newell 338,trinidad 40, or torium 20

[robmandel]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

#3 Shimano Torium 20 :...this is the reel I used to love on my jig-sticks. Those days are over, though, and I'll tell you why. For one, I've broke the anti-reverse bearing on the Torium 20 over thirty times (a.k.a. The Knuckle Buster!). I've not only got the scars to prove it, but I'm pretty sure I fractured a finger in the process, too. It was swollen and hurt for five months, but I only go to the doctor when I can't stop the bleeding or can't breathe .

Not only that, but you need to be an engineer to service this reel yourself.


If you're buying a conventional reel to cast surface-iron, for the kayak...I'd suggest picking up one of two reels. The first is a Daiwa Sealine 40. It's free-spool is just as good as a Newell 338. I can cast this reel just as far as any deckhand with a Newell (so can you with practice). It's durable as hell and takes abuse and keeps on ticking. It's got the perfect height and width as mentioned above. It's $109 at Squid Co. and I bet Charkbait has it on the cheap, too. It's easy to service and I've never had bloody knuckles from fishing with locked-down drags on bruiser Yellowtail with it.



I use the Daiwa Saltist 40 on all my jig-sticks today.

some reels are made for fishermen, others are made for fishing. :bigg rinjester:

(disclaimer: I own 10 sealines, all upgraded with greased carbon fiber drags.)

[h2ofishfo]

torium16 for me really dont need that much line on the kayak for the 20 ill take the smaller feel of the reel in my hand and the 16 has a more narrow spool for easier tracking of line have it on the 9'ft terramar fast action love it cause its a light set up and gets the job done

[tptrench]

Thank you for taking the time to give us the advice. I own all 3 of the reels plus a sealine 50. Tough decisions now. Used an Avet JX last May for a #51.9 ghost, but had to have it serviced because it took a bit of a douche. Not cheap, even at Squdco. Also, Josh, enjoyed your seminar at Fastlane. With all the trophies that you've landed, it seems that you would be a little "jaded" and not want to share your knowledge. It's really refreshing that you are as cool as you are. Thanks again!

[THE DARKHORSE]

Being that you already own those reels, I'd suggest practicing with the Shimano Torium 20 (that's if, the free-spool is in perfect working order?). At least the Shimano has a spool tension dial on the reel to aid in your learning curve. Once your casting in the 60-80 yard range, consistently without back-lashing, I'd switch to the Newell for those additional 20 yards.

Like I said, I wouldn't suggest the Newell unless you're already casting at an expert level; as there's no spool tension knob. It's the way it should be; incredible free-spool with no breaks. The Newell is hard to beat (free-spool wise), unless you're catching big Yellowtail on the surface-iron with heavy drag...all the time. Or, plan to fish the surface-iron with spectra (this reel isn't made for that kind of stuff). If you're doing either of those things--- the drags just go out when the entire ocean erupts in front of you. Which isn't a big deal either if you have two jig-sticks on board, like me .

Since you have a Daiwa Sealine 50 already (which has great free-spool as well), that's just another option for you. For me, even though the Daiwa Sealine 50 has great free-spool, it's a little too wide (same width as the Torium 30). Remember, each cast will be a direct result of how well you wound the line on. It's just more challenging to wind the line on perfectly with a wider spool. It's also more challenging to wind your line on perfectly with a reel that has a low gear ratio---if, you're trying to wind fast. Which is common on a lot of jigs to make them swim properly. For that reason, I prefer not only the perfect height and width of the spool, but a 6 to 1 gear ratio.

In my opinion, the ultimate goal should be training your thumb to adjust to each swing. While spool tension and Magic Cast will help in the early stages of learning to cast---eventually, you should be casting with no breaks on the reel at all.

Above all, like I said in my previous post---it's about one thing: catching more fish. And the surface-iron is a great tool to achieve that goal. While I have all conventional reels, without breaks or magnets used on any of them, my eyes are forever open when it comes to catching more fish; the sky's the limit!

I still like to think, I improve every-time I'm on the water. And if a twenty-foot, hot pink, upside down coffee grinder with spectra can cast 200 yards---you might see me swinging one before it's all said and done.

[The Kid]

To join in on the Newell discussion, the tensioners are on the side plates on both the right and left side. However, you must adjust these with a large flat head screwdriver so on the water adjustment pretty much a pain in the ass.

[THE DARKHORSE]

Originally Posted by The Kid

To join in on the Newell discussion, the tensioners are on the side plates on both the right and left side. However, you must adjust these with a large flat head screwdriver so on the water adjustment pretty much a pain in the ass.

Being the expert you are on reels...I had hoped you'd chime in on twenty-foot, hot pink, upside down coffee grinders with spectra. If you buy one I will, too. Enough of this Ulua crap you and I have bought into (the jig-stick obsession)---it's time for a change. Instead of hot pink, I was thinking of a twenty-foot candy cane striped blank, with $400 worth of titanium guides!

Can you imagine the ridiculous bendo-shots we could get with a wide angle lens on those things?

[The Kid]

hahahaha oh man you and I know it would be so freaking awesome!!! I would piss myself laughing with joy as that entire rod is bent in the water. The wafting of the immense rod by the simple lapping of the swell upon your yak, the lifting and crisp crack of the rod like the gauchos whip driving broncos into the corral, and the bend in the rod taken pleasure only by those whose have had so courageously sacrificed their arms to a creature swimming in a realm only we as humans can tap into with the median known simply as "line". You can count on me getting that set up within the next 2 months. Now to just find the right rod. Reel= Shimano XXXXXXX 10000. Rod= Bamboo chute.

[Siebler]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

Being the expert you are on reels...I had hoped you'd chime in on twenty-foot, hot pink, upside down coffee grinders with spectra. If you buy one I will, too. Enough of this Ulua crap you and I have bought into (the jig-stick obsession)---it's time for a change. Instead of hot pink, I was thinking of a twenty-foot candy cane striped blank, with $400 worth of titanium guides!

Can you imagine the ridiculous bendo-shots we could get with a wide angle lens on those things?

I just got a new power wrapper, Im in to help build these things

I love My Ulua and 338, by far my favorite jig stick I own or have ever owned. Actually thinking about wrapping a 10' Ulua next just cause.

[Lets_Fish]

Lots of great information all have contributed here. I'm in the market for a new rod & reel and all this has been very informative for me.

On the lighter side,

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

I still like to think, I improve every-time I'm on the water. And if a twenty-foot, hot pink, upside down coffee grinder with spectra can cast 200 yards---you might see me swinging one before it's all said and done.

I can just see you now, 50+ pounds heavier and tossing the iron beyond the horizon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqj-1r2VH5w

[RookieYakker]

BUMP

I was trying to educate my self on a good setup for throwing surface iron and came across this thread. Some great info!

I have a couple Toriums, but I'm still not sure what to look for in a rod to pair it with

[roadx]

THE DARK HORSE and The KID on the same thread!!!
pure gold!!!!