ok guys, whats the spinning reel of choice. I want to run 8lbs mainline in the summer and 12 in the winner. I have heard the new shimano ( the model number, i dont know).
i dont want to invest a months worth of pay in it either..............<@)(((><

Addict, you could probably get away with buying just one Stradic 4000, and spool with both line weights. But, for me, a 4000 feels unbalanced on my summer noodle. For the same price you could get two cheaper shimano models (i.e. Sahara or Spirex) in a 2000 and 4000 to accomodate both line weights you mentioned. Or you can buy a cheaper model in the 4000 and save most of your paycheck. I've owned a Spirex 4000 for four years and it still works fine. It's a little wobbley now, but has been maintenance-free under "moderate" salt and freshwater usage.

Don't buy a 2000 and put 12 lb on it though. A few seasons back, while freedriftin' on the Cowlitz, I hooked into a hot one. Before my partner could stop laughing and rev up the outbrd main, it pulled off all my mainline to the knot. Then broke the 8 lb leader. I had run out of bulk 10 lb, so I just put 12 lb on my Stradic the night before. Lesson learned - must've had only 60 or so yards on there.

[This message has been edited by Hohwaiian (edited 02-17-2000).]

Hello !, I'm born and bred spinning. So here's my opinion, spinning reel's break. The awkward way their on the rod if nothing else insure's a stem snap sooner or later. With that I adopted the cheaper is better rule. Last year I found a 4 ball bearing Zebco (Zero hour bomb company, I love that ) Snapshot XS3 about $30. I alway's liked the Quantam series, but with ball bearing's on the crank, this baby's a worker. Yea, you can get higher gear ratio, larger drag disc's,ect. on other reel's, but at the price, No Way! (By the way rear drag rule's. I don't care if my only 2 option's are freespool and lockedspool, the control's behind the business end are the way to go. And that's all I have to say about that. Enjoy All!!

Shimano stradic!!!!!!!!
Ive owned a stradic 2000 for 3 years now and have had no problems with it!!!!!

Call me old fashion but I still use the old green and white Zebco Cardinal 4 spinning reel from back in the 70's. I own about 7-8 of them and they are a dream of a reel. The drag is the best rear drag I've ever seen. They're great on winter runs and cohos. On the down side, finding spare parts is almost impossible since they stopped making them in the early 80's.

Steelhead addict: Love your logo! You should have it patented. <@)(((><

MSB

I like the Shimano Sahara. Good reel at a reasonable price(around $60).

Steelhead Addict, I have two Shimano Symetre 4000's that I use year-round. These reels have what's called the Super Stopper II that virtually elimates backplay on a hookset. Isn't that what every Steelheader wants when they set the hook? Zero backplay,zip,none. Next time your in the sporting goods store, check one out. The line capacity is 200yds of 10# test.
Mark

I've had reels in the past which definitely made me wish they had zero backplay. The Penn 4500SS I have has minimal backplay and is listed in Cabela's for $77.99. I'm hoping Penn will make the SS series with zero backplay before I decide to buy another reel. If they don't, then I might look at other brands.

Cabelas tournament series reels are very smooth and cost about $79.00. I believe they are a 5 bearing reel. I use one for low water summer fishing and have never had a problem. They come with a spare aluminum spool.

I see that Bass Pro has dropped the price on the Daiwa SS1600 (10lb x 210 yds) from $120 in 1999 to $90 this year. Big spool = long casts, and lots of drag area. I use the SS2600 in saltwater and have had zero problems. Remarkably tough reel and best value-for-money reel I own (esp. at the new price). Extra spool cost $20 or so (not listed in the Bass Pro catalog).

If you make at least $220/ week then I highly recommend the Shimano Sustain 4000 (160 yds x 12lb). Best ball bearing spinning reel I've come across. However, I see that the new Shimano 'Stella' 4000 will set you back a cool $515 and is doubtlessly an even better reel than the Sustain but even a devoted gear-guy like me has to draw the line somewhere . . . I mean what would happen if you had a Stella and it got WET? I'd probably have to carry a battery operated hair dryer just in case.

Check out Fin-Nor's Ahab reels. My wife has the one rated for 12 lb line.Have seen her land kings up to 40 lbs with 15 lb line.The drag system is the smoothest i've ever felt on a spinning reel.they dont run to much, cost wise,about 180 bucks,extra spool about 25,and new drag washers 3 for 10 dollars.the one bad thing about it is,is that if it gets dirt on it it goes down,but thats what you get when things are built that tight.Takes about 10 mins to clean with a small brush.

If money is no object, look at a Van Staal. They have lifetime GAYRONTEES (cajun) and are very spendy. About 250-400 bucks. But they never need to be worked on, it is a sealed system. Made of aluminium and solid brass gears. The east coasters have been raving about them, but they are hard to find out here yet. I think Bass Pro had one in their catalog. But since money is an object I have fished with Mitchells and cheap reels. I am hard on my reels so I don't like forking out big bucks for them. The Mitchell reels I have landed up to 25 pound fall run kings with. So they work well.

On the charter boat i worked on this summer, we caught multiple halibut over 100 lbs (one was over 200) On a Penn 7500SS. I can't speak for the smaller reels, but i assume they all work about the same, and retail for around 100$

Stradic 2000s' have been awesome for me for me the last couple of seasons and without failure! But the Sustains' drag hums' just a little better tune. Period!

Come on everyone open up the old eyes and see what is new and reasonably priced...The Browning Predator!!! What a sweet reel!!

I've switched all my reels over.

Anyway..my .02

hey peeps, jus got some questions for ya..ok..i fish with a abu level wind..5500..now..i find it hard to drift for stealies with it..to pick up slack and all that..but its great for kings..now..should i fish with my spin real..and will i get better control with it? and where can i get new spools for a sidestab 4000 and a cx4000r..both are shimano's but the tops keep poppin off..and lose some of the lil thingymajiggy's in the spool..now i love shimano..but these reals blow..i also got a solstace 3000f..and its a front drag and had it for like 8 years..and no problems..its a front drag..is it jus the bottom drag ones that suck? well have a good one..goin out to the carbon again today..its so rad out there..

I have both the Stradic 4000 and the Penn 4500. The Stardic is smoooooth and with the extra spool changing lines to fit the condition is easy. I keep the 4000 set with 8lb and 10lb line and I keep the Penn set with 12lb line. Both balance about the same on the rods thus making the change easy. To keep the cost down get a good reel that has an extra spool rather than 2 cheap reels. Just my thoughts. -- We need rain.

Anyone have experience with the Penn Prion? I'm lookin to buy a Stradic 2000 and maybe match it with a G-Loomis of some sort, maybe the 1141 or some other Steelhead rod by them.

having used an old DAM quick 110# since I can't remember and caught everything from chinook to trout,I finally broke down and purchased a shimno Spirex 2000 love it,I use it on my noodle rod... Smooth I still use my calcutta about 4 to 1, I quess I'm just a bottom dweller I'm still learning my noodling technines and learning and learning,after 25 years of steelheading I'm still learning , as far as price goes I think some times you pay for the name ,I've caught fish on cheap set-ups and $ 400 rigs ,I own 1 loomis and 2 lamiglass But My rod of choice is still my series 1 berkley ,personal choice hey if it catches fish... :eek

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Tight Lines
<*)>><------FISH ON!!!