Looking for good plugging reel

[Galoot]

I've been in the Striper game for a couple of years now and I figured it was time to upgrade to a decent plugging spinning reel, I am going to match it with a lightweight 8 or 9 foot rod (Tsunami or Tica). I'm looking at an affordable range of up to $130. The reels that I am looking at are:

Diawa Emblem Pro
Diawa TD Tierra
Penn Affinity
Penn Slammer (maybe heavy?)
Shimmano Spheros

Does anyone have anything good/bad to say about these, any and all comments are appreciated.

[AJ168]

Stay away from the Affinity. It is actually a Pinnacle reel with the Penn name on it, and an added $80 to the price tag. If you're fishing braid, the Tierra will be big enough, and it is an extremely nice reel. I'm not big on it for a primary plugging reel because it doesn't have much power. It'll also get lost on a 9' rod. Shimano just came out with a new version of the Spheros, which I'll be putting on my 9' Tsunami plugging rod. They are cheap, smooth, durable reels.

[FiShNFooL91]

the new shimano stradic SI 5000

[Joseph Lamberty]

I ve been tossing a Penn ssm 650 w/ 200 yds 30 lb braid on my 9 ft Tica..the Penn 650 is a little heavy especially when the fishing is slow, but its been trouble free for 4 yrs..without anything but occasional regrease, you could buy the graphite 550 to get a little lighter, but I don t care too much for the graphite frames as much as the metal Penns. If price is an issue..the Penns are dependable, and easily serviced...at an affordable price.

Liv 2 Fish
Forced 2 Work

[smitty919]

hay i sent you a email.:D

[Fishenough]

Daiwa Advantage 4500 is a great reel. I have had it on my 9' Lami for two years and can't complain at all.

[JoeLswff]

Shimmano Spheros
Have two and their workhorses.

[Grass Sound Bass Bagger]

Diawa Advantage _ Check cablea's for a decent price break on the old model. Also, Spheros is good but a little heavy.

GSBB

[spikefish]

Shimano 4000FI is the best reel for the money. Capable of landing big fish for many years. However you must clean it everytime you use it. I have 2 one on a 7' Tica for lures in the back and one on a 8'6" Fenwick bigger swimmers in the surf. Awsome reel + my father landed a 54" barracuda w/ 10# test on this reel last week in mexico.You should look at it. I forgot to mention the Symetre 4000FI.

[FISH BUCKET]

penn slammer is as good a reel as it gets in its price range.
much more durable than other reels you are considering.if it gets wet or dunked occasionally it won't crap out on you.

[jumpingjoe]

Penn Slammers are great reels,not too heavy I think the 460 and the 560 both weight in under 20 oz.Slammers are good braid reels too.

[slimedog]

i own several slammers and never had a problem.
and they mach up good with alot of rods available today

[AJ168]

I agree that the Slammer is a durable reel, but have lost my faith in Penn after they've changed hands so many times in the past year or two.

[rocket500]

I like the Penn 550ssg

Lightweight and will hold plenty of braid- 275yds of 12 lb- (50 lb in most braid lines).

Balances well on a lighter 8 or 9 foot rod- you might find the slammers or the ssm models to be a little heavy.

[RhinoScores]

Before this winter, I would have suggested the Shimano Spheros since I have two 4000FA and one 5000FA. The problem with them is that if you use braid there is a good chance the spool will corrode where the line lays on the spool. I took off the PowerPro and Suffix to clean them this winter only to find that each spool had corrosion to some degree - including the 4000 which is only 6 months old. I spray off my reels with freshwater and wipe them down every time I get home from an outing. My Penn LiveLiner, which is older than the Shimanos, looks and feels like it's new. I got shimano to replace the spools, but they have no suggestion on how to prevent it from happening again, except for removing the braid line, washing the braid and allowing it to dry before I respool - every time I fish! Now that is not going to happen.

[diklarsen]

i would go with the quantum cabo

[Galoot]

Wow, alot of great advise. Thank you very much. I neglected to say this in the original post but I will be using 30-50# braid with this reel. I have a Shimano baitrunner and a Penn spinnfisher that I use for chucking bait. I love both of the reels but they both seem to be on the heavy side especial if I was to use them for an 6 to 9 hour plugging session. Of course I am also looking for something durable so maybe I have to sacrifice durability for lightweight or visa versa. I do appreciate all of the help. It seems like I had an easier time selecting a university to attend.

[fishypete]

I would go with a Spheros 4000 or 5000. I had no corrosion when I unspooled both my spheros a few weeks back. I'm just hoping that Rhinoscores problem was isolated. They are the best reels for the money. They hold up to the salt and sand much better than than the stradics.

[flyerphan13]

I would go with the Penn Slammer, very durable.

[Gene E]

i would go with the quantum caboI second that cabo 40 on a old 8' lami yellow glass matches great. also use diawa ss2600.not sure yet witch reel is going on the new ss108 lami,but you can be sure over time both reels will see action on the new stick

[mkuchta45]

Another vote for Penn Slammer (although I have no experience with the other reels you listed). I have a 460 on my 8' Tica plugging rod that is loaded with 30 pound power pro. Absolutely no complaints. I put that reel through a lot on the jetty and on the sand. It doesnt' seem heavy to me at all, and has a nice drag.

Good luck!

[moparfan]

I have the tica dolphin 9' 1/2 to 3 oz paired with the penn 5500ssg and love it. This spring will be my 3rd year and I have had no problems with either. Very light and the feel is great.

[Neil B.]

Shimano Stradic 5000.

[sea hermit]

Hi Galoot, If you are not in a big hurry, and enjoy bidding on Ebay auctions, then go to the Penn spinning reel auctions, and look for a nice Penn 550ss. If you are patient, you will find one that has been only lightly used, or sometimes brand new, with the box, etc. You can expect to pay from $75.00--$125.00 for one. I purchased mine there, and have used it for the last two years. Absolutely no problems, perfect weight for plugging all day, and the right gear ratio to work any kind of lure perfectly. I like mine so much, that I bought my Dad one on the auctions during the summer--like new with a second spool--$80.00 included shipping.

[Sudsrat]

It wasn't on your list but..................
the Daiwa Tournament SS 2600 is an awesome plugging reel.
Long cast spool design
Light weight....13oz.
Very good line capacity
Great Daiwa drag
$99 or less!
:D

[oldsalts]

It wasn't on your list but..................
the Daiwa Tournament SS 2600 is an awesome plugging reel.
Long cast spool design
Light weight....13oz.
Very good line capacity
Great Daiwa drag
$99 or less!
:D

With what rod would you put that reel on??????:cool:

[LamiglasMike]

Shimmano Spheros
Have two and their workhorses.


What he said!:D:D

I have 3 Spheros 6000's. Just needed one servived, after 3 years.:rolleyes:

[Sudsrat]

With what rod would you put that reel on??????:cool:

I have (5) 2600's on rods ranging from 8'-11'.

[kermic]

I have been plugging for several years now- and only own penns. I have a slammer- only use it for bait, which I do very little of. Very good reel- great drag, smooth, but on the heavier side to plug all day with. I have 2 550ssg's and although I'm not a huge graphite fan either, I do like them for their weight. You can plug with them all day- hold a decent amount of line, fits nice on a 8 or 9 ft. rod and are under 100 bucks. That's my advice. The only downside is if you're like me, and plan on getting it wet a lot, and fish hard- be ready to take it apart at least 2 times a season, clean & relube it. That is why I am saving my money and buying my first VS150 this spring- yeah! If you don't dunk it- penn is the way to go.

[mini ike]

i have a quantum boca 30 on a tsunami 8 foot airwave. light combo. i love it. i put 30 pound power pro and have plenty of line capacity. cabo is a step up but im fine with my boca. worth checkin out.

[BJEEP02]

Stradic 5000 on 8, or Stradic 8000 on 9 or10.

[wrenchhead]

Spheros is the way to go.I bought mine used from a barner and had plenty of good years with it. I just got the new saros, I'll let you know how that is.

[Brian E. Mullaney]

Daiwa Advantage 4500 is a great reel. I have had it on my 9' Lami for two years and can't complain at all.

yup the Daiwa Advantage is a great reel. I have three and love them.

Penn Slammer 460 is another reel I like alot.

[Surfplugs34]

Shimano Stradic 5000FI
Tica Libra SA4000/SA5000
Penn Slammer 460/560
Daiwa Emcast ECP5000

Good Luck and one day you might want to get your hands on a Van Stall.

[Galoot]

With all of the good reels that were suggested I ended up with the Penn Slammer 460 that I'm using with a 9'-0" Tsunami Airwave. It is a super light combo but I did notice that it is a little tip heavy. It looks like I might have to add :eek: a bit of weight to the butt end, which I hate doing. The good thing is that it will be perfectly balanced and I won't be straining my arms on the all day excusions.

Anybody have any good suggestions with adding weight to a rod? I was thinking about lead tape or something like that.

[flyerphan13]

With all of the good reels that were suggested I ended up with the Penn Slammer 460 that I'm using with a 9'-0" Tsunami Airwave

Nice choice with the Penn Slammer 460, I have a total of 4 Penn Slammers that I have been using for years and still and no complaints. keep it cleaned and it will for years and years!!:)

[Surfplugs34]

With all of the good reels that were suggested I ended up with the Penn Slammer 460 that I'm using with a 9'-0" Tsunami Airwave. It is a super light combo but I did notice that it is a little tip heavy. It looks like I might have to add :eek: a bit of weight to the butt end, which I hate doing. The good thing is that it will be perfectly balanced and I won't be straining my arms on the all day excusions.

Anybody have any good suggestions with adding weight to a rod? I was thinking about lead tape or something like that.

Here is an idea that I used more then once. I hollowed out the butt end of a few of my rods by boring out the tail end. I used a few lead dowels to balance out the rod and reel. Capped it back off and it didin't take the strength or integrity away from the rods I did. Now, I don't. I have purchased the correct rods and reels to set up correctly. Give it a try bot just be careful and go slow, the last thing you want is to split the rod butt end. Good Luck.