Spinning reel for surf fishing

[pjstevko]

I'm looking to pick up a spinning reel to use while wading the beach for stripers off the Connecticut coast. 

My current reel is a Shimano Stradic 4000 with 20# braid which is fine for shore fishing but I'm looking to get into wade fishing so I need an upgrade. 

I'll only be using the reel once a year or every other year so I'm not looking to spend a fortune but understand I will need a reel that is sealed/partially sealed and can take a saltwater dunking or two....

What should I look at?

[Swami805]

I think Penn just won something at icast for their new spinning reels. Might be worth a look

[JasonGotaProblem]

Oh I'm getting out the popcorn for this one. What are you targeting?

[pjstevko]

Oh I'm getting out the popcorn for this one. What are you targeting?

It's in the original post....schoolie stripers

[oc1]

A Spinfisher Greenie or Z series.  They're trustworthy, dunkable, designed precisely for the conditions you describe and will not need any service until you get home.  They are very affordable compared to the Stella and Van Stahl alternatives.  It is important to keep up appearances, you know.  One that is stripped and drilled would be a nice touch, but not necessary.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Oh I'm getting out the popcorn for this one. What are you targeting?

It's in the original post....schoolie stripers

It was late. 

I'm here for the "rubber seals vs better metal gears" debate.

[pjstevko]

A Spinfisher Greenie or Z series.  They're trustworthy, dunkable, designed precisely for the conditions you describe and will not need any service until you get home.  They are very affordable compared to the Stella and Van Stahl alternatives.  It is important to keep up appearances, you know.  One that is stripped and drilled would be a nice touch, but not necessary.

What's one of those cost?

[Aiala]

What's one of those cost?

Just for starters, lots to choose from:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/180001/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=penn+704&_sop=10

https://www.ebay.com/sch/36175/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=penn+ss+650&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=16

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=penn+750ss&_sacat=36175&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=penn+750ss&_osacat=36175&_sop=16

And, our very own Fred the Great has an extraordinary stock of parts if needed. 

~A~

[JasonGotaProblem]

What's one of those cost?

That's a solid choice. Definitely on team good gears but no seals.

Penn still makes the 704z and i think they still make the 706 too (these models are still made in USA, I believe). You can get them new for $200, and I see them used a lot on CL, ranging from $20-$100 depending on physical condition of the reel and mental condition of the seller.

[pjstevko]

Anyone here have a greenie or Z series they wanna part with?

[foakes]

Here are a few —-

Green 700 —- new spool, crank, drags, freshly serviced.

Black 704Z with PUM (manual pick-up, no bail) —- also new spool, crank, drags, freshly serviced.

Might not be available too much today —- installing a new 4-stage power converter in the Six-Pac camper.

Along with a 2.5 gallon gas can and rack.

Many of the Striper guys on the East Coast use reels like these —- all reels will get saltwater intrusion when surf-fishing —- even if they are touted as "waterproof".  Believe me, and I service a lot of these for guys in the Northeast, Carolinas, and Georgia.

The experienced anglers want a reel that the SW will run out of —- then can be rinsed and oiled after a fishing trip.

Plus, the more small parts —- the more complicated and finicky they become. 

Metal, steel worm drive with bronze main, oversized main bearing, overbuilt components inside and out. 

You should find this is a solid way to go.

Best, Fred

[thorhammer]

PJ, in terms of dunking a couple times per year, you can fully flush that Penn housing and spool and new lube in prolly less than 10 mins. There's just not a bunch of fancy stuff and springs and crap to break. At the risk of raising the ire of the AT faithful, I might do this when fishing for the week: if dunked, pull off the side plate and spool, dunk in fresh water, spray Corrosion X inside housing, light wipe of grease on gears and shafts. You should already have pre-serviced with light grease coat on innards and carbon drags, and ya might be able to fit a thin, oiled, felt seal between drag knob and top of stack. This is my 0.02 on a combat service, and realistically if you count pre-service, this likely constitutes more owner-service than 99 percent of reels, genrally speakin'. I just came by some Symmetres that actually had green corrosion on the plastic trim parts. Didn't know you cud corrode mylar....

[pjstevko]

Here are a few —-

Green 700 —- new spool, crank, drags, freshly serviced.

Black 704Z with PUM (manual pick-up, no bail) —- also new spool, crank, drags, freshly serviced.

Might not be available too much today —- installing a new 4-stage power converter in the Six-Pac camper.

Along with a 2.5 gallon gas can and rack.

Many of the Striper guys on the East Coast use reels like these —- all reels will get saltwater intrusion when surf-fishing —- even if they are touted as "waterproof".  Believe me, and I service a lot of these for guys in the Northeast, Carolinas, and Georgia.

The experienced anglers want a reel that the SW will run out of —- then can be rinsed and oiled after a fishing trip.

Plus, the more small parts —- the more complicated and finicky they become. 

Metal, steel worm drive with bronze main, oversized main bearing, overbuilt components inside and out. 

You should find this is a solid way to go.

Best, Fred

Fred if you're willing to let one of those beauties go to a new home and get used I'd love to have one! I'll let you pick the best one for schoolie stripers from the beach wade fishing on 20# braid. I'm not familiar with using a manual pick-up if that helps form your choice.

Fred I'm not in a hurry so if you're willing let me know what I owe ya!

Thanks
PJ

[foakes]

Since you are not familiar with the PUM Bail-less system — I think the greenie would be the best.

It will handle 20-30 lbs Linesides easily, also the occasional 30 to 50 pounder, as well as a great sight casting reel for your Long Ranges out of SoCal.

I will also include a complete 10 piece Tune-Up kit at N/C consisting of commonly replaced wear parts that are basically not available anywhere else, just in case I am not around to service it in 30 years.  I just sell these for $10 to members.
If even available anywhere else —- the one-by-one prices would reach around $35 + shipping.  Maybe more if they needed to be sourced from different sellers.

Will PM info and send off likely tomorrow or Friday morning.

Best, Fred

[philaroman]

IMO, too much reel for playing w/ schoolies & baby blues, once-a-year
if you also use it for cats/carp in F/W, then it makes sense
otherwise, go down a size AND go up to 30#, or even 40# braid, despite distance loss 
too many places skinny 20# braid could sneak into, in older rotor-cup designs


OPTION B  

if your stradic 4000 is older w/ bigger bearings of equal size on both sides of main gear
(RD-0930,8553,10320,13241 & BR-0047...  all same size)

keep an eye out for a cheap MLX 200/300 or MLZ 20/30...  not to use (horrible reels, IMO) -- TO STRIP!!!
some GREAT individual parts in there, that predate modern parts numbering system, so nobody knows 
primarily, each has 2 solid bronze bushings on main gear, w/ same dimensions as all above modern(ish) BB's
if you get lucky & lone pinion BB also fits, it will be unshielded or single-shielded for easy cleaning

also, most likely, there is a cheaper, later Shimano 4000
that uses same rotor & compatible spools as your Stradic
and cheaper body/gearbox w/ disk oscillation (simpler, less-partsy)
possibly, there's a 5000 that uses 4000-size body w/ compatible rotor

you see where I'm going: a dunker that's inter-compatible w/ existing Stradic
and many, many usable spare parts when either reel dies