GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Simon Steele on February 01, 2012, 11:15:40 AM
-
Guys I have put GT Max knobs on all of my Stella's , they look and feel great and I am very pleased with the
way they finish of the reel , more over work and feel in the fight. I have just picked up a new 18000 and was considering putting
a metal T Handle on it , they look like a good hand full of grip and as this is going on a PE-12 I am anticipating some battles where
that could be a nice to have.
I notice that a lot of the Japanese Jigging guys favor this style of handle on their Stella's and thought I would A: ask your thoughts and B: Find out where you can get them , M&W once made them but I cant get a lock on one for sale any where at the moment.
Interested to hear your views and advice.
Thanks
-
Simon, the T handles are great for jigging, particularly on overhead reels. If you are thinking for popping....forget it, they are a pain in the a#$e on the cast and really unwieldy for popping.
If you are thinking for jigging, with a spin reel, just be mindful of the butt length of the rod you use, they suit rods with longer butts better than a short butt rod, where you might find the handle interferes with your 'love handles' (belly) when you jig under the arm. They can also add quite a bit of leverage to the whole spin setup if used incorrectly (think broken handles).
Jigging Master do some great T-handles.
-
I totally agree with Peter there - would never want one of those massive handles when casting or when working a surface lure.
My favourite after market knob for a SW180000 is the Shimano/Yumeya Carbon Fibre baby. Costs a bomb but is perfectly balanced with the 18000 size reel I think.
On T-Bars, JM still make them I think. See: http://www.jiggingmaster-ag.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=204%3Ajigging-master-lt-091-t&catid=55%3Aaluminum&Itemid=118&lang=en (http://www.jiggingmaster-ag.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=204%3Ajigging-master-lt-091-t&catid=55%3Aaluminum&Itemid=118&lang=en)
-
My favourite after market knob for a SW180000 is the Shimano/Yumeya Carbon Fibre baby. Costs a bomb but is perfectly balanced with the 18000 size reel I think.
Mark - Where can you buy one of these? Ben
-
They crop up quite often at stores Ben. You might want to contact Shimano Australia and find out which local authorised dealers have stock.
It is this one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shimano-Stella-Spinning-Reel-Ultralight-Weight-Carbon-Knob-/140629881625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20be31b319 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shimano-Stella-Spinning-Reel-Ultralight-Weight-Carbon-Knob-/140629881625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20be31b319)
-
They crop up quite often at stores Ben. You might want to contact Shimano Australia and find out which local authorised dealers have stock.
It is this one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shimano-Stella-Spinning-Reel-Ultralight-Weight-Carbon-Knob-/140629881625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20be31b319 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shimano-Stella-Spinning-Reel-Ultralight-Weight-Carbon-Knob-/140629881625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20be31b319)
Thanks Mark - Your right, they do cost an arm and a leg!!
-
I put one of the jigging master t-bars on my swpg8000 for about 6 months and didnt enjoy it very much! And yea it would have been crap for topwater casting! Had to drill the handle pin out to get it fitted so when i changed back had to buy a new handle. Put the t-bar on my talica and its way better suited there.
I have one of the jm round ball handles on a Stella 4000Fe and its great, way better than the grippy flat t one it had. Going to slowly upgrade all my Stella's with them over time. Also ya just screw them on the handle as apposed to drilling out the pins. Hope this helps.. :)
-
Brilliant , guys thanks all of you for your advice I will deep 6 that idea and stay with the GT max knob again for this one.
-
Like to add
With t-bar you will pron to bend the handle more under pressure when use on spin.
But on overhead I seen less breakage. Feels mor balance
-
Honestly.... Are the aftermarket knobs (Yumeya / Jigging Master etc), really any better than the standard knob? Are they worth the extra money or just a cosmetic accessory?
-
Personal preference Ben!
I find the carbon knob slippery when I put on my 18000, so I put in on the 6000 instead.
I replaced it with the fisherman round knob. Good grip but heavy.
Personally find round knobs most confy for me.
-
They do feel better in the hand Ben and probably give you a little more cranking power. The ultimate on that front is to get a whole new handle set (eg MC Works, SOM) and not just change the knob. But you are into lots of money to do that.
The best value after market knob I have come across is the one offered by forum sponsor Kaiser. It is aluminium and not unlike the Fisherman knob. I use this on my Twinpower 10000 and 12000 and Stella 20000, and is it is very comfortable. Extremely well priced.
I have long thought that the standard Stella rubber egg knob is a bit of a cheap feature from Shimano. You get the same knob on a Stella as you do on a Saragosa. Some JDM Stellas do come with the carbon fibre knob as standard but not the export version that the vast majority of us buy. This is one area where Daiwa out-do Shimano in my eyes - the factory handle and knob on a Saltiga is certainly better than the Stella equivalent.
But like much in this sport, the bling factor plays a large part as well 8) .
-
Thanks for the comments Ricky / Mark.
Has anyone tried these knobs: http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob (http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob)
-
Mark,
I totally agree that it is a good idea to have a whole new handle instead of changing the knob only, especially if you use old Stella and has a bad habbit to help pumping the fish with your left hand holding the reel handle. It just brakes in the place where the knob shaft meets the main handle. I saw once and heard many of these stories. So, now I never go fishing without spare handle set.
-
I have long thought that the standard Stella rubber egg knob is a bit of a cheap feature from Shimano. You get the same knob on a Stella as you do on a Saragosa. Some JDM Stellas do come with the carbon fibre knob as standard but not the export version that the vast majority of us buy. This is one area where Daiwa out-do Shimano in my eyes - the factory handle and knob on a Saltiga is certainly better than the Stella equivalent.
But like much in this sport, the bling factor plays a large part as well 8) .
100% agree with ya!
-
Simon
Not sure if it fits but I still have the original T-Bar from my old 20000 Stella in the parts bin at home if you want to try it for a trip. I used it once or twice then converted to a rounder number for popping.
You know where to find me
Cheers mate
-
Thanks for the comments Ricky / Mark.
Has anyone tried these knobs: http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob (http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob)
Anyone tried these yet? Yumeya are supposed to be good yeah?
-
Thanks for the comments Ricky / Mark.
Has anyone tried these knobs: http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob (http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob)
Anyone tried these yet? Yumeya are supposed to be good yeah?
I missed your original request there Ben. Yep I have one of those in the grey colour in your link. It is currently fitted on a Stella 10000. They look and feel really good.
-
Thanks for the comments Ricky / Mark.
Has anyone tried these knobs: http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob (http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob)
Anyone tried these yet? Yumeya are supposed to be good yeah?
I missed your original request there Ben. Yep I have one of those in the grey colour in your link. It is currently fitted on a Stella 10000. They look and feel really good.
Thanks Mark - I'll order one for the Stella SW 18000 and one for the Twinpower SW 8000.
-
Certainly one of the better value bling items and they do feel nice in the hand..
I think I might prefer the "Kaiser" knob that I mentioned before though. I see that Gara Pro Shop also has them now:
http://gara-proshop.com/cscart/gara-ergo-knob-for-stella.html
-
I use and have used a wide number of aftermarket handles on my Stellas, and really prefer them over the original Knobs...
My favourite were the original Tuna Max knobs for the FA series.... unfortunately they changed the shape/design a little on the new ones for the SW series which are still great, but not as great as the originals in my opinion...
The FISHERMAN knobs are incredible, but silly price ( like most FISHERMAN products )... they really are fantastic though...
Recently fitted the JM Knobs to a couple of my reels and was really impressed... these are as close to the original Tuna Max Handles in feel and comfort, and perfromed fantastically... available in a super wide range of colours too, and readily available which is great....
I've got a Charcoal/Gun Metal Tuna Max Knob for a 18000SW which is brand new... fitted to my 18K, but never used, replace it with a JM.... if anyone wants it, PM me, I'm sure we can work out a plan... I won't be using it, so would rather it goes to a good home and gets fished...
-
Thanks for the comments Ricky / Mark.
Has anyone tried these knobs: http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob (http://www.7seasproshop.com/product_detail.php?keyword=shimano_shimano_yumeya_aluminum_round_power_knob)
Anyone tried these yet? Yumeya are supposed to be good yeah?
I missed your original request there Ben. Yep I have one of those in the grey colour in your link. It is currently fitted on a Stella 10000. They look and feel really good.
Mark - Are the Yumeya Knobs easy to install? What gets used from the original knobs parts? Both Barrings and Washer etc?
-
Very easy. You need all the parts from the original knob.
-
Very easy. You need all the parts from the original knob.
Thanks Mark!
-
Just installed them. Easy to install, look and feel great! I like them more than the Jigging Master Knobs.
-
That's good to hear Ben. I am surprised that this Yumeya knob is not more generally available in stores. It is a good product and quite well priced compared to many others.