Reviews and comments: Jigging and popping reels

[DarkSkies]

These reels are rising to the forefront of tuna and striped bass fishing.

KilSong has started a site exclusively devoted to selling stuff like this, and the buzz over jigging and popping reels is reaching anglers who traditionally fished conventionals. They are trying to bring this info and learning to show anglers the quality that would be needed to put up with brutal, drag screaming runs. He mostly specializes in higher end stuff, and has been involved in offshore fishing for a number of years.

This is the first post in what may be a series of reviews of these reels.

There are also a series of lower end reels out there. Some of the reels may not be worth the low dollars or the hype. Some others may be a great value for people who don't fish much. One thing I've learned about reels over the years...if you buy cheap reels and use them hard they will blow up on you when it counts the most.

The object of the reviews is to post the positive and negative aspects of the reels, and be honest in your criticisms. If you want to criticize a particular reel and have personal experience using that reel, feel free.

Feel free to post up and add to this if you have any info.

[DarkSkies]

This one was sent in by Rip-Plugger, thanks!

Retails for around $79, 7 ball bearings, power handle.
2009 - 2010 models

[finchaser]

This one was sent in by Rip-Plugger, thanks!

Retails for around $79, 7 ball bearings, power handle.
2009 - 2010 models

No offense

Been jigging tuna for over 25 years and past 5 with butterfly jigs and most of the reels we use now are in the $300 to $1000 dollars range. On the cheap side a $200 Shimano Saragossa.

I personally use a conventional ShimanoTalica 12 and have a Saltiga 40 as a back up.
My jigging rod is 5'8" rated 65 to 200 pound braid and 6 to14 ounce jigs
this set up was $750


A $79 reel is lucky to hold up to a year of hard bass fishing.
Would never survive a tuna trip unless they were 27" schoolie yellow fin. Plus it has no line capacity.
They don't even mention the drag capacity or gearing.

All good tuna jigging and popping reels need to be able to hold at least 400 yards of 65# braid and generate 30# pounds of drag.


Starter conventional set up will run a minimun of $350 to on the low end for rod and reel
Starter spinner for jigging about $350 on the low end
Starter pooping set up about $375 on the low end

Braid to fill these reels cost $100 or more
Wind on leader $20 pop

PLus
Butterfly jigs range $12 to $20 each
Hooks for jig $7 for 3 you need 2 for each jig
Owner 200 split rings $7 for 6 1 per jig
Owner solid rings $7 for 6 1 per jig
Poppers $25 to 40 bucks each



I know Kilsong and his power handles start at $150 he doesn't sell a reel or rod for under $400

Tight lines

[DarkSkies]

Rip's comments -


He sent me some comments about his experience with Pflueger reels, which are made by Banax:




Banax is a company that makes reels for MANY other name brands.
Banax's name also means something as well.
I forget what it means exactly right now but,I do know it has to do with
science,earth/environment,nature or something very close to that. it is a
mix of things that has made the Banax name.
shakespeare is but one that has many reels made for them by Banax.

Personally,I own a pflueger Trion-66-L which was made by Banax.

it's smooth,fast and casts like a striped *** ape,it will get away from
you if you sleep on it.

I have had mine for nearly 10 years now.
it has given me no mech probs but,it can be a PITA if you slack on your
thumbwork.

6 BB's and it came with a teflon drag that sucked as it was just too
slick so,I swapped out the teflon washer and did up some carbon
fibres,that was a huge improvement over the factory drag.



R-P

Heavy-Hooksetter

[DarkSkies]

Some of the higher end ones are:

Shimano Stella, 8000, 10000, or 20,000 series.
The 20000 series is one of the most popular for tuna jigging.


Accurate twin spin, 2000 or 3000 series


Daiwa Saltiga 5000 and 6000 series

VS 275 and 300


Daiwa dogfight SA-Z 6500H


All have their merits and negative points. All at different price points. If you have anything to say about any of these, let's hear it.

[basshunter]

retails for around $1100, sweet reel.

Daiwa DOGFIGHT Saltiga Z 6500HFD Spinning Reel- The Ultimate Japanese Jigging and Popping reel from Daiwa. The Daiwa DOGFIGHT harnesses these features:

• 14 Ball Bearings and 1 Roller Bearing
• 66 lbs Maximum Drag Pressure
• 6.2:1 Gear Ratio
• Machined Aluminum Alloy Body, Sideplate & Rotor
• Daiwa DIGIGEAR Digital designed stainless steel and bronze gears
• Dual Full Time Infinite Anti Reverse
• Tough Air Bail Tubular Stainless Steel Bail
• Water Resistant High Performance Graphite Drag
• Forged Aluminum Spool with Titanium Lip
• Double Supported Pinion System, Zero Friction Main Shaft
• Manual Bail Return
• Bail & Rotor Lock during casting
• Machined One Piece Aluminum Handle
• Drilled Round Power Knob