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Reel choice

Chris Jones

Chris Jones

Senior Member
I need a new (to me) reel for a bit of small river spinning and perhaps a bit of sea cove, creek, and bay spinning. I was considering buying any old rubbish thinking that if seawater destroyed it I could bin it. However, I'm coming round to thinking ('cos I'm too tight to bin anything!:eek:) that I'd rather buy something that will withstand saltwater and be some use to me for my more normal fishing when I return.
Initially looked at the smaller sea spinning reels from Diawa (Opus Bull 4500) but discounted most as they are often so heavy that I'd have little use for them after the event. Starting to lean toward the Daiwa SS2600.

Anyone with any suggestions for me? Upper price limit is around the eighty quid mark, nothing much bigger than the size of a Shimano 5000 Baitrunner and front drag.
 
Good call Simon! Have a look at the Slammer 460 Chris, the clutch is superb and it has masses of cranking power - go for the live liner version and use it for your barbel fishing too!

I've been using one for a few months and will be submitting a full review at the end of the season. One thing i will say now is that they are heavy due to the solid metal body. Don't buy one if you like to backwind - you can't! ;)

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Were did you get the 460 LL mate ? i have been looking but can only find the normal spinning version, I reckon they will be superb barbel reels with or without the baitrunner, and the bigger ones a Pike anglers dream !! as long as you can manage without an anti reverse that is :)
 
Simon - they are superb barbel reels! ;) Got mine from Fishing Republic in Manchester but seen a few online in other shops. The one in the pic has been abused over the last few months and i'm that impressed i've just bought another! Anyone want to buy a pair of Shimano GTE-B 5000's?? :rolleyes:
 
Nice reels, in fact very nice reels.:D

Now, will i be pushing my luck if i ask for a pair for xmas? Yes!!:eek:

I'll put them on the to do list for 2011. :)
 
plug

Andrew Boyne said:
Simon - they are superb barbel reels! ;) Got mine from Fishing Republic in Manchester but seen a few online in other shops. The one in the pic has been abused over the last few months and i'm that impressed i've just bought another! Anyone want to buy a pair of Shimano GTE-B 5000's?? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

business slow andy :p
 
live liners

Ive got a couple of these for my barbel fishing ,at the moment cant find a fault with them at all barring the colour(wolves) had a few fish on them no problem at all .But the problem might be snag fishing with them ,if you get caught in the snag its coming with you !:eek:
 
These reels do look quite interesting!

I like the retro look they have.

What's the line-lay like, could any of you kind chaps put a piccy of a filled spool up for me please?

Many thanks in advance.

Daz.
 
I do a lot of plugging for sea bass and have found that the general feeling on a reasonably priced reel that will resist a bit of salt is the shimano exage 4000 front drag. I use one and love it, also use it for chubbing. It is not the salt resistance in itself that makes it so impressive, although it can handle it, but the simplicity of taking it apart and cleaning it. Also its only £60-£70 so no need to go and spend £700 on a van staal or anything silly like that.

Those penns do look nice though, am looking forward to the review. For a full days spinning they do look a bit heavy though, line lay looks good enough for braid (which is best for lure fishing). Also they may overbalance a short 8-10ft spinning rod.
 
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After a couple of weeks of watching and waiting I've snagged myself a reel.
Watched a couple of the Penns go for more on Ebay than they retail in some of the on line shops. Struggled to get a Daiwa SS2600 for less than I could get it in a relatively local tackle shop. I'd almost given up the ghost and conceded that I'd just buy the SS2600 for £80 from said tackle emporium when a few Shimmy 4000Ds popped up at decent prices. After missing out on a couple of nearly new ones that went for more than I was prepared to cough, I've snagged a brand spanker at £80. Happy with that and I know it'll stand up to a bit of salt and I'll still want to use it on my return.:)
 
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