Van Staal RIP OFF

[Sea Dangles]

If they open it up for service they have to make them current.Too much trouble if they don't.I don't deny being a VS man,I'll even admit to being let down one time when I was left holding the crank with a 25# in the middle of the ditch.OUCH!!The last two I won which really makes me happy.I even caught a 180# tuna on a VS last year,performed flawlessly.Keep your fag daiwa piece of shiznit and ask yourself why you wasted all that money rather than sticking with $100 40# catching Penns.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

.Keep your fag daiwa piece of shiznit and ask yourself why you wasted all that money rather than sticking with $100 40# catching Penns.

I'm actually in agreement with you. I purchased my saltigas back when they were $450-$500. This was about the same price a VS went for at the time.

I'm not so sure I'd puke up $700-$800 for any reel at this point, regardless of its performance. Been looking to purchase a third spinning reel and can't bring myself to spend the asking price for any or these high performance reels.

With either case, VS will not be on my short list when I get my next reel.....unless I win one or two of them like you did, oh great one...

[piemma]

I think one of the main things it comes down to is "how you fish". If you are on the rocks all the time be it the Ditch, Narragansett, the Block, etc and don't "wetsuit" then you don't NEED an $800 reel. If you are one of the "young guns" who wetsuit and have your reel constantly submerged then you NEED a tank for a reel. Note the operative word here is "NEED".

God know, that in the 70s and 80s there were those of us who experimented with Cracks and Luxors. We almost to a man, either went back to Penn 704s or 706s or Sqidders. Those 3 reels probably have accounted for more Stripers than all the VS reels ever will.

I am not bashing the VS. They are great reels and I fished one for 2 years but I do not wetsuit so my reel stays dry enough so a rinse and drag washer cleaning every so often is all I need to do. if you are afflent enough to be able to afford a VS or Saltiga and just want that luxery, then go for it. It's like owning a Mercedes. You don't NEED one to go grocery shopping but it's a nice car to own.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by piemma

I think one of the main things it comes down to is "how you fish". If you are on the rocks all the time be it the Ditch, Narragansett, the Block, etc and don't "wetsuit" then you don't NEED an $800 reel. If you are one of the "young guns" who wetsuit and have your reel constantly submerged then you NEED a tank for a reel. Note the operative word here is "NEED".

.

I disagree slightly. Every hardcore guy needs a dependable tank. The reason I decided to buy a Saltiga (direct from Japan for $550 when the exchange rate was favorable) is because I had a Mitchell Nautill %$%$%$%$ the bed on me with a 25# on in the canal--the spool came detatched from the base, and I had no drag. The fish got around a bridge abutment, got itself hung up, and I had to listen to Slip and Mac crack my nuts about not knowing how to fight a fish for the 20 minutes it took me to somehow get the fish to move off the snag, and then palm the spool the whole time cranking it around the bridge and into the rocks. We had to keep the fish because it couldn't be revived.

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

I don't think a VS is just for swimming. If your in the rocks and in the surf its not bad to have one. I will rock hop waist to chest high and not worry about the reel going in the water and can use the rod with the reel submerged to find holes. And when I do fall or set up in heavy surf. I'm more worried about falling and my safety and not concentrating on trying to save my reel. I beat the CRAP out of my 250 last year and had no problems I washed it down maybe 25% of my outings. When I opened it it was clean as a whistle. If it last a couple more years of heavy abuse I would say it was worth the $.

[luds]

I wish Daiwa would bring this reel to the American market. They don't make any decent smaller higher end spinning reels for the salt from what I can tell.

DAIWA SALTIGA GAME 3500

I'd already have one if I had a place to get it serviced.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by luds

I wish Daiwa would bring this reel to the American market. They don't make any decent smaller higher end spinning reels for the salt from what I can tell.

DAIWA SALTIGA GAME 3500

I'd already have one if I had a place to get it serviced.

They'll service it at the San Diego heaquarters, I'm sure. Both of my reels came from a vendor in Japan with japanese instructions and I still have mine serviced in SD. Some folks mentioned they wouldn't service it in the US, but that was BS. If its a Daiwa product they'll service it, I'm sure.

Why don't you sell me your Z and buy the new game 3500? You know you want it and now there's no excuse... Besides, they don't need expensive weekly service...its not a VS, you know...

I'm keeping an eye on the BST forum.