dunkin conventionals....

[numbskull]

I haven't wetsuited yet, though I bought a ZB to do it. Plugging twice with the big spinning reel bummed me out big time. It may not matter with eels or pencil poppers, but with other plugs you are going to catch less fish with a big spinner......the whole set up is WAY less sensitive and clumsier. I used to dunk Newells often, but only briefly and inadvertently. If you grease the drag you can sometimes get away with it (a wet drag will ruin your night), but the bearings need to be rinsed when you get home (pretty simple with the older Newells). Dunking the Calcutta TE I use now means a full hour plus tearing it down, and even that hasn't saved the bearings. Being forced to use a spinning reel to throw big plugs in rocks is a major disadvantage.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I used to dunk Newells often, but only briefly and inadvertently. If you grease the drag you can sometimes get away with it (a wet drag will ruin your night), but the bearings need to be rinsed when you get home (pretty simple with the older Newells).

I agree with Numbskull on the above.
If you insist on a conventional, I would say go with the Newell. Many of the others will give you fits, particularly the level wind models like Calcutta’s and ABUS. I'll likely get a suit for next year, but will grudgingly purchase the VS for the task of dunking.

Redlite hates the Newells because of the clicking sound they make upon retrieve, and it drive him insane. His comments are highly biased, but accurate.

[riverrat2]

Before I became a boat fisherman I swam with my newell 5-6 nights a week with no problems. Never took the thing apart once. Every couple of days would give it a quick freshwater rinse. It starts to make some pretty hellacious noises but still works fine. Take stock drag out though.