reel back in the water after she came home, and left for Block the next day. I fish 4 straight nights out ther with it, submerged for a good amount of the time. While I didn't tangle with any big girls, the reel worked flawlessly again. They replaced the entire foot section and side of the reel connected to it, as well as the bearings and did a greasing on the reel. I was very happy with how the reel came back to me, even if it did take a lot longer than I had anticipated.

Since receiving the reel back, I have spoken to several Daiwa personel and I have built a bit of a relationship with them. Everything seems to be in order, and I am happier than ever about the reel.

So, after a season of beating the cr@p out of the Saltiga 4500, I would recommend it to anyone looking to get a high end surf spinning reel. I am seriously contemplating selling my last VS and buying a second Saltiga this off season.

basswipe · 11-16-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlapinski

Ok, finally have time to post up again.I got the reel back on November 2, I think.

It took about 27 - 30 days to get the reel back. I had to call Daiwa again and bitch at them about sending a $700+ reel in and losing it for the peak of the fall run. After expressing my discontent with the entire situation and telling them I should have bought a Shimano as they send a new reel when you kill one, I got my reel right back. I was psyched to put the reel back in the water after she came home, and left for Block the next day. I fish 4 straight nights out ther with it, submerged for a good amount of the time. While I didn't tangle with any big girls, the reel worked flawlessly again. They replaced the entire foot section and side of the reel connected to it, as well as the bearings and did a greasing on the reel. I was very happy with how the reel came back to me, even if it did take a lot longer than I had anticipated.

Since receiving the reel back, I have spoken to several Daiwa personel and I have built a bit of a relationship with them. Everything seems to be in order, and I am happier than ever about the reel.

So, after a season of beating the cr@p out of the Saltiga 4500, I would recommend it to anyone looking to get a high end surf spinning reel. I am seriously contemplating selling my last VS and buying a second Saltiga this off season.

27-30 days without the reel.And they replaced the entire foot section and side of the reel connected to it as well as the bearings.But you're happy with with it.Whoa.I understand that you fish harder than most but you bought a $700+ reel it broke and you waited a month to get it back and you're gonna give a thumbs up?

Don't take this personally or do but you sound like someone trying to justify spending 700+ bucks on a reel that didn't make a full season and you got crappy service to boot and yet you'll buy another and recommened it to others.Did I miss anything?