Windbuster: What Reel?

[jejenkyns]

Looking for a new reel to put on a Windbuster. The reel I have on it is 175 grams or thereabouts and it is pretty tip heavy.

 

Originally I was thinking Vanquish, but now I'm reconsidering and potentially looking for more weight. In order to do so I'll have to abandon the MGL rotor or get something like a Sustain which has too much drag. So it seems my options are Stella or Twin Power, or I just get the Vanquish and deal with the imbalance.

 

First world problems I know. 

 

Edit: maybe better questions would be :

 

1. If uou own a windbuster how many ounces is your preferred reel?

 

2. If you like MGL rotors does it bo5her you to fish reels with heavier rotos?

 

THoughts?

[WaskaCrank12]

@jejenkyns - thank you for asking this question as I have just purchased a (gently used) Windbuster and am looking into reels for it as well - although I will most likely be looking at a Stradic/Vanford level reel - I am looking forward to replies to your question

[WRB]

Spinning rods with the design handle that allows you to hold with the reel stem between different fingers to attain a decent balance.

Your hand goes forward to off set the tip weight (changes the balance point).

I do this with different spinning rods and has becomes automatic.

6 oz spinning reel about average 2500 size today. Twin Power is about 210 grams/7.4 oz. Japan Lure Shop has good prices.

Tom

[Loomis13]

1 hour ago, jejenkyns said:

Looking for a new reel to put on a Windbuster. The reel I have on it is 175 grams or thereabouts and it is pretty tip heavy.

 

Originally I was thinking Vanquish, but now I'm reconsidering and potentially looking for more weight. In order to do so I'll have to abandon the MGL rotor or get something like a Sustain which has too much drag. So it seems my options are Stella or Twin Power, or I just get the Vanquish and deal with the imbalance.

 

First world problems I know. 

 

THoughts?

Too much drag? Can you elaborate? If the sustain fits everything else you are looking for just get the sustain. I’ve never heard a complaint of too much drag, but I guess that’s why I am asking. I think the new twin power is a great teal and I’d say is worth the extra cost over the sustain. Especially with the slow oscillating spool, making line lay fantastic. 

[dodgeguy]

Or use rod balancing weights

[jejenkyns]

44 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Or use rod balancing weights

Option I hadn't thought of. Thanks.

[FishTank]

I recently purchased a Windbuster as well. I have had it maybe 3 months and have it paired with a Shimano Twin Power 2500S. I really like it so far. I have also tried a 2019 C3000 MHG Vanquish and a 2024 LT FC2500S-DH Certate.  All have felt fine. The Twin Power just seemed like the right reel for it. Also, with this rods soft tip, anything around or over 1/2oz makes it feel sort of tip heavy. It's just how it is. 

[jejenkyns]

15 hours ago, FishTank said:

I recently purchased a Windbuster as well. I have had it maybe 3 months and have it paired with a Shimano Twin Power 2500S. I really like it so far. I have also tried a 2019 C3000 MHG Vanquish and a 2024 LT FC2500S-DH Certate.  All have felt fine. The Twin Power just seemed like the right reel for it. Also, with this rods soft tip, anything around or over 1/2oz makes it feel sort of tip heavy. It's just how it is. 

So the added rotor weight doesn't bother you? I've never used a TP but I find the added inertia of the Stradic bothersome next to the Vanford.

 

I might just go with the Vanquish and take the hit on balance. I didn't find the inertia bothersome on the Stella when I handled one in store, but I'm not sure I want to spend that much, and there is tech on there I don't need, like the heat dissipative drag.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, jejenkyns said:

So the added rotor weight doesn't bother you? I've never used a TP but I find the added inertia of the Stradic bothersome next to the Vanford.

 

I might just go with the Vanquish and take the hit on balance. I didn't find the inertia bothersome on the Stella when I handled one in store, but I'm not sure I want to spend that much, and there is tech on there I don't need, like the heat dissipative drag.

Not at all. If you go back 10-15 years ago, most 2500 sized reel were around 8oz+. Now you have reels that average around 6oz. So to compare say the Vanquish to the Twin Power, you're looking at about 1.5 - 2.0 oz difference depending on the model. 

 

The main difference between the two is the drag start up. The Twin Power is almost immediate and the Vanquish is slower and slightly smother.  With the Windbuster's soft tip, I felt the quick start up of the TP would be slowed and so far it's working for me. I can use this setup up for whatever.  

 

Here is the balance point on the Windbuster with the 2500 TP. It's just about perfect if that's your thing.  All I know is that it loads well. 

 

 

The balance might actually be better with a 3000 sized TP. 

 

Also, not really a fan of the new Stella or the previous version.  The one I tried out was not as smooth as either the Vanquish or the TP but it was powerful and balanced like nothing else. 

 

[jejenkyns]

On 12/24/2024 at 1:12 PM, FishTank said:

Not at all. If you go back 10-15 years ago, most 2500 sized reel were around 8oz+. Now you have reels that average around 6oz. So to compare say the Vanquish to the Twin Power, you're looking at about 1.5 - 2.0 oz difference depending on the model. 

 

The main difference between the two is the drag start up. The Twin Power is almost immediate and the Vanquish is slower and slightly smother.  With the Windbuster's soft tip, I felt the quick start up of the TP would be slowed and so far it's working for me. I can use this setup up for whatever.  

 

Here is the balance point on the Windbuster with the 2500 TP. It's just about perfect if that's your thing.  All I know is that it loads well. 

 

 

The balance might actually be better with a 3000 sized TP. 

 

Also, not really a fan of the new Stella or the previous version.  The one I tried out was not as smooth as either the Vanquish or the TP but it was powerful and balanced like nothing else. 

 

Thanks for your detailed reply. 

 

I'm not worried about putting a heavy reel on there, but I'm weary about the weight of the rotor and thus the added inertia.. 

 

I like the feel of my Vanford quite a bit, namely that the rotor doesn't want to keep moving once I stop reeling. To that end I guess I'm looking for a reel with low startup/stopping inertia, yet a higher overall weight to help balance the rod.  The Sustain looks to fit the bill but I don't want or needs some 20lbs of drag, an old fashioned felt washer would be perfect! 

 

I've felt a Stella in store, and beyond it's aesthetics and rigidity I wasn't blown away by it in terms of it's smoothness or rotor inertia (or it's price) but it may be the perfect reel in that it has pretty good weight, pretty good rotor inertia and pretty good drag specs for my purposes. It seems to, at least, split the difference on all my requirements.

 

My concern with the Twin Power (again, I've never used one) is that, with it's all aluminum construction it will have similar startup/stopping inertia to something like a Stradic. Again, just in terms of inertia. Feel is important to me.

 

So I guess my ideal reel doesn't exist: heavy aluminum body, lightweight rotor, low inertia, felt drag. LOL

[jejenkyns]

On 12/23/2024 at 2:54 PM, WaskaCrank12 said:

@jejenkyns - thank you for asking this question as I have just purchased a (gently used) Windbuster and am looking into reels for it as well - although I will most likely be looking at a Stradic/Vanford level reel - I am looking forward to replies to your question

I have a Vanford 2500S on mine it's a 175 grams I think, maybe 6.3oz? It doesn't feel super balanced but it is manageable. If the MGL rotor thing is important to you then it will be fine, you could even look into stepping it up a size. 

 

On the other hand if the MGL thing isn't important then get the Stradic and be done with it. 😃

 

Or be like me and struggle to make a decision LOL

On 12/23/2024 at 8:06 PM, FishTank said:

All have felt fine. The Twin Power just seemed like the right reel for it.

I can't decide. I'm going bowling today with my family, if I beat my 8 year old son fair and square I will buy the Vanquish, if he beats me I will buy the TP. If my 6 year old daughter wins I will buy the Stella. No mercy.

[F14A-B]

The JDM Vanford 2500 S is a felt washer drag. It’s also a shallow spool perfect for around 2 to 4 pound line or possibly braid (don’t use braid) it’s also a 5.3:1 gear ratio.. as I’ve said before, mine is on a two piece edge rod which is 7’ light power with fast action. It’s my favorite rod for small rivers, creeks etc. 

@bulldog1935 @FishTank can speak to very small diameter braid if that’s your juice..

[jejenkyns]

13 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

The JDM Vanford 2500 S is a felt washer drag.

I did not know that. I thought it was the new cross carbon. Is this true of all the smaller JDM models that read 4kg of drag? So Stella,, Vanquish, Twin Power?

[FishTank]

42 minutes ago, jejenkyns said:

I have a Vanford 2500S on mine it's a 175 grams I think, maybe 6.3oz? It doesn't feel super balanced but it is manageable. If the MGL rotor thing is important to you then it will be fine, you could even look into stepping it up a size. 

 

On the other hand if the MGL thing isn't important then get the Stradic and be done with it. 😃

 

Or be like me and struggle to make a decision LOL

I can't decide. I'm going bowling today with my family, if I beat my 8 year old son fair and square I will buy the Vanquish, if he beats me I will buy the TP. If my 6 year old daughter wins I will buy the Stella. No mercy.

The Vanquish would be my choice unless you are fishing salt. Like I said, in hand the Stella wasn't that impressive. I really like the two Vanquish reels I have though. 

[bulldog1935]

@F14A-B

The bad boy medium-frame JDM size for braid is 3000MHG, Stradic, Vanford, Vanquish, Twin Power.  This is medium frame with large-frame drag.  

The spool that comes on this JDM-size reel is tailored for 15-lb braid.  

 

If you want to use really fine threadline braid, you fit a shallower mid-frame spool, e.g. mid-frame spool above is Yumeya PE0820, tailored for 8-lb braid, and has killer 20-lb drag.  

What I did on my Twin Power to load (6-lb) finesse braid is match a Vanquish spool.

 

Spare spools are never a bad thing.  We have our winter full-moon finesse night-fishing trip booked for the end of January, and if a snook runs off with your terminal, it's easiest to swap in a loaded spool.  I keep a loaded spare spool for each frame size.  

 

I did basically the same on my large-frame Stradic to fish 15-lb braid inshore

[F14A-B]

21 minutes ago, jejenkyns said:

I did not know that. I thought it was the new cross carbon. Is this true of all the smaller JDM models that read 4kg of drag? So Stella,, Vanquish, Twin Power?

No. On those reels you’ve named those would be the cross carbon drag systems. On the USDM the 2500 would be using the CCD, under that size I’m pretty sure the new smaller panfish, trout size models will be felt. 
I bought mine from Japan, a reel designed for the JDM marketplace.