Choosing a Surf reel...

[go4broke44]

you could always get a used Penn 704z or 706z

[Rockport24]

dude, trust me and everyother guy on here, if you can afford the VS and/or your wife isn't going to kill you after you buy it, just get it and don't look back. I don't have one b/c I fall into the latter category, but I have never heard one guy say they regret buying one.

speaking of which, I just heard a great idea from another site, go to the Striper Fest party and on your way home, stop and buy the VS, and tell the wfie you won it at the event!

[ripitsik]

Had used a spheros 8000 last yr for a season with braid and went through 4 yes 4 spools due to saltwater corrrosion. The good thing is that shimano custumer service was great and I didnt have to pay a penny for any of the extra spools. The only thing they told me was to " pull all the line out every time i go fishing and dry it out". I was like what? are you nuts? So I took a huge step and bought a VS275 this yr and nothing compares to it. The thing is a complete tank. Horses in any fish that I have come across, easy to self-fix and lube with the proper tools, smoothest drag and can handle 6 oz jigs in the canal with no issue at all. Best investment I have ever made when it comes to fishing aside for my 10 ft 1209 broomstick! The reason why it may have felt stiff was because it's brand new. Mine felt the same and I am sure other VS owners would say the same. You take it out a half dozen times blazing 6 oz jigs all night long it will smoothen out like crisp bed sheets

Honestly its expensive but you will never have to buy another reel again and maintaining it is so easy

[steve]

What Rockport said.

[seadogg]

i can tell you one thing, every time i set eyes on the old Van Staal 250S, it's like the love i'm just dying to know. until that love is mine, i'll use my older model 6500 Penn Spinfisher. it's been a hell of a workhorse, having caught hundreds and hundreds of fish, and I haven't had a problem yet, even after countless dunks in the sand and salt, wetsuiting and wading alike. what i decided to do was fill the gearcase with an automotive bearing grease. i mean FILL that baby. inevitably water will enter the reel, but the grease never allows the corrosion to occur. unless you have the VS, which of course is sealed, i would reccommend doing the same to any reel.