Corpusfishing.com

[Sinker]

I am retiring my Diawa Emblem and would appreciate suggestions on a replacement reel.
It will be mounted on a Breakaway LDX 13ft rod.
Thanx in advance!

[AnmRanch]

Following this as well.
I'm thinking of adding a spinning reel to my surf rods as a guest rod.

[Dubdee]

Next one for me will be a Daiwa BG I think.

[Donnie]

Penn Spinfisher - 6500, 4500, 5500 , 10500, even I cant screw them up. The 5500 i have had for 12 years.

I have two 5500, a 4500 and a 10500, the 10500 you need a crane operators license to use.
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Don - permanent prescription of salt water therapy.

[ziacatcher]

I've had Cabela's salt Striker SS 80s on mine for a long time. Not much maintenance. Wipe them off spray them down when you're finished and they last for years and years and years. Only run about $80.

[The Trash Heap]

[chapcat54]

My advice would be to read the reviews at AlanHawk.com . No one tears spinning reels down part by part to check for quality, and also puts the reels through their paces like Alan Hawk does, then reports on them is such detail.

Most recently, the Daiwa BG SW has been tested and reviewed and he states this reel is the best reel on the market for $110, beating out reels costing over twice as much. I bought the BG5000 for the surf, and absolutely love it. You pick it up and play around with it at the store, and you can feel its quality. Its body is anodized alumiunum. Its all in the review.

http://www.alanhawk.com

[chapcat54]

[captfrankie]

I bought some Diawa BG15 reels when I started guiding in 2003. I'm pretty sure I bought them from Nick when his shop was on the island. I used them for a few years . Sold them to a guide friend and they are still in service. Not bad for 14 years. Billy Sandifer used them on his beach charters also .
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Life is Good

[captfrankie]

I bought some Diawa BG15 reels when I started guiding in 2003. I'm pretty sure I bought them from Nick when his shop was on the island. I used them for a few years . Sold them to a guide friend and they are still in service. Not bad for 14 years. Billy Sandifer used them on his beach charters also .
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Life is Good

[shallowsport]

Bang for the dollar: Zia & Cabelas got a good thing going, but I've always liked the big Penn's.
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"I do hunt and I do fish and I do not apologize to anyone that I hunt and fish." - Norman Schwarzkopf

[Donnie]

[gkrane]

When I go fishing it is almost always with my wife and 13 year old son who dont seem to be too attentive in trying not to have waves crash over the reels while out in the surf. I seem to always have a spinning reel or two that are in the service required rotation due to salt and sand. I moved to Corpus about two years ago with an extensive background in freshwater fishing but I am new to the surf fishing scene. I was not expecting the salt and sand to eat through my freshwate fishing reels as efficiently as it did so I had to start adding new weapons to my arsenal at an alarming rate. When we go fishing we rarely stand on the shore unless it is at night and I have long lines out that I drop with a drone for shark. Standing in the surf to me is an almost magical experience. Seeing the schools of mullet swim by, turtles, fish in the waves, and the overall experience of being in the water is incredible. This attraction to wading out to the second bars in less than optimal conditions also puts the spinning reels to test. I absolutely can't stand it when my spinning reels are running rough so after extensive testing in the water I have a list of favorites that seem to be very capable of taking the punishment my family can put them through. I usually get out to PINS about twice per week.

Quantum Cabo PT- Durable, cleans up well and only broke the clicker spring so far. This is what my son uses and if he can't expose it flaws through careless practices it must be tough. If he needs a rig changed I switch him to another so everything in this list has been exposed to his teenage hands for at least a few hours total.

Penn Slammer 3- Absolute beast of a reel that has taken everything I have ever thrown at it without one issue. Mine is an 8500 so I use it for long wades out on a 12' Tica surf rod. Very heavy though and wish I read more before I bought the XH action on the Tica and went for a MH instead.

Shimano Saragosa- Very well suited for getting in the water with and have had no issues yet. One of my favorites along with the Cabo.

Daiwa BG SW- Very very good reel for the price. Have not had this one go through the accidental dunking by my son yet.

[gkrane]

Daiwa BG SW- (continued) This reel has been great for standing on the first bar fishing the second gut.

Shimano Stella (not the SW one)- This is the only one of my freshwater reels that seems to take a beating. My wife likes it because she thinks it is pretty and it is very light. It is an older model but still keeps ticking.

The ones that havent been so great are:

Abu Garcia Revo inshore- My son put the beat down on this one in one trip. Will only use in the bay now if for some reason we can't surf fish.

Daiwa Fuego- (bought in 2009)Trip after trip this reel just couldnt seem to stay running no matter how much I tried to baby it. Cant find anyone who can service it and Daiwa no longer supports it so it has been retired. Used to be one of my favorite freshwater reels.

Shimano Stradic- Still runs but can be fussy and needs to be cared for with love.

One thing I do for my reels is bring a 5 gallon igloo water jug and give them a quick rinse throughout the day and before we leave the beach so nothing can get too settled in. I hope someone finds some value in my limited experience.

[ironmanstan]

My Shimano Spheros have held up very well. Just saying. Everyone has their favorite. I would never use my Stradics in the surf. Currently I am using the Mitchell avo salt for my guest reels. They are doing very well.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.