ive already done my own research but now i would like some input from all the "sharpies" out there. for years ive used a Penn MAG990(25lb.test)with a 12ft Uglystick"(BWC1102)and had a great time but im now looking for a replacement for the mag which will then become the backup.im looking to spend no more than $200. my first choice is a penn(535gs or 545gs) second is a shimano speedmaster and third is a daiwa sealine-X(30or40)any input on these reels or any others would be a great help.im going on a fishing shopping spree next week(tax time)!!!!
advice on buying a conventional surf reel
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thanks once again jpfsurf! i actually forgot to list that one(i think ive seen them all!) im looking for a newer model reel that isnt a levelwind.i know the 7000 comes in a non levelwind but ive heard that maintenance and parts is a pain in the butt.im really a "Penn Man" so what about the GS series reels? dont mean to be a pain myself but ive heard different opinions concerning castability,drag,components,etc. so im trying to get a "feel" for different reels before i actually buy one. thanks!!!!
penn 535gs.. conventional reel without a levelwind...
my penn 535gs reel is a great casting reels for the surf an off piers. i use it with my custome lamiglas(honey) 1pc. 10ft. 4-12 oz. it gets out there!!!! the reel is second towards the penn squider. penn squider is #1 for casting without a levelwind." price is right". now the balls are in your court.
my penn 535gs reel is a great casting reels for the surf an off piers. i use it with my custome lamiglas(honey) 1pc. 10ft. 4-12 oz. it gets out there!!!! the reel is second towards the penn squider. penn squider is #1 for casting without a levelwind." price is right". now the balls are in your court.
I'd like to get some advice from the more knowledgeable here too, if it's OK.
I don't surf fish anywhere near as much as I used to, but I could cast a Penn Surfmaster - with Ande 20lb. test and a 5oz. sinker - further than any spinning reel I had. I always got less backlashes with Ande line.
I might be shopping for a new casting conventional - for use with 5 or 6 oz. of lead. Any tips along these lines would be appreciated
I don't surf fish anywhere near as much as I used to, but I could cast a Penn Surfmaster - with Ande 20lb. test and a 5oz. sinker - further than any spinning reel I had. I always got less backlashes with Ande line.
I might be shopping for a new casting conventional - for use with 5 or 6 oz. of lead. Any tips along these lines would be appreciated
thanks for the info guys. hey cat,the 535 is second to a squidder??? that was my very first conventional!! the casting is great but the 3:1 gear ratio is too slow for me. too bad cause its about $75 cheaper than the 535! does anybody know anything about the daiwa sealine-X casting reels?
Abu Garcia stopped marketing the non-levelwind 7000 in the US.
The Daiwas are very similar in capacity etc to the Penn GS. The Daiwa 30 is the same size as the 535. Diawa men will tell you to go Daiwa and Penn lovers will tell you to go Penn.
I have an older Daiwa and a 535. My two cents, the Daiwa is easier to cast and control. And a good 3 ounces lighter. They both have good drags. The Diawa sits a little lower on the rod.
The Daiwas are very similar in capacity etc to the Penn GS. The Daiwa 30 is the same size as the 535. Diawa men will tell you to go Daiwa and Penn lovers will tell you to go Penn.
I have an older Daiwa and a 535. My two cents, the Daiwa is easier to cast and control. And a good 3 ounces lighter. They both have good drags. The Diawa sits a little lower on the rod.
Daiwa Grand Wave -Z
specially designed for surf distance casting. $199. Very impressive reel.
I've been using the Penn 535 for years, one comfortable reel to feel. Casts great, infinite retrieval, 2 BB plus 1 strong roller bearing, anti-backlash, external oversize gear box, long handle, high ratio. Great reel overall.
Please check out the GrandWave series for comparison.
For easy maintenance, go for Squidder or GS 535.
specially designed for surf distance casting. $199. Very impressive reel.
I've been using the Penn 535 for years, one comfortable reel to feel. Casts great, infinite retrieval, 2 BB plus 1 strong roller bearing, anti-backlash, external oversize gear box, long handle, high ratio. Great reel overall.
Please check out the GrandWave series for comparison.
For easy maintenance, go for Squidder or GS 535.
penn mag 525
130 bucks and it flies. magnet brakes for the discriminating thumb. HT100 drag is probaly the best made. I use conventional exclusively, w/conventional the smaller the reel the better the cast control. Stay away from the squidder as you WILL pull your hair out learning to cast it. use power pro or similar product and you will get the distance and line capacity. abu's are nice but are a bit more delicate. newell 220 is another workhorse. trindad 14 is my choice but above the priceline. Unbelieveable stopping power,and an adjustable clicker for different current conditions. no other reel has that. But the penn mag 525 is the most bang for the buck. Easy to get parts. Best all around reel available.
130 bucks and it flies. magnet brakes for the discriminating thumb. HT100 drag is probaly the best made. I use conventional exclusively, w/conventional the smaller the reel the better the cast control. Stay away from the squidder as you WILL pull your hair out learning to cast it. use power pro or similar product and you will get the distance and line capacity. abu's are nice but are a bit more delicate. newell 220 is another workhorse. trindad 14 is my choice but above the priceline. Unbelieveable stopping power,and an adjustable clicker for different current conditions. no other reel has that. But the penn mag 525 is the most bang for the buck. Easy to get parts. Best all around reel available.
i almost bought a friends 525 last year but decided against it cause it was too small. i use only 25lb test ande and the 525 is rated for 275yds of 15lb. if i spooled it with 25lb test i would probably put on about 225-235yds but with as much as i fish i would be changing line twice a week!! as for the trinidads,only in my dreams!!! im still looking for some info on those daiwa sealine-X reels. from what ive read,they've got some great innovative features,etc. as for big reels being hard to use, ive never met a conventional reel i couldnt handle!!!LOL!!!
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352 Posts
Thanks JPF for the kind words. Seems JJ's fishing bait, what else would you use a 990 for? I still use my 980 inlet fishing with bucks but less and less each year as drags in the smaller reels have become better over the years.JJ's a penn fan first so that leads to a 975 or 535 mag no levelwind with cast controls. second would be Newell 229. I have no experience with the Daiwa's so I can't say. I fish 3 Calcutta's, 2 400's and 1 Te and I'll be the first to admit if you fish bait your throwing away your money on these reels as reels half the price will work as good including the almighty Squidder.Plugs, finess fishing the better made reels shine. Seems nowadays buying a new reel is harder than picking a wife? Prospector
squidder + daiwa= newell
since you say you have the thumb...lol. Go with the squidder. under 100 bucks. more than enough line capacity. keep it lubed and it should last for ever. Try and find a plastic spool, file down the air brakes and let her sssssssssing.
The daiwa's are ok. I have the 50 lv and it casts great. just when my buddy opened it up most of the internals were not exactly topnotch. plus my size is huge for surf casting. squidder is better for parts. if you want something that casts like the daiwa then go with a newell. if you were present for past arguments...i mean threads, you would know i'm a shimano man but the newell 235 is the cross between the squidder and the daiwa and should get its due. casts like a mf, and the durability to match. I have two, and both were ripped apart by boats catching lines, so to me they are cursed. plus if you mention newell on this site you'll get a million and one responses on how to tweak it.
mike
(This post edited by mytiju on 02/05/2003)
since you say you have the thumb...lol. Go with the squidder. under 100 bucks. more than enough line capacity. keep it lubed and it should last for ever. Try and find a plastic spool, file down the air brakes and let her sssssssssing.
The daiwa's are ok. I have the 50 lv and it casts great. just when my buddy opened it up most of the internals were not exactly topnotch. plus my size is huge for surf casting. squidder is better for parts. if you want something that casts like the daiwa then go with a newell. if you were present for past arguments...i mean threads, you would know i'm a shimano man but the newell 235 is the cross between the squidder and the daiwa and should get its due. casts like a mf, and the durability to match. I have two, and both were ripped apart by boats catching lines, so to me they are cursed. plus if you mention newell on this site you'll get a million and one responses on how to tweak it.
mike
(This post edited by mytiju on 02/05/2003)
thanks for the replies!
ive narrowed down my choices to either the 535 or a newell 229 or 235(got to see the specs first). i just hope these reels are just as good as my 990 or THEY will become the backup LOL!!!! thanks again guys!!!!
ive narrowed down my choices to either the 535 or a newell 229 or 235(got to see the specs first). i just hope these reels are just as good as my 990 or THEY will become the backup LOL!!!! thanks again guys!!!!
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1,277 Posts
Hey jj
As you know we do the same kind of fishing in the same areas. For chunking I use the newell 229. I load it up with 25lb and use it with an 11ft lami. I get tremendous distance with this setup and you will too. I tried the garcia 7000c3 this season. This reel casts great once you remove the 4 plastic breaks inside, but as with all abu garcia reels (that I have purchased), they just don't hold up. After three weeks of using this reel the levelwind began to stick. Lets us know what you decide to go with----take care
As you know we do the same kind of fishing in the same areas. For chunking I use the newell 229. I load it up with 25lb and use it with an 11ft lami. I get tremendous distance with this setup and you will too. I tried the garcia 7000c3 this season. This reel casts great once you remove the 4 plastic breaks inside, but as with all abu garcia reels (that I have purchased), they just don't hold up. After three weeks of using this reel the levelwind began to stick. Lets us know what you decide to go with----take care
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3,244 Posts
Conventionals
I have been gearing up to move into the world of conventionals. So far I have a Newell 220, 229, and 235 (all "P" series reels). I had heard so much about the "Saltiga" being an engineering marvel that I went and picked one of them up yesterday. While at the shop (Fisherman Depot) because of this thread I said to the man "hey what about this GS", when the guy took it out I was so impressed with the reel I picked one of them up too.
It looks comfortable for the thumb (no levelwind) and it squats low on the reel seat (low resistance), it also feels solid as a rock which comming from me is a big deal as I normally hate graphite reels. This reel looks like it could be the best bargian out for this type of fishing, I have also talked about it with some guys that I respect and here good things.
The "GS" has a centrifugal brake that activates when the speed is too fast, so in theory it should cut down birds nests, where as a mag reel is always slowing down due to the magnets polarity being constant.
I have been gearing up to move into the world of conventionals. So far I have a Newell 220, 229, and 235 (all "P" series reels). I had heard so much about the "Saltiga" being an engineering marvel that I went and picked one of them up yesterday. While at the shop (Fisherman Depot) because of this thread I said to the man "hey what about this GS", when the guy took it out I was so impressed with the reel I picked one of them up too.
It looks comfortable for the thumb (no levelwind) and it squats low on the reel seat (low resistance), it also feels solid as a rock which comming from me is a big deal as I normally hate graphite reels. This reel looks like it could be the best bargian out for this type of fishing, I have also talked about it with some guys that I respect and here good things.
The "GS" has a centrifugal brake that activates when the speed is too fast, so in theory it should cut down birds nests, where as a mag reel is always slowing down due to the magnets polarity being constant.
Mattyblazer,
Your statement about magnets being constant is only correct if you install a washer and rare earth mags. The Penn Mag525 has an adjustable magnet, and other models i am unfamiliar with also have adaptable sideplates with adjustable magnets.
Just my opinion but I would get a 525mag (6:1) and load it with 20# mono, it holds more line then you will ever cast. My second choice would be the Newell 235 (5:1), which has the same capacity as a Penn Squidder (3.3:1). My third choice would be the Squidder. How can anyone say anything bad about that reel? If your having bird problems with the Squidder magnets can be easily installed.
American Reels=American Jobs.
Steve
Your statement about magnets being constant is only correct if you install a washer and rare earth mags. The Penn Mag525 has an adjustable magnet, and other models i am unfamiliar with also have adaptable sideplates with adjustable magnets.
Just my opinion but I would get a 525mag (6:1) and load it with 20# mono, it holds more line then you will ever cast. My second choice would be the Newell 235 (5:1), which has the same capacity as a Penn Squidder (3.3:1). My third choice would be the Squidder. How can anyone say anything bad about that reel? If your having bird problems with the Squidder magnets can be easily installed.
American Reels=American Jobs.
Steve
Casting technique is more important than any reel or rod you are going to buy. You can't buy a distance cast. You buy distance casting potential.
The guys that cast well can cast with a "broom stick". Don't spend a fortune on "engineering marvels", because it means nothing when you can't cast. If you are trying to cast a conventional like a spinner you are going to have problems. There are major mechanical differences to casting a conventional reel efficiently.
Get out there and practice casting some tins with a Squidder ($69) or a Newell 229 or 235 and you will make the transition from spinner to conventional.
Good Luck
Steve
The guys that cast well can cast with a "broom stick". Don't spend a fortune on "engineering marvels", because it means nothing when you can't cast. If you are trying to cast a conventional like a spinner you are going to have problems. There are major mechanical differences to casting a conventional reel efficiently.
Get out there and practice casting some tins with a Squidder ($69) or a Newell 229 or 235 and you will make the transition from spinner to conventional.
Good Luck
Steve
Daiwa SL20SH. 4 BB's, lightweight graphite spool, excellent drags and fast 6:1 retrieve. Shop around and you can snag one for $99 pretty easily. I like Newells but the ones they make now just aren't as good as the old ones; they've continually dropped their quality and materials to stay at the same price.
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