Rank the following reels saltwater reels. Use value, dependability, and performance as your criteria:
1) Penn Clash
2) Daiwa Saltist
3) Shimano Stradivarius Ci4
4) Penn SSV
5) Penn Conflict II
6) Quantum Cabo
With Santa coming, I have seen some really sweet sales with some good prices coming up. I may need to pick up a 3000 and 4000 for under the tree.
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Bump. I'm curious what others say here too. I've never owned daiwa anything, but it's hard to ignore what they're doing.
I've had zero first hand experience with any reel on that list. The Daiwa ad page says all the right things. On the specs, it's a little heavier and the retrieve ratio is a little lower than what I would want for a day of throwing artificials.
I can only speak for the Conflict II for fishing it for a year. It's been great, light weight, no issues. Here is a review from someone who has used and abused the Conflict https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ykjC3i2qA&list=PLIueC9grnUnZVhHUlW99pw...
I personally wouldn't want the SSV for inshore just purely on weight wise. The 3500 is 14.4 ounces, the conflict 2 4000 is 9.5 ounces.
edited:
yeah, for a 3000 series I'd be looking at; weight under 10 oz (I'm old and weak); retrieve ratio no lower than 6 (easier to slow down than speed up); and maintenance without removing the sideplate. But I'd also buy a 2500 unless I was going to use it in the surf and needed the line capacity.
Stradic, Clash and Conflict are 6.2:1; Stradic and Clash are under 10 oz, Conflict is a tad over; I know nothing about maintaining Penn reels...Shimanos are easy...I suspect Penns are as well but I don't have one to look at.
Yeah, I'm with you Dave on going for a 2500 series. You aren't going to be close to using the max amount of drag, line capacity is only a issue with an albie or bonito from pier which could be an issue for French. The Conflict 2 is well under 10 ounces for 2500 or 3000.
Yep- I fished with a 2500 for a long time. Now I use 3000s for everything, even Shad fishing in the river.
Penn must be discontinuing the Clash because they are being sold at big discounts at Tackle Direct this week. I got a ping today that Oceans East is selling them for 15% off. When you start seeing advertised sales on stuff, it is usually a sign that a new version is coming out.
I love the Stradics for smaller stuff (I own an FK3000) but if the performance is similar and I can save $70, I have to consider it. I like my Penns (SSV, the Conflict I, and Squall 15 are all in my arsenal) for heavier applications, that smooth drag and retrieve is critical for jogging.
What are you going to be targeting with this reel?
Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, other possible applications
I have a couple of Penn conventionals and two Quantum Cabos (3000, 4000). Don't use the Cabos much (a shame at the price) because I seldom need that big a reel. I'm using Daiwa Capricorns, some from as far back as 15 years, all 2500s and none made for saltwater. Also use a Daiwa Advantage, same size. Though they're not saltwater reels and they're not easy to clean, other than a propensity to get salt granules in the rollers that causes sporadic failure of the anti-reverse, they're holding up well after 6 years in the salt. The Cabos are really nice reels, and perhaps I'll use them more in the future, but I feel like I wasted money trying to gear up for my move to the Bay. I will say that with Daiwa, you usually get what you pay for. My oldest Capricorns withstood year 'round use, from my clients in the summer, and me in the winter, never need more than occasional lubrication and cleaning the anti-reverse rollers, and were more than worth the money.
This is debatable now as far as durability. Daiwa has moved the Mag Seal and air rotor that was originally just in the Steez and Saltiga lines straight down to their $100 reels. They are IMO the best company about moving 'new' tech down their lines once they can master the production.