Hi Guys,
I'm just getting into more saltwater fishing now, having done primarily freshwater. ;D So I bought a Black Steel 6470-7. I'm looking for a reel to pair with it. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I've been considering a Avet JX 6/3. Then after doing some research more, I'm debating on buying a used reel (e.g. Jigmaster 500) and upgrading it (new frame, drag, etc).
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I like the thought of being able to re-build the reel. I'm unsure though because I don't know if a re-build will end up costing more to get the same performance as I would have with a new JX for example.
Thanks!
-Roland
Either reel is fine as the rod in you purchased is a 40# reel.
What will you be fishing for? would you need to adjust your drags while fishing? Are you planning to fish with braided line or mono?
Hi Roland, buying a new reel is fun, but building it the way it pleases you is much more enjoyable. Welcome to The Club. Rudy
Hey Bryan,
Thanks for the fast response!
Great question. I like bottom fishing. So I would use it for anything that bites! ;D Snapper, sea bass, grouper, amberjacks, etc.
I was planning on using braid. Someone told me Diamond Momoi is the way to go. As far as adjusting the drag, no, I didn't think I would need to.
Thanks!
Quote from: RowdyW on July 11, 2013, 09:49:46 PM
Hi Roland, buying a new reel is fun, but building it the way it pleases you is much more enjoyable. Welcome to The Club. Rudy
Hi Rudy,
Thanks! That's exactly what I was thinking! With that in mind, is there any particular reel you can recommend rebuilding? Ex: Jigmaster 500, 114, Newells, etc.
Thanks,
Roland
Hi Roland,
Oh yeah, welcome.
For a 40# braid top-shot rig, you are probably using 65 or 80# braid...
Penn - Penn Jigmaster or 112H. I would prefer a Penn 112H with a topless tiburon frame. With a 5 stack drag washer system, you'll have more than enough drag.
Newell - Depending on depth you are fishing, 200, 300, or 400 series. Again, it depends on depth, and therefore, line capacity. All have essentially the same drag package. Difference is gear rations and diameter of reel.
ProGear - PG 545, PG541 - Braid ready with old-school Penn technology. Solid frame and sideplate, and Penn 4/0 guts with 4;1 gear ratio. Size of a 2/0 and 3/0, respectively.
Avet - MX or JX, but if you can afford it, the Rapture series are top knotch with all the drag you need.
Release - ??? I have yet to hear a bad thing about that reel and have yet had one in to inspection as well.
That would be my recommendation off the top of my head
Quote from: Bryan Young on July 11, 2013, 10:24:41 PM
Avet - MX or JX, but if you can afford it, the Rapture series are top knotch with all the drag you need.
Avet is responsible for the Rapture?
For 40# braid I don't think you can beat a steel geared 112H. If you have the coin to swing a T3NK then I would do it. SS everything et all and either Lee's insert or Bryan's drags. Can fish 40# without even thinking about sweating and all the capacity you need.
Ron
Roland, I would go with a Penn 113h or hl. There are more parts & modifications available for them then any other reel. You can go as far as you want to spend & stop anytime you want. Once you get into the modifications it might become addictive. Rudy
Thanks a lot guys! I appreciate all of the recommendations! :D
One main thing I'm worried about with the older penns is the gap between the spool and frame. This is evident even with the upgrades.
Quote from: Bryan Young on July 12, 2013, 06:08:17 AM
One main thing I'm worried about with the older penns is the gap between the spool and frame. This is evident even with the upgrades.
that is why I don't regret getting rid of every old Penn reel I had, no matter how nostalgic people get about them, it is a choice of fishing or trips ruined by line swallowing.
Thankfully my Newell kits don't seem to have the issue. 50 pound braid won't get pinched on my Tuna Special.
Ron
If you're fishing the larger reef species, you're going to want every piece of mechanical advantage you can get. Most important: Gear ratio and cranking power. Get something with lower gears, but not so low that you don't get a lot of line with each crank. A two speed might be nice, but you're going to buy more gear if this becomes more than an interest.
I think if you chose a Black Steel Seeker rod, then an Avet might be okay for you. Then again, if you get into lever drags, you've got a lot of options.
Momoi is great line. Stiff and IGFA rated. The bad part is knots don't tie very well and it burns itself a lot when cinching knots. I can tie a bimini in it, but I'd rather tie a bimini in other lines first. I don't even use biminis much myself, but some people still feel comfortable using them. I'd go with a quality fluorocarbon over Momoi. That is a whole new set of suggestions. Remember, you're going to talk to 5 people and they'll give you 10 suggestions. Pick one and realize you're on a learning path.
For bottom fishing for grouper and large snapper you must turn them from the reef quickly or you are guaranteed a cut off. Get a nice Newell 631-3 and add an Alantani power handle too it as I just did and you have a winch that will turn them quickly with a very strong drag. I use 60 lb momoi Diamond and it will turn them. Those first few turns are critical with no drag slippage to stop your leader from getting sliced on the reef.
Not knocking anyone here, I wouldn't recommend a reel that has been discontinuedand with replacement parts that are hard to get.
I would respectfully agree with Alto Mare. Mawaru did say he was just getting into more saltwater fishing. He bought a 40 lb. rod, but it would also be helpful to know if he really intends to fish 40 lb. line and where he will be fishing.
Quote from: mawaru on July 11, 2013, 09:42:31 PM
Hi Guys,
I'm just getting into more saltwater fishing now, having done primarily freshwater. ;D So I bought a Black Steel 6470-7. I'm looking for a reel to pair with it. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I've been considering a Avet JX 6/3. Then after doing some research more, I'm debating on buying a used reel (e.g. Jigmaster 500) and upgrading it (new frame, drag, etc).
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I like the thought of being able to re-build the reel. I'm unsure though because I don't know if a re-build will end up costing more to get the same performance as I would have with a new JX for example.
Thanks!
-Roland
IMO a two speed reel offers way more flexibility in fishing methods and for species targeted than a single speed reel. Fishing deep around structure, like already stated, means turning the fish away from said structure as fast as you can which means having power. A low speed reel has the power but not speed. Cranking up from deep drops with a low speed reel can be tiresome when changing baits, checking lines, moving back over the structure and such. This is where a higher speed reel would shine or of you wanted to try some higher speed jigging. So you can see why I prefer a two speed reel for this type of fishing. I fish in Baja a lot and use my JX 6/3 as my go to 40 lb reel, I fish Calstar rods but a Seeker Black Steel 6470 is a great 40 lb rod and would match up very nicely with a JX. I set my drags at 10 pounds at strike with my JX which allows me to bump the lever past strike if needed and still be below the 33% of my lines breaking strength.
Some may say being new to the saltwater scene stick with a single speed reel to keep cost down but I on the other hand say a two speed is the way to go. One two speed reel will cover more applications which will save you money in the long run. As you get further and further into this type of fishing you WILL want to try different types of ways to entice a strike and a two speed reel can cover many more bases than one single speed.
I use my JX for grouper, jacks like yellowtail, amber jack and jack crevalle as well sailfish, dorado and stripped marlin. Here is a pic of a almaco jack, very closely related to a AJ, taken with my JX 6/3.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img560/4250/marks004.jpg)
When I used to work in tackle shops, I would tell people to honestly asses their level of fishing enthusiasm. If you think you are a tenderfoot, then going in and investing on something that seems like what most hardcore guys are using might be overkill, but then I would say, "You could buy this entry reel and still end up buying this one you feel like is overkill once you are addicted or you could just buy it now. This way, you're buying one reel now versus two down the road wishing you had just gotten the appropriate reel in the first place."
Quote from: CapeFish on July 12, 2013, 08:09:00 AM
Quote from: Bryan Young on July 12, 2013, 06:08:17 AM
One main thing I'm worried about with the older penns is the gap between the spool and frame. This is evident even with the upgrades.
that is why I don't regret getting rid of every old Penn reel I had, no matter how nostalgic people get about them, it is a choice of fishing or trips ruined by line swallowing.
I have been fishing my two 113hs with all the good's with braid and my 505 jigmaster with braid long top shot of 5 to 10 yards, and vertical jig with my narrow and have never had a problem with this. O and I forgot to mention, I fish them very hard two to three times a month and catch big fish with um ;)
Quote from: broschro on July 14, 2013, 10:32:04 PM
Quote from: CapeFish on July 12, 2013, 08:09:00 AM
Quote from: Bryan Young on July 12, 2013, 06:08:17 AM
One main thing I'm worried about with the older penns is the gap between the spool and frame. This is evident even with the upgrades.
that is why I don't regret getting rid of every old Penn reel I had, no matter how nostalgic people get about them, it is a choice of fishing or trips ruined by line swallowing.
I have been fishing my two 113hs with all the good's with braid and my 505 jigmaster with braid long top shot of 5 to 10 yards, and vertical jig with my narrow and have never had a problem with this. O and I forgot to mention, I fish them very hard two to three times a month and catch big fish with um ;)
I should have clarified that I surfcast. It should not be a problem fishing from a boat. With long hard casts there is inevitably some slack in the line that forms, especially if the reel has no cast control. It is not really an overwind, perhaps you can call it a pre-overwind. There are some slow-mo videos on you tube of casting where you can see it, will try and find it. This slack very easily slips between spool and frame if the gap is too big resulting in ruined line and an overwind. On a reel with a very close tolerance this does not happen. Even when you get an overwind it can just be pulled out with usually no damage unless it was a world record cast attempt gone wrong then no reel is going to save you :)
Ha!
When I started casting Penns the old man told me that I had figured it out when the line went slack on the spool and the cast was long enough to pull out the mess AND you stopped the spool at the right time. It took me 1 and a half years to do it, I think I was 11.
Ron
Quote from: doradoben on July 13, 2013, 07:25:29 AM
I would respectfully agree with Alto Mare. Mawaru did say he was just getting into more saltwater fishing. He bought a 40 lb. rod, but it would also be helpful to know if he really intends to fish 40 lb. line and where he will be fishing.
Wow! I really appreciate everyone's feedback! This is all very helpful!
I bought a 6470-7 because after doing some research I thought the 40lb range would cover me in case I land a big one. It was either the Black Steel or the GF 700M... As far as where I fish, I'll usually fish off North Carolina (OKI) for some Mahi, snapper, AJs, etc. I've been "rocked" a couple times there, so I know that feeling. ;)
Aside from OKI though, I intend on fishing SoCal. I've only been pier fishing at Newport, but I was gonna head there next month. So really, I'll fish anywhere I can take my rod. :p
Roland,
Here in So Cal on trips in the 3 day and shorter length 40 lb test is not used much. 30 lb test and lighter is used most often but when you go on trips of 4 to around 7 days 40 lb will be the test fished most often. On overnight trips up to the 3 day range I do bring a 40 lb test setup as just in case setup. Most of the time that setup never leaves the rod rack. You being in North Carolina you have mentioned 2 very nice 40 lb test rods fished here on the left coast. I don't know where you got your info about the rods but it is very solid.
I use an Avet JX 6/3 on my G6470 for 40#. It was acid wrapped by J.Akuhed. Best fish so far was a 45# Yellowtail at Cedros Island fishing from a panga. I've used it for rockfish and Humbolt squid (40#'ers). I like the low gear near the bottom then switch to high after the swim bladders blow. It's a great combo.
Hey dude your fishing my home turf at OKI! Me and my buddies shark fish down there alot of the piers, my recomendations for reels for bait fishing would be a 4/0 or a black 6/0 with 130lb braid. Ive never had much jigging experience.