New Rod, Now I Need A Reel

[SirSnookalot]

Bought an 8' mh inshore rod, just luv it.  For the time being I put my 7 year old Shimano spheros 4000 on it, more than adequate, 12.6 oz, 22# drag, but it's nearing the end of it's life and getting a new reel for a new rod is mandatory, lol, but I'm in no rush.

 

I'm looking to go a bit heavier not lighter to balance the rod out better.

 

Penn battle, nice feeling reel, good knob, line capacity ok, good price but lacks punch.

Stradic fj, good reel but lighter than what I want, the 6000 is too heavy.

Sargasso, pretty much same as above.

Daiwa lexa 4000, beautiful reel, tad light that I can get a way with it, good line capacity, but I don't like the dinky knob.

Any reel with a round knob is not in consideration..........period !

Stradic 5000 fi might fit the bill if I can find one, own 2 4000 fi's at present, IMO not the most durable but I like the reels.

Quantum Cabo or Boca, new series, is kind of where I'm leaning, take my rod in and see how it feels.

[0119]

The new Penn Spinfisher V.    If you can wait, by the end of summer the new reissue of the Classic 704/706 will be on shelves and still made in USA.

[Teal]

Snook have you looked at any of the OKUMA reels? Im not really familiar with them but alot of the salt/brackish guys and guides up here give them a strong following.

Okuma is not shimano or penn but alot of the gys say that those reels are tanks and have good durability.

[roadwarrior]

I don't know anything about Okuma reels, but like you, Fish Chris uses spinning tackle exclusively

and this is the brand he has fished for years. Some of his big stripers and dinosaurs (sturgeon)

probably compare with most any inshore species.

[SirSnookalot]

I had initially been interested in the Okuma raw 2, haven't seen it in person but wanted to.  After thinking about it and handling a few other Okumas with round knobs I was turned off, not that there is anything wrong with their reels, but I prefer a t or paddle knob, it that's the correct term. The Quantums seem to have what I'm looking for and my eye loves them.  I did go to buy one this morning and the store was out of stock, which worked out better as I'll be close to BPS tomorrow, they have both models in stock and I'll have another day and another visual to decide. I'll check out the spinfisher again as well as a few others, but my mind is pretty made up, any thing I decide should work well, I'll have my rod with me.  My 5 yr old Cabo 30 has served me well.  Thanks for the input. If I were looking for a lighter duty inshore or freshwater reel, that Daiwa lexa is really really nice. http://saltwateredge.com/blog/2013/02/06/new-quantum-cabo-and-boca-fishing-reels-for-2013/

[ColdSVT]

a sradic 5000 would be sweet as would the cabo or boca

also check out a WM sabalo 50

[0119]

Used a Boca for about a year for Tarpon. Heavy. Finish started coming off on first trip just from my wedding band. After a year i found the ceramic disks had cracked. Lots of Okuma fans, lots of haters too. For your kind of fishing i think only Penn Daiwa and Shimano could cope. What about Daiwas Dogfight or Saltiga?

[SirSnookalot]

I'll preface this by saying when it comes to gear recommendations I value what 0119 says.  A saltiga, stella or torque is bit more than I'm planning on spending.  I'm going to give the Penn spinfisher a good long look.  My present quantum has served me quite well, and the new ones are a completely different design, hopefully I'll be happy with whatever I wind up with.

All that matters................is the fish! lol.

[Capt.Bob]

the 5000 Stradic is proven, that would be my choice if the 6000 was to heavy. Great drags with plenty of stopping power, but on all mine from 1000 to 5000, I add Smooth Drag's Carbon washers and run em wet with Cal's light. I highly doubt you would regret it.

[SirSnookalot]

I've been fairly pleased with my 2 stradic fi 4000, a lot of guys down here complain about the stradics.  I've been lucky with mine, a few not too serious problems.  The 4 and and 5000 fj are identical except for line capacity, on a different rod it would be a nice set up, 10.8 oz is lighter than I wanted  I was at BPS this morning, checked out the saragosa and spinfisher, both pretty nice. Wound up buying a Quantum, I'm happy with my purchase.

[SirSnookalot]

Yesterday was the red letter day, fished only this rod and reel and nothing else.  Even by my standards a 14 oz reel on an 8' mh rod is heavier (talking weight not power) than I normally fish, didn't have a bit of discomfort or fatigue thru about 4 hours of constant casting. I wound catching a nice jack crevelle on the outgoing tide off the jettie, the current was not as fast as it other times but I would guess about 7-8 knots.  Both rod and reeled performed to my expectations and I wasn't disappointed, that said no review can ever be given for a few days of fishing and a handful of fish.