Can't afford a Stella

[Doug Terry]

Cant affors a stella as I will only be using the reel for a couple of weeks every couple of years.
So the choices I have are a Shimano saragosa14000f,18000 or a Dawia 6500 saltist, Which way to go for GT's help me to decide please.

[Chris Webster]

18000 Saragosa

[Christoffer Hansen]

Saragosa 18000 mate, with 50-80lb they go allright just a little slow. The saltists are crap

[Mick Cunningham]

Well try and find an stella FA model about 500 buck if you are lucky ... 

[David Noble]

Can anyone who owns a Saragosa comment on the line lay?  The reason being I have spooled one up with 100lb tuffline and the line lay really ribbed up.  ie, Very pronounced valleys & peaks rather than smooth flat.  I dont think it was lacking a base washer as it was straight rather than than /\ shaped.  Could be the line diameter of the braid perhaps, but it was the worst I've seen.

I haven't used a Saragosa, I know guys with the 8000 size for jigging Sydney and they go ok.  The Sphero's is another option, which can be upgraded with drag, bearing and stella handle. I have one, and the line lay is fine.

Cheers David

[Peter Childs]

Don't discount the Catalina eithier if you can stretch the extra couple of bucks - it's got quite good corrossion protection and should last a long time over years of sporadic use. 

Some of the other cheaper reels, suffer from sitting around doing nothing, if there is even a trace of moisture present.  You can get a nasty surprise when you pick it out of the cupboard at the last minute hoping to go fishing!

[Adrian Braun]

Another vote for Saragosa.

[Mark Harris]

Doug, I seen to remember you have asked this question several times already over the past months?  The answers probably will not change much .

David, I have an 18000F as a general back up reel and it admittedly gets very little use but I have not noticed that line lay problem when spooled with PE8.  My main gripe with the Saragossa is that the drag comes in a big rush right at the end of  tightening range. The last few clicks have a very disproportionate effect when tightening.  Once you know this, it is fine but it caught me out a few times before I realised.  All-in-all though, it is a good option for the money.

[Damian Fantozzi]

regarding the line lay, out of the box they should be OK, but they are a bit agricultural compared to say a stella or saltiga which were both built by people wearing white coats in a sterile environment.

the worm oscilation shaft in the saragosa is supported on a fairly thin stainless steel tab inside the reel which, if you drop the reel on its head, will bend and cause the oscilation shaft to have upwards of 5mm of play, allowing the spool 5mm of play, which buggers up the already not brilliant line lay.

I had mine rebuilt by a guy in melbourne who did a wonderful job, i got new gears and shims because my wonky oscilation gear rubbed on the main drive gear and wore off some of the black paladin stuff.

[Ben Rivers]

I caught my 1st GT on a Saragosa 14000F, and a number after that, until upgrading to a Stella.

There obviously not a Stella, but they will get the job done, if your not an every weekend GT Fisherman.

Cheers Ben

[Ricky Lim]

Hi Doug

I've a old model Stella 20000, selling it for $500. Been recently serviced by shimano.
Good con with a few scratches here and there. Never use it since I upgraded.let me know if interested.

Ricky

[Luke Wyrsta]

Hi Doug

I've a old model Stella 20000, selling it for $500. Been recently serviced by shimano.
Good con with a few scratches here and there. Never use it since I upgraded.let me know if interested.

Ricky

That's a good deal.

[Mark Harris]

That's a cracking good deal.

I still have my old blue JDM Stella 20000 and very often choose to fish with it ahead of my new SW20000.

$500 is a great offer.

[Ricky Lim]

Didnt mention on my last post. The Stella is a PG model(the spool is silver not gold).
Also come with avani big one pe6 400m with some backing.
Spare t-bar handle.

[Callan Wallace]

Can anyone who owns a Saragosa comment on the line lay?  The reason being I have spooled one up with 100lb tuffline and the line lay really ribbed up.  ie, Very pronounced valleys & peaks rather than smooth flat.  I dont think it was lacking a base washer as it was straight rather than than /\ shaped.  Could be the line diameter of the braid perhaps, but it was the worst I've seen.

I haven't used a Saragosa, I know guys with the 8000 size for jigging Sydney and they go ok.  The Sphero's is another option, which can be upgraded with drag, bearing and stella handle. I have one, and the line lay is fine.

Cheers David

I have used the Saragosa 18,000 extensively and found the same line lay problem. When I see it getting the pronounced valleys & peaks I usually run the line out the back of the boat at trolling speed with a lure on it. Let it run out until the valleys and peaks are gone the just wind it in with out any rod movement. This usually takes care of it.
I did find the stock drags a bit wanting after six months of heavy use so I replaced them with Smooth Drag carbontex drag washers and they work like a charm.

Callan