GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Ross Smith on June 17, 2014, 10:10:32 AM
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Two new Saltiga Expedition reels are now available in Australia, 5500H and 8000H.
l eyeballed them at my local tackle store and they look goooood.
Full description and specs are on Daiwa Australia's web site
cheers Rossco
(http://s28.postimg.org/5n5idjb61/13062014095.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/5n5idjb61/)
(http://s29.postimg.org/mhskv67gj/13062014096.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/mhskv67gj/)
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Looks like the best reels goin! Ill be getting one of each
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And they come with METAL radiation drag knobs as standard :)
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Anyone want to hazard a guess why Daiwa are now using the Saltiga Expedition name for large high speed reels when those have been Saltiga Dogfight in the past?
If I read it correctly the current high speed 6500 and 7000 are Dogfights and the high speed 5500 and 8000 are Expeditions? And then there are other high speed sizes just called Saltiga 5000 H, 4500 H etc.
Go figure..... :-\
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My guess is jus the colour and daiwa saw there was more market for a high gear high line capacity reel. The 5500h obviously to take on the 14000swb
Chris
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At least they don't all look the same like the new Stella's.
Take a look at the specs (on Daiwa Australia's web page) of each saltiga currently available and you will see they are all different.
Cheers Rossco
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I reckon your are right there Chris... they fancied a blue one so just called them Expedition as that was the name for the old slow speed blue Saltiga. And spot on with the competitor to the SW14000.
Ross, actually the current Stellas are dead easy to tell apart and Shimano are consistent with this "coding" across other newer models as well. Gunmetal handle = PG, silver handle = HG, gold handle = XG.
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I'm sure most of you have read this already, just for the ones that missed it http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/exp14.html
One minute thought about selling my 14k Stella, but can't part with it, love it too much.
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It's a hell of a review, that's for sure.
From an engineering standpoint, the new Expedition 8000 seems to have raised the bar for large spinning reels.
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Still a plastic rotor????
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so it is not a jigging reel?
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Still a plastic rotor????
They said that about the 1st americas cup boat built outta fibre glass too....... Now they are all composite :)
Daiwa could well be ahead of the pack?
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Has anyone heard of a Zaion (or the Ci+ Shimano version) rotor failing?
The flex does feel a bit weird first time but I suspect this material is really up to the job.
I can't justify yet another heavy popping reel at the moment, but if I could, it would be a Saltiga Expedition 8000 I think.
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i dont see the point why daiwa brought out 7000 dogfight in high speed and then now release a 8000 expedition
which is high speed only ?
expedition has always been a low speed reel, i dont see what daiwa are gaining by bringing out 7000 and 8000 high speeds besides line capacity
the expedition should be low speed
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The ultimate review - http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/exp14.html
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Reviews are just reviews - keep your pants on. The true test is on water performance over an extended period of time.
Definitely looks like a massive specification and technological improvement and then some - which was essential to keep up with the market.
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Does the wider top spool puts more resistance to the pe line when casting ?
Thus reducing asting distance as compared to a stella 18000?
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BTW, who is Alan Hawk, a reel repair man using a pseudonym? Anyone know anything about him?
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Good evening,
So which model do i have to take for jigging:
the 6500 model?
Best regards,
Arnout.
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Dan,
He's an American who does a whole series of spinning reel reviews and then rates them. I'm not sure of his CV but he seems to have a strong engineering background and is also a keen fisherman. His value is that he is supposedly not connected to any of the manufacturers so he is unbiased. His views are fairly well respected.
I, personally, take his reviews with a pinch of salt because I find them heavy on the engineering and light on the fishing but I'd be in a minority.
Regards,
Trevor
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I've never quite understood why Alan Hawk seems to illicit the comments he gets. I have never personally doubted his independence and to me, he calls it as he sees it. You can either accept what he says or not but all I can say is that he understands reel design at a level which I can never hope to.
When he criticises a Daiwa reel, the Daiwa fans accuse him of being affiliated with Shimano and when he criticises a Shimano reel, the Shimano fans accuse him of having something going with Daiwa. It seems like the only thing that he gets right as far as everyone is concerned is when he criticises Tuff Tackle reels!
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I have to agree with Brandon I find the reviews on his web site very objective, you can tell he's a complete reel geek but he gives praise where its due and lashes anything he finds unacceptable.
Considering the price of the Saltiga if it was the best reel in the world it I'd be a bit angry when I bought it. Both Shimano and Daiwa have reached a stage where it doesn't really matter which reel you buy personally I'm a Shimano guy I still get a warm fuzzy feeling when I hold any of my Stella's
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Happy with your reel? All good then.
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Would anybody consider the expedition 8000 for popping GTs?
Given its weight is about the same as Stella 18k, size slightly larger (not like the gigantic Stella 30k)
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I absolutely love Alan Hawk's reviews and support the site as well.
Imo though you still have to make your own mind up about a reel, first because tastes are different and second because I think Alan get's a little caught up in his emotions about a reel sometimes, like with the old and new Stella (in opposite directions). For example so far I didn't hear about any gear problems of the 2013 Stella, or any other failures, that you would expect after such a bad review and I'm sure some people put it through it's paces.
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Felix, I'm with you regarding Hawk's reviews. I too haven't heard of any widespread problems with the 2013 Stellas. He bashed on Shimano for using a brass pinion instead of stainless steel, as if it were a major downgrade. I'm sure the engineers at Shimano had good reasons for using brass, maybe to increase gear smoothness-I'm not sure. I also haven't heard of any widespread rotor problems. I do enjoy his reviews, and he obviously has high mechanical acumen and fishing experience.
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Would anybody consider the expedition 8000 for popping GTs?
Given its weight is about the same as Stella 18k, size slightly larger (not like the gigantic Stella 30k)
Yes. I think it is an ideal size for a serious GT reel.
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Would anybody consider the expedition 8000 for popping GTs?
Given its weight is about the same as Stella 18k, size slightly larger (not like the gigantic Stella 30k)
Yes. I think it is an ideal size for a serious GT reel.
I'm considering one as a double duty reel for BFT & GTs :)
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Saltiga and Stella ??????
They are both brilliant reels provided you don't stretch the poor things necks and treat them with a little TLC. (tender loving care) :)
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For those of us who haven't seen Alan Hawks review for the NEW SALTIGA EXPEDITION REEL
http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/exp14.html
YOU'V GOTTA LOVE IT :)
Cheers Rossco
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My Saltiga Expedition 8000H arrived today. My expectations were high but the reality has exceeded all that and some.
What a superb looking reel. The attention to detail and the precise level of finishing recall a luxury Swiss watch (no exaggeration). Also noticed right away that the crank is lighter than any other Saltiga I have ever picked up.
The proof will be in the performance but I can't stress enough how good this reel looks and feels.
To top it all off, Plat had a limited number for a special price. With no import duty, that meant this beauty was in my hands for $1,010 including postage. Absolute bargain 8)
If this reel performs anything like as well as it looks and feels, Daiwa have raised the bar for large spinning reels.
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Hope you enjoy the new reel Mark - they certainly look great.
I have not managed to get my hands on one as yet, please post the stats around what you end up spooling onto the Saltiga
I am toying with the idea of an 8000 with 100lb or 80lb JB hollow, probably on a reel that size JB100 hollow should cover all bases
Having read the weight stats and it looks to be slightly heavier than the 18000 Stella SWB, having received yours, is it noticeably bigger than say an 18000 or an old dogfight? (my gut feel is that its pretty similar)
Cheers
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Hi Mark
I spooled the 8000H with Varivas Avani GT Max PE10 and got about 330 metres on there.
On it's size - pretty much identical to a Dogfight. Only the spool is a little bigger (obviously). You are correct on the physical weight - very similar to a 2013 Stella 18000 but with a lot more line capacity.
Performance-wise I am very impressed. The reel went through some hard yards in Oman last month. A particularly good test was a very angry GT that sent the scale needle 48-51 kg. Two big runs from that fish with about 14 kg of drag and the drag was as smooth as. It felt very different from previous generation Saltigas.
My only lingering concern was the drag performance. I knew the reel was a tank mechanically. Now that concern about the drag has been completely allayed.
So overall, extremely happy with the reel. So much so that I am right now looking to source a 5500H to compliment my existing Stella 10000s.
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Thanks Mark, very useful info.
I've resigned myself to the fact that my bank balance is probably going to suffer due to these new Saltiga's.
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It's great to see such enthusiasm over a new reel, but it needs to be put through its paces. Time will tell how good it is.
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yes that goes without saying Dan.
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Mark, my comment wasn't directed at you, but rather the more impressionable GT gear consumers, like myself. I've seen guys sell their brand new Stellas, only to buy the new Saltiga, surely influenced by Alan Hawk's glowing review. That's an emotional response, not a logical one. The Saltiga sounds like a great reel, but consumers do often make knee jerk purchases. But, it's only $$$....
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I thought it would be useful to post that the Expedition 5500H arrived today.
The line cap stated by Daiwa is VERY conservative. I just got on 235-240 metres of Varivas Avani GT Max PE8 and the spool is not overloaded. From a line cap viewpoint, this makes the reel a valid GT option out of the box. The equivalent of a Stella 10000 with 16000 after market spool.
Whether it is up to it mechanically, I will find out next week I hope!
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It is Mark, you wont be disappointed.
I'll be getting a second one before my next trip.
Ben
I thought it would be useful to post that the Expedition 5500H arrived today.
The line cap stated by Daiwa is VERY conservative. I just got on 235-240 metres of Varivas Avani GT Max PE8 and the spool is not overloaded. From a line cap viewpoint, this makes the reel a valid GT option out of the box. The equivalent of a Stella 10000 with 16000 after market spool.
Whether it is up to it mechanically, I will find out next week I hope!
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Is 6500H same as 8000H in terms of parts and built just the difference in capacity?
Still deciding between the two S. :-\
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Most parts in 6500h and 7000h, 8000h are the same. In expedition reels, bearings are alredy magsealed. You can read in alanhawk.com
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Not sure what exactly it is, I found for example the 5000 and 5500 expedition feel quite different too, with the Expedition feeling smoother. That's only playing around with mate's reels, haven't actually caught fish on them.