Buying a new reel - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Brooksie · 06-30-2002, 02:51 PM

I'm buying a new reel tommorrow and was hoping some of you pros would share some of your wisdom. Whenever I've bought a rod I made sure it had a reel without a care for what kind it was. From what I'm tolded, Shimano is the best. The guy at my bait shop is selling a baitrunner from a Shimano competitor ( can't think of the name) for 69.99. Are baitrunners good? Better than a regular reel?? Also going to get a new rod and want a good one for a decent price. No more cheap stuff for me. All advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Goose · 06-30-2002, 04:38 PM

You know what it boils down to.....$$$ For 69.99 you must be talkin bout the 3500. That reel holds 14/185, so I'm guessing that reel on a 9 footer will make a good eel rod and be able to throw up to 2 oz's. I would go with custom but their are plenty of good production rods out there. Allstar, in my opion, gives you your moneys worth either way. Most customs have a good warrenty.........the sayin goes.... you get what ya pay for!!

Homerun04 · 06-30-2002, 05:51 PM

If your looking for a baitrunner, I like the Shimano 4500 baitrunner or Thunnus (6500). Anything smaller is too small.

As for conventional trolling reels, I am still a Penn fan. Prefer the 113H, 114 or 330 GTi Level wind -- for my price range. As for casting reels, go with either the Shimano Calcutta or if you have the bucks, the Abu Garcia 7000C3.....my favorite...

JohnR · 06-30-2002, 06:47 PM

Brooksie, what are you looking to do with it? There are a lot of possibilities for you. Also $70 for a baitrunner is still pretty cheap and not a Shimano. Baitrunners are excellent for, well, running baits on a spinning reel...

Not trying to sound like a tackle & hardware snob but $70 can still be chaep for a reel. Keep in mind that your typical bait runner is $125 plus...

Of course all conventionals are bait runners

mikecc · 06-30-2002, 06:54 PM

the shop must be telling you about the Okuma. they are good reels stay away from the blue 4BB go with the 10BB only costs $10 +- and comes with an extra spool.Okuma reels have been fine so far but they (baitrunner style) have only been on the market for about 6mo.
the shimano has been around for about 10 yrs.and proven.

This style reel is used for Bait fishing. if your casting plugs there are lighter reels.

JohnR · 06-30-2002, 07:02 PM

btw - I have used the Okumas with the 10 bearings, but not the bait runner model. Good reel for the price, decently smooth. My only gripe is the finnish will take a beating, but that's OK, it's too shiny anyway

...

Clammer & I were supposed to get together our thoughts on these reels after using them for a few months, but things have come up for both of us.... We both feel that it is a smooth reel with decent components ad is a good value for the dollar. Would I prefer a Shimano Stradic? Yep, but you can but 2 of the Okumas for the price of on Stradic. Something to be said there...

Brooksie · 06-30-2002, 07:35 PM

I've been fishing saltwater for about 5 years and catch my fair amount, but like I said, I just went to the bait shop, saw a rod with a reel on it and bought it. I don't know much about them. Where can I get a custom rod? I mostly fish the Back River, Fore River and Webb park in Weymouth. I'd like a set up that will give me distance casting. When you say 14/185, I don't know what your talking about. Is a bait runner even what I want? I use chunk Pogey, herring and Mac plus clams.

JohnR · 06-30-2002, 07:41 PM

185 yards of typical 14 pound test...

As far as what kind of rod to get, what do you plan to do? And which reel did you buy?

Ron over the Sportsman's Den in Quincy makes custom rods and also has some decent quality production rods... Custom rods tend to run a bit more than "off the shelf" rods but in most cases, you get what you pay for. http://www.striped-bass.com/tackleshops.shtml

I'm willing to bet that 85% of the shore guys on this board primarily fish custom rods. Rate is probably cheaper for the boat guys cause, well, it's simpler

.

You chunk, right? So you want something that will cast 2 ounces of weight + bait, right?

Brooksie · 06-30-2002, 07:59 PM

"You chunk, right? So you want something that will cast 2 ounces of weight + bait, right?"

Yes, I chunk, as far as weight I've always use 1 ounce but I'm more than likely wrong. I'm going to go the Sports Den tommorrow, sometimes I think the bait shop owner that I go to is just trying to sell anything he can. As far as what do I plan to do, I basically cast the bait out and wait for the fish. I usually use a fish finder and liter, the other day I tried one of those orange floaters but no hits.

Brooksie · 06-30-2002, 08:01 PM

John, I haven't bought a new reel yet, How much are his custom rods, say a 9'er?

If a baitrunner is for live bait then I guess it's obvious I shouldn't get one, Right??

TheSpecialist · 06-30-2002, 08:16 PM

Brooksie go talk to Ron, stay away from the place by the bridge. Ron has rods in all different price ranges.

JohnR · 06-30-2002, 08:34 PM

See Ron at the sportsmans den... The bait runner is for live and dead. You want a fish to pick up and run a little bit with the bait and then setup. Use a circle hook too (but different setup to hook the fish)...

Bass like rocks and current, if you are using a one ounce weight, odds are you won't hold well to the bottom... Most of the harbor can be fished with three or less

Goose · 06-30-2002, 08:43 PM

I was going by the reel you had mentioned and not thinking you'ld want to chunk with it. Soooooo.......for chunkin I think atleast ten footer is the way ta go. I take it you want to stay with spinning, so get the 6500 bait runner or the penn live liner 5600. I've had a penn 750SS that takes mad abuse year after year that is a great for chunkin also, but I would look at the bait runner first. Custom rods....again their many to choose from, Allstar, Saber and Rainshadow are all good blanks to pick from and not to costly. Match your rod accordingly, you could spend roughly $170 to 250 once done.....M&D's can also hook you up with the right set-up.

Clammer · 06-30-2002, 08:51 PM

Brook,Like JohnR said we have to talk about the reel ,I;ll see him tomorrow, but I;m getting another [don,t know which model] but a duplicate to what i have they work well and the price is right
Yesterday we we talking on the water and one of the diggers was kind of upset on the thought of vcr.s going the way of the 8-track --we told him for the price --go buy 3 or 4////
good luck

chingweiliao · 07-01-2002, 01:34 PM

Hi S-B:

I have purchased okuma through mike's recommendation ( M&D) three months ago. And I experience following problems:

1. After fight the big fish (>34 ") for a while (>10 minutes) my spool will occasionaly go free for a few turns (not because it exceed the drag I set, it go out freely without grag like it is lack of a brake) then go back to normal (I might lost my fish during its fight for the sudden lose in the line, but I am lucky I did not)
2. This friday, I found my bait runnder reel can only stay at bait running mode no matter how I set the switch after I caught a 30" bass (out of order after three months for hooking only 4 keeper on it the biggest is 34")

Although, I open the reel and

a. clean it up
b. lubricate it
c. adjust the seal

open, close and run it twenty times and eventually fixed it (I do not know how I fixed it) and work it on my 37" inch last night. I got the feeling it will all-of-the sudden fail on me, since I still do not know its problem casuing above two failures.

Regards,

Ching-Wei Liao

Fisherwoman · 07-01-2002, 02:05 PM

Brooksie, many shops have been pushing the new Okuma reels. They are tuff on the inside and have a very poor finish on the outside. For the money they are pretty good.

But if you are going to be Chunking the best reel to have by far is the Shimano Baitrunner, either the 4500 or the 6500. If you are going with a 9-10' rod I would only use the 4500. If you are going to use a rod that is over 10 I would use the 6500. We have many of these reels, have used them for years, and they have never failed us. You want to balance the reel with the rod, if you go too heavy on the reel it will not balance out well with the rod.

There are several tackle shops in the area that carry a good selection of rod. Sportsman's Den, Old Salt Bait and tackle in hingham, Fore River. I feel that the reel is the most important part. If you don't have a nice smooth drag and the fish picks up the bait. If he feel any hesitation, he will drop the bait. Get the Baitrunner.

As for rods, there are many types of rods, but you should be looking for a rod that can at least throw up to 4 oz - 6 oz.

Brooksie · 07-01-2002, 03:24 PM

Thanks everyone, you've all been very helpful and it is much appreciated. I went and talked to Ron today, Great guy. I got the Shimano 6500B and a 9' Penn rod at his suggestion. Spent more than I wanted but hey, this is what I love to do!

Going out tonight to test it out, Love the feel of it.

Thanks again.

IRL · 07-01-2002, 04:00 PM

I bought one of the okumas for my 7' ben doer (not the bait runner but.....its a good reel. The handle sux where it folds it has play in it. good for the money though. I only use fin nor for spinning now.. never ever a problem and I think they have an inexpensive model to boot @$70

IRL · 07-01-2002, 04:01 PM

to late good luck!!

Brooksie · 07-01-2002, 09:50 PM

NOTHING!

JohnR · 07-02-2002, 09:07 AM

What, no fish? What times/tides are you fishing? Fish the last of the incomning tide and start of the drop in between XYZ & Pt Allerton as well as the beginning of Nantaskey beach where the beach meets the ledges. This can be a tough time fishing because a lot of the fish from the harbor area have moved north and a lot of the fish will stay in Cape Cod Bay until the real meat eatin' tuna (not many fish will scare the crap out of the bass) and move the bass & blues tight inshore... Then fishing typically picks up for a little while again....

Anyone have any news on Tuna in CC BAy?

Brooksie · 07-02-2002, 09:22 AM

I was fishing the outgoing at King Cove's beach in Weymouth, started around 7:30pm and packed it in around 10:30pm. Got a few hit towards the end but no takers.

Love my new rod and reel!

JohnR · 07-02-2002, 09:48 AM

Very soon - think Nantasket

- Glad you like the new Rod & Reel

- Ron is a good guy - I've been going to him for stuff for 5-6 years now...

Brooksie · 07-02-2002, 10:44 AM

I've never fished Nantasket, I've seen stripers swim right past me while swimming there. I must start venturing to new spots as the only luck I've been having is at the Back River. And thats really only a goo spot at high tide.

Brooksie · 07-10-2002, 12:18 PM

Caught my first fish with the new set up, it doesn't get much easier than that, the fish ran with it, flipped the runner off and he hooked himself. Only a 24"er but a fish is a fish.

JohnR · 07-10-2002, 12:34 PM

- See, it's a start... Now don't expect a 50 pounder by the weekend. Fishing is a study in patience and time on the water....

MightyMouse · 07-10-2002, 08:35 PM

Just got a baitrunner not too long ago. Still looking to test it out, need to match it with a rod. I'll let ya know how it goes after it finds it's mate from heaven

Jenn · 07-10-2002, 09:57 PM

Quote:

See, it's a start... Now don't expect a 50 pounder by the weekend. Fishing is a study in patience and time on the water....

WHEW! really??? HA!HA! No seriously ...I have been fishing since I was a kid....but it was with dear ole dad.....I just did what he did......so after a (ahem) few years of getting back into it for myself , I FINALLY feel like I am starting to reap the rewards of LOTS of time and (sometimes) patience!~!!!!

I know I cant even come clse to comparing #'s & sizes to a lot of people.....but for me personally it has been an awesome year so far.....fresh and salt.......why??? because I am getting out there and fishin!!!!

anyway...back to the subject....

I got me a shimano 3500 w/ a 8' daiwa sealine x........all the other stuff in my pathetic arsenal hardly even gets used........its comfortable and I can use it ALL DAY LONG!!!!! eventually I will go custom but for now I am still explaing that new freshwater set-up to the hubby

I was horrble about rods and reels...FW showed me the way......(thank you S-bag

) since she gave me some hints on what to look for I have bought the daiwa and the freshwater set up and love them both........all the money I wasted before that I could cry......

It just has to feel right...... even more important than what the $$$ tag says........

89sporty · 07-11-2002, 06:15 AM

I have already settled on buying the Shimano 6500 bait runner before reading about it here. I have used the shimano ax2000 series reels for my fresh water fishing for 10 years now and have the nothing but praise for the way they have performed. I imagine I would still have my first one but it met an untimely demise at the bottom of a lake whilst I wasn't paying attention. I'm expecting the same quality for the 6500. The reason I need a new rod and reel is a thief got my old green Penn setup. That one did me very well for a long time and I would buy the new Penn bait runner but its hasn't proven itself yet.
I am going to Redtop down in Bourne. Thney quoted me $129.98 over the phone and that includes spooling it also. The other place that had them instock was in Falmouth and they quoted 122.99 without the line. I figuire 7 bucks savings isn't worth driving over the bridge for and the line would cost me at least 5 anyway.

89sporty · 07-11-2002, 06:31 AM

I have already settled on buying the Shimano 6500 bait runner before reading about it here. I have used the shimano ax2000 series reels for my fresh water fishing for 10 years now and have the nothing but praise for the way they have performed. I imagine I would still have my first one but it met an untimely demise at the bottom of a lake whilst I wasn't paying attention. I'm expecting the same quality for the 6500. The reason I need a new rod and reel is a thief got my old green Penn setup. That one did me very well for a long time and I would buy the new Penn bait runner but its hasn't proven itself yet.
I am going to Redtop down in Bourne. Thney quoted me $129.98 over the phone and that includes spooling it also. The other place that had them instock was in Falmouth and they quoted 122.99 without the line. I figuire 7 bucks savings isn't worth driving over the bridge for and the line would cost me at least 5 anyway.