Saltiga and Saltiga Blast

[tlapinski]

I have had a rocky relationship with my Saltiga over the past couple of seasons....

I bought the reel in the spring of 2005, and purchased the 4500 model. Initially, I absolutely loved the reel. It casts great and has an awesome drag. By September, and a trip to Cutty, the reel started showing signs of the abuse I put it through. The reel was used in the surf and was frequently dunked. I landed several 30's, and a ton of 20's up until that point. Somehow, after the Cutty trip that year, a small piece of the reel foot broke off. I fished the reel for another week or two as I left for the Block right after, and it worked ok with a little electrical tape to secure it to the rod. After the Block trip, a few noises developed in the reel. Sort of like a whirring as it was cranked. i sent the reel back to CA for service, and it took roughly 30 days to get back. The body was replaced, and the internal bearings were destroyed and replaced.

2006 came around and I again put the reel through the works. As with 2005, the reel kicked butt until September and the trip to Cutty. The reel was submerged a lot throughout the season, and started again with the whirring noise. On the second night out there, I set up on what I thought was a fish (turned out to be a rock) and the reel "clunked". It was hard to explain this sound/feeling, but after that moment the reel had what I could best describe as a hitch in the gears as it was cranked. If the reel was cranked slow, it would hang up at this spot. If it was cranked faster, it would just kind of hesitate. After that trip, I retired the reel for the season and went back to the VS. Some time in the winter, I took the reel out to send back. It was totally seized up. Again the internal bearrings were replaced and I think something had to be fixed with the gears and/or the spool syncronization. When the reel came back, it was once again working as smooth as silk.

On to 2007. After the previous 2 years, I decided to use the Saltiga as a special situation reel. If I was primarily fishing slug-go's or if I felt I needed extra distance, out came the Saltiga. Otherwise, it has been all VS this year. Now, after 3 seasons of use, I feel the Saltiga is more of special situation reel for me, rather than an all around option. The reel truly excells at throwing and working slug-gos and handles braid extremely well. I did not experience any wind knots with it, and you can really launch the little rubber guys. The reel is extremely smooth, and casts like a dream. If your intention is to fish your reel under water more than say 50% of the time, opt for a VS, ZB, or get used to cleaning a Penn after each trip. If your reel only goes under water a handful of times per night at most, and you are willing to give it a good fresh water rinse after each outting, the Saltiga should serve you well.

Pat, I'll bring my Saltiga to the November CSA meeting for you to take a look at. I'm probably not doing myself any good here as far as looking to unload this reel, but I don't think enough has been written about the ability of this reel in the surf.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

If your intention is to fish your reel under water more than say 50% of the time, opt for a VS, ZB, or get used to cleaning a Penn after each trip. If your reel only goes under water a handful of times per night at most, and you are willing to give it a good fresh water rinse after each outting, the Saltiga should serve you well.

Toby:

I think this says alot though. There are very few guys I know who actually "fish" their reels underwater more than 50% of the time - heck even more than 20% of the time. I know I rarely if ever actually fish/reel my reels underwater - unless fighting a fish requires it. Now, getting it dunked & splashed very often - sometimes on every cast - is another story.

So I guess skishing (consistently reeling underwater) and splash/dunk-fishing is a major distinction.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Toby:

I think this says alot though. There are very few guys I know who actually "fish" their reels underwater more than 50% of the time - heck even more than 20% of the time. I know I rarely if ever actually fish/reel my reels underwater - unless fighting a fish requires it.

Says the tall guy...

But yeah, it definitely depends on the rocks you like to stand on and the spots you fish, how high you are out of the water, whether you like to swim, and certainly how tall you are.

[jim sylvester]

if thats the case joe would be waist high and I'ld have a damn snorkle on

[Slipknot]

Don't even consider a Blast or surf
get the real Saltiga Z

if you are worried about dunking and don't need a bail or a smooth reel, then go with a van stall and take a chance but my experience with VS is the reel is too stiff for me and they tend to leak oil, that o ring is nothing impressive.
I love my saltiga z 6000gt, i use it mostly jigging the canal but I do get it wet on occasion on the beach or rocks elswehere. 2 seasons and it is fine, I don't abuse it like others do with their reels, but I only rinse it on occasion and twice a year oil the line roller. The drag is pissa, way better than any reel i ever used. I stooped a 600 pound seal with it once, must have had 25 lbs of drag pressure and the reel performed flawlessly, can't say the same for my line though.

[dredey]

With your kind of fishing Pat I would go with the VS. If you get anything different, down the road you will wish you did. Also there customer service is the best. If you were fishing the Canal all the time get the Saltiga. For what you do get the VS.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Says the tall guy...

But yeah, it definitely depends on the rocks you like to stand on and the spots you fish, how high you are out of the water, whether you like to swim, and certainly how tall you are.

Yup.
Wading to Joe = Wet suit for Rockhound!! We're like the odd couple out there...

My VS is underwater A LOT but it hasn't failed me yet while fishing. One minor problem (fixed no questions asked) that exacerbated by trying to fix it. thats 5 seasons and a lot of trips and a few fish! But it isnt as fancy as Joe's pretty reels.... AND FYI, I dont fish braid, and every time I HAVE fished braid, it sucked...

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Says the tall guy...

Yeah - height has its advantages...

However, having a higher center of gravity does not help on the rocks when trying to brace for a rogue wave to hit - ask Bryan (and ask my waders ) what happened a couple months ago when we pushed it a bit too far and a wave took me out while he stayed on his feet. Jimmy - I think you got taken down the same night around the corner though...

And, Bryan is right, I think the Saltigas and Stellas handle braid much better than the VS's.