Reel choices.... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

JohnR · 08-22-2001, 10:28 PM

OK - what's the best medium sized spinning reel for short money, like 50-70 smackers... I'm thinking about a 4000-5000 size reel... Thanks

Any thoughts on the Daiwa Daiwa Regal Z4000-IA ?

Charlie M · 08-23-2001, 07:21 AM

John.. I had one of them and I it broke down quickly after 1 10 lb fish. It went in my box of spare parts after that. I would take a look at a Penn 710 or 712. The Nautil 6500 has been a pleasure so far, but that's gonna cost you a few smacks. I got mine from Mike, not sure if he has any left.

Charlie

Got Stripers · 08-23-2001, 08:09 AM

You know I love my Shimano Stradic's, but they are going to run you $115 in BPS, maybe try one of the Spirex at $60. You even have the choice of front or rear drag if that's important to you, although for stripers or albie's I would think front drag is want you need. You might want to see what you could do on a Stradic on Ebay first, sometimes you can get some good real deals.

JohnR · 08-23-2001, 08:26 AM

GS - you have the 6000 Stradic, right?

Got Stripers · 08-23-2001, 08:42 AM

Nope, 4000FG, great drag and it's not failed me yet. Handled all sizes this year, up to a couple low 40's, so I'm impressed. Put 30/6 spiderwire on it and you saw how far it cast, plus your building an 8 footer so you'll get more distance.

Saltheart · 08-23-2001, 09:20 AM

The Abu CD4 is in your price range and they are a nice reel new but I'm not sure they could survive too many dunkings. You just don't get too much for $70 these days and for $50 , you can't seem to get anything at all.

I guess if I needed a reel and only had $70 I'd get a Penn 4400SS or 4500SS. I haven't heard too many complaints about the anti reverse going on the smaller reels. You still got to finger the line each cast to be sure its not wrapped around the bale. That gets to be second nature though. You shopuld wait and collect more 5 cent returnable bottles til you can get a Mitchell Nautil. Appears to be the spinner to get right now. About $140.

I can loan you a Penn 4500SS (or 4400ss I'm not sure if I have both but i got one of them)for the rest of the season if you like. It's in perfect condition and just sitting in a box in my cellar. I won't be using it at all and that way you can wait a get a Mitchell down the road.

JohnR · 08-23-2001, 09:41 AM

I have a 6500SS but want something smaller for my 8 footer... I'd like the Nautil (even considereing the Alu - undunkable but...) No go on the Tica based on what I saw of their conventionals and from watch Ditch said about the disintegrating spinner.... I would love the Stradic but I can't justify/spend/hide that for the use it's going to get... SH - thanks for the 4500SS offer but I might just stick with the over endowed 6500 for the moment...

Still entertaining more suggestions though

Thanks,

John

Mike P · 08-23-2001, 12:31 PM

John---I was using the TiCA Taurus, which is a little heavy, and overkill on an 8' rod. The first one, the gears were bad from the get-go, which IMO was a manufacturing or mis-assembly defect. So far, the only problem with the replacement (under warranty and no-questions-asked) has been corrosion on the base of the spool. A little disconcerting but it doesn't affect operation. I've also deliberately used it in heavy surf and current conditions just to see what it had. So far, the gears on reel #2 have held up. The Taurus is also a $200+ item, and I would never get another one now that the Nautil is available. But for a light tackle reel, on a 8' schoolie rod, the Camry at $99 might be worth a look.

For $70, I would stick with a Penn, either a 710 or one of the mid-sized SS models. Another $20-$30 and you can get the Tournament SS reels from Daiwa. I've had the 2600 model for almost 10 years, which is the same size as the Regal-Z 3500 and a much stronger reel.

schoolie monster · 08-23-2001, 01:07 PM

John, I've used the spirex 4000 and the stradic 4000 this year. I haven't got any huge fish on them, but I've used them quite a bit.

The spirex is ok. It handles the fish well, it's smooth, but I had to send it in to get the anti-reverse fixed already. The drag (front drag system) sounds and feels much less smooth after just one season. I like the reel, but I have my doubts about whether it will last. The sahara model is actually the same price and is advertised in BPS Saltwater while the spirex is not. I don't know, but there may be a reason for that. The anti-reverse went the first time out, so I'd say that was just a defect. But even though I rinse my equipment off religously with freshwater, I'm seeing some corrosion on the bail already.

The stradic is sweet. It is alot more $$, but I bet it will last a long time. Alot of the florida guides use those in the salt, so they must last. I honestly would go with that between the shimano's... unless you want the stella

Slipknot · 08-23-2001, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saltheart
The Abu CD4 is in your price range and they are a nice reel new but I'm not sure they could survive too many dunkings. You just don't get too much for $70 these days and for $50 , you can't seem to get anything at all.

EEEEeee, The Abu CD-6 can't take 1 dunking in the surf. After 1 fish I got it washed with salt water and sand. After that it was a little tough to crank after rinsing the sand off. I used it for a while anyway and when I got home , broke it down. I have 2 anyway(got 2 for $99 last spring)

I just got the Nautil 6500 this morning from Mike, seems like a good reel for fireline or 50lb whiplash. but at over $130 it's a lot more than your price range.

Maybe you should go with the Penn.

JohnR · 08-23-2001, 01:31 PM

OK - general line consensus is Spiderwire, right? How many yards to fill the 4000 size spool...

Thanks,

John

TheSpecialist · 08-23-2001, 01:45 PM

John what about a graphite Daiwa. I have one that is about 8 years old and has seen many bluefish, and a few stripers. The only thing that ever went on it is the bail trip arm, they sent me a free one. It was only about 30.00 then. I believe they are about 45 today. Or maby a Black and Gold, or SS tournament. I believe the graphites were AG4000x, and AG2500x.

JohnR · 08-23-2001, 02:10 PM

Mike P - should I reconsider the Ticas? Only because what I have seen of them so far is far from impressive...

Thanks...

(ask me about conventionals 'cause I got my opinions but spinning?)

Mike P · 08-24-2001, 12:32 PM

John---I wouldn't get another one for general use, but that's more a function of where and how I fish. I think the Camry, however, is a decent reel at a very decent price for light tackle fishing.

The thing about the Taurus is, it has a gazillion bearings, every internal part probably rides on them, and it's probably a lot easier for a guy making $12 a day in China to mis-align things in assembly. The Camry is a little simpler in design, less to go wrong.

JohnR · 08-24-2001, 01:54 PM

Well - problem solved - got the Stradic... Thanks everyone!!