GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: Ben Kempton on June 07, 2011, 09:45:45 AM
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Hey all
I was hoping for a few suggestions on what a good reel is to buy . I have been thinking of going all out and getting the saltiga dogfight (I have saved for that price reel) but was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations.
Thanks
Ben
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Stella 18000SW :P
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You can't beat a Stella :)
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Hi Ben,
I am assuming that the reel is for popping as this is the most practical application for a Dogfight.
There are the 2 main brands to consider here like Shimano (18000SW and 10000SW) and Daiwa (Dogfight, S-Extreme Maverick, 6000GT as well as the new 5000H, etc......).
There are also other brands but i wont bother as you stated you saved for a Saltiga level reel and i don't want to open a can of worms on other brands.
There are many discussions on this site both for and against "Stella VS Saltiga". I suggest you perform a search and the info found should answer your questions.
If you want opinions, i like the Dogfight also.
This post should probably be in the 'GT Popping Tackle & Technique' section also.
Cheers,
Chris
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Hey thanks chris
Sorry About that I am only new to the site and not that familiar yes Its going to be used for popping but also stick baiting. And I am hoping to also dabble in a bit jigging. I realise the dogfight has a higher ratio then then Stella 20000 for jigging. Would it make life that much harder using the dogfight?
Thanks
Ben
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Ben it is a little hard to make an accurate recommendation without knowing exactly how / where you intend to fish, depending on the line classes you are looking to fish (popper size, location, rod weight, size of target fish etc.), you could consider a slightly smaller reel with a better range of spool sizes for a one reel does all option (and buy more spools over time).
If you are thinking PE6 - PE8, could I suggest a Stella SW10000/8000 as a base (in the HG, not PG). At a pinch, the 8000 size spool will allow a better retreive ratio for jigging (with enough line for up to PE5 or 6 in most terrain). Swap to a 10000 spool for stickbaiting and popping with PE6. And consider a 12000sw or 16000SOM spool for PE8 popping.
This is a very versatile way of getting into the game, and a reel of this size and quality will always have a place on a trip offshore. I haven't looked closely into it, but the new range of saltigas (2010) sharing 4000, 4500, and 5000 spools may provide similar functionality - but on a slightly lighter scale scale (PE4 - 6).
If your aim is PE8 - 10, then the recommendations by other are the most logical choice - buy confidently then go hard!
As others have said, both Stella and Saltiga are great reels - pick the one with the features that suits you best.
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I have tested the thoeries first hand recently and offer my opinion.
*High speed is hard for jigging but unless the jigs are huge (400g+) and the water is very deep its not too bad. Excellent for popping and stickbaiting.
*Low speed reels make jigging a bit easier but are a lot harder to pop all day with. Although they are much better when fighting a fish.
If I was to go for one reel I would go for a 18000sw personally, I love the Stellas. I have alot of arm power but not very good hand speed so that suits my style alot better. If I had faster hands and a lot more stamina I would probably go for a 20000sw as an all rounder.
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The one exception I will make to what Ben has written is if you're using really huge poppers. I find the low gear ratio reel easier to use for the big poppers. You tend to work big poppers very slowly anyway and the extra winding power makes a big difference
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Ben if you want the best forget the rest and get yourself a Saltiga.
DAIWAreels are the best. :)
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Ben if you want the best forget the rest and get yourself a Saltiga.
DAIWAreels are the best. :)
I think it's funny that 99% of the reels in the videos down the side of the page from the link in your signature feature Stella...guess they would disagree with that statement ;D :P
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hey all
thanks heaps for all the great advice its definately given me more to consider. im looking at the PE8 to 10 range and the idea of having multipl spools ould definately help being more versatile. anyway i have some thinking to do before i start spending
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Ben if you want the best forget the rest and get yourself a Saltiga.
DAIWAreels are the best. :)
I think it's funny that 99% of the reels in the videos down the side of the page from the link in your signature feature Stella...guess they would disagree with that statement ;D :P
Ha ha ha. Thats gold!
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Ben, here are links to some detailed reviews of the Saltiga, Stella and 2010 saltiga by Alan Hawk... great information and worth a read before making a decision ;)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/381495/saltiga-z-6000-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/381495/saltiga-z-6000-the-review)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/768370/daiwa-saltiga-2010-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/768370/daiwa-saltiga-2010-the-review)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/647666/shimano-stella-sw-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/647666/shimano-stella-sw-the-review)
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Both are awesome - both catch fish - both will give you a long service life if you look after them and both will fit the bill for you nicley - so it comes down to how it will look on the rod you choose - for me KD and Dogfight...very nice and does the job...... :)
I'm going fishing - Have Fun !
8)
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yeah every one has their own Opinion all i can say is i have Stella 5000sw, 10000sw,18000sw,20000sw, and they rock simple as that.. never let me down
so far.. ;)
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Both are capable of the job, but in my experience there appears to be a quantum difference in service (speed of repair, parts, warranty) in Australia from the manufacturers. I have reels from both...but would buy a shimano any day.
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by KD i assume you mean kamodo dragon? i as in tackle warehouse looking at one not so long ago, nice bit of gear. i will definately feel guilty if i go with the daiwa as all my other reels are shimano, extremly happy with them and they have put up with alot. my mat who is coming with me on our kirimati trip is looking at the 18000. so im sure we will be doing alot of comparing of whos is bigger haha.
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Got 5 Stellas.
Some over 5 years old.
Fish almost every weekend.
Zero problems.
Never owned a Daiwa
Very happy
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I think it's funny that 99% of the reels in the videos down the side of the page from the link in your signature feature Stella...guess they would disagree with that statement.
Its all good Luke i know your a shimano man and a stella kinda guy. But i am a Daiwa fan from head to toe i got my first daiwa reel back in 1975 and still have it and its still in top nick. I guess its like ford and holden fans shimano and daiwa.
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just my two cents,Stellas are THE reel.I sold thirty plus old reels I had laying around in boxes collecting dust and bought several stellas.They are a pleasure to fish.
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The top end Daiwas and Shimanos are beautiful reels, though not indestructable. Do a bit of digging into the backup/spare parts situation, and you will put your $$$ on the Stella. Enjoy :)
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Ben, here are links to some detailed reviews of the Saltiga, Stella and 2010 saltiga by Alan Hawk... great information and worth a read before making a decision ;)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/381495/saltiga-z-6000-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/381495/saltiga-z-6000-the-review)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/768370/daiwa-saltiga-2010-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/768370/daiwa-saltiga-2010-the-review)
http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/647666/shimano-stella-sw-the-review (http://www.stripersonline.com/forum/thread/647666/shimano-stella-sw-the-review)
these were how i tended towards stella in the beginning =]. that and i found them cheaper than saltiga on the internets, but maybe i wasn't looking hard enough for cheaper saltigas
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thanks patrick for the links.. great insight and review of each reel! i must admit i am a hardcore daiwa fan but now, i'm slowly leaning towards the stellas/twinpowers cause i've witnessed how capable these reels can be too.. i must be a biased arse before cause i was very much against shimano when the reel i was using back then (many eons ago, an old generation Aernos 5000) gave up on me when i was fighting a 2kg+ snapper.. but with further education, i am now better equipped with more intimate knowledge of both set of reels..
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I have a dogfight and a 18000sw and used to lean towards the dogfight because of the size of the 18000 but then i started using a 10000sw for popping and now i use the dogfight as a backup.
My beach/rock spinning reels are stalla sw 5000's and they have yet to let me done and they have copped a hammering
But also consider after sales care in my opinion shimano is at the top of the list . Every time i have had to send the dogfight away its been at least 3 weeks wait and that was when they weren't busy