[KILSONG]

Stella 8000FA becomes my favorite reel for popping tuna.
I used the 8000 exclusively on the recent Big E trips and I was extremely pleased with the performance of the reel and the lightness.
Now, Ichibahn pasted about how to maintain and clean the 8000 on the other site with very clear illustrations. Cleaning reels is not my forte. No reel survives over one year in my hands. Anyone who owns Stella should look at his post for maintaining and cleaning Stella reels.

Tutorial of Stella 8000FA

 

[capttrav]

Hey Kil how big of tuna have you gotten on the 8000? I personally love that reel and use it for many species. I'm only asking because as you know we have many bft right exceeding 100lbs. On Thursday I saw an 8000 get smoked and the antireverse is now "funny" I'm guessing the bft was around 150lbs+. He was fishing 65lb braid about 16lb drag. I still love the reel though. we couldn't get the boat in gear fast enough to chase this fish.

 

[KILSONG]

capttrav wrote:
Hey Kil how big of tuna have you gotten on the 8000? I personally love that reel and use it for many species. I'm only asking because as you know we have many bft right exceeding 100lbs. On Thursday I saw an 8000 get smoked and the antireverse is now "funny" I'm guessing the bft was around 150lbs+. He was fishing 65lb braid about 16lb drag. I still love the reel though. we couldn't get the boat in gear fast enough to chase this fish.
I feel I can land tuna upto 120 lbs on 8000 with 65 lbs braided line, but the reel's line capacity is not good enough for big bluefin we catch her now as my Saragosa 18000 almost got spooled by a big bluefin on a recent trip.

 

[Codkiller]

Thats pretty impressive Kil, my gut feeling is thats too many parts for any fishing reel, especially one used for bluefin. If you get a year out of that the way you fish its a d*mn good reel.


Bob

 

[Ichibahn]

Thanks Kil, for posting the link in here.
Yesterday I was going to ask you permission for posting it.

 

[Ichibahn]

capttrav wrote:
Hey Kil how big of tuna have you gotten on the 8000? I personally love that reel and use it for many species. I'm only asking because as you know we have many bft right exceeding 100lbs. On Thursday I saw an 8000 get smoked and the antireverse is now "funny" I'm guessing the bft was around 150lbs+. He was fishing 65lb braid about 16lb drag. I still love the reel though. we couldn't get the boat in gear fast enough to chase this fish.

How he can smoked anti reverse with 16lb of drag ?
The anti reverse clutch it can handle more than that.

 

[KILSONG]

Ichibahn wrote:
Thanks Kil, for posting the link in here.
Yesterday I was going to ask you permission for posting it.
Freddy, you don't need any permission for posting. You did a great job. My eyes got dizzy just looking at your illustrations.
I don't know how you did it. I now understand why guys who repair reels professionally don't like to repair spinning reels. Can you clean my Stella 16000 ?
I talked with a Shimano rep this morning and asked whether Shimano Service center in the US can take Japanese domestic Stella or not.
He said No. They return back Japanese domestice reels without any service.

This post edited by KILSONG 11:53 AM 07/22/2008

 

[Ichibahn]

Hi Kil,
Send you PM

 

[capttrav]

Ichibahn wrote:
capttrav wrote:
Hey Kil how big of tuna have you gotten on the 8000? I personally love that reel and use it for many species. I'm only asking because as you know we have many bft right exceeding 100lbs. On Thursday I saw an 8000 get smoked and the antireverse is now "funny" I'm guessing the bft was around 150lbs+. He was fishing 65lb braid about 16lb drag. I still love the reel though. we couldn't get the boat in gear fast enough to chase this fish.

How he can smoked anti reverse with 16lb of drag ?
The anti reverse clutch it can handle more than that.

I think it can handle it too but not BFT after BFT. Also I think water intrusion makes them go faster. I've seen 2 stella and many sustains with wnti reverse go. You will be cranking and then all of sudden you get a half back turn. Hey I love the reels.

DO you guys know where I can send Saltiga 6500 expedition to for service if need be. SO far the reel is perfect other than a touch sticky drag on start up. Thanks

 

[Ichibahn]

capttrav wrote:

SO far the reel is perfect other than a touch sticky drag on start up. Thanks
That's most common problem for Saltiga.
Replaced it with carbontex drag washer and cal's grease if still original drag.

 

[KILSONG]

Freddy, do you think carbontex drag and Cal's grease can fix the startup drag issue ?
I don't know why Saltiga can not solve the problem. If they do, they can sell more than Shimano's Stella as the reel is lighter and stronger than Stella.

 

[Rodwinder]

What a great step by step tutorial that is

 

[Ichibahn]

Yup, carbontex drag and cal's grease it's the way to smooth the start up drag on most reel.
On Saltiga when the fish run, the drag washer get hot and start jerky.
I like my Saltiga than Stella, it feel more sturdy and lighter for me.
The down side is, weak design on reel foot stem ( 3 fancy hole ).
That's why they refill those hole on Saltiga Dogfight.

Kil, Do you get my PM about your Stella 16000 yesterday ?

 

[KILSONG]

Ichibahn wrote:
Yup, carbontex drag and cal's grease it's the way to smooth the start up drag on most reel.
On Saltiga when the fish run, the drag washer get hot and start jerky.
I like my Saltiga than Stella, it feel more sturdy and lighter for me.
The down side is, weak design on reel foot stem ( 3 fancy hole ).
That's why they refill those hole on Saltiga Dogfight.

Kil, Do you get my PM about your Stella 16000 yesterday ?

Yes, I got them. Yes, it looks like as you described.

 

[bretabaker]

if i got the stella 8000 for popping tuna i would max the drag out on the line i had depending on size of the tuna. if tuna were over 100lbs i would use at least 25lbs since the line capacity would be an issue. at 25-27 lbs even a 150lb tuna will tire quickly.

 

[gadoug]

Bret

I have some varivas pe 5 that breaks @80lb that I have on my 8000. It doesnt have 300 yards but its so close the fish wont know. I love the weight, and size of the 8000 compared to the 10k or 20k.

Doug

 

[KILSONG]

gadoug wrote:
Bret

I have some varivas pe 5 that breaks @80lb that I have on my 8000. It doesnt have 300 yards but its so close the fish wont know. I love the weight, and size of the 8000 compared to the 10k or 20k.

Doug
I recommend to use Varivas PE5 as 50 lbs line, not as 80 lbs line and set the drag accordingly. Otherwise, you are going to lose some fish.