Crossing to Dark Side (Convential Reel)

[fyremanjef]

Well, I guess it is that time. I am getting ready to pick up a convential reel in a few months.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a first time convential? I might as well go all the way and put it on a 11' Solaris or a 12 OM.

I have never used one, but I would like to give it a try. And I am getting ready to start my research.

Jeff

[SALTSHAKER]

Everyone has their own preferences. I myself for a first time conventional have two options. One being the Penn 525 mag, and the other the Diawa Slosh30. The Penn is controlled with the magnets and more can be added to tame the beast so to speak. Also they use I believe heavier oil, but I have not gone that far. The slosh 30 uses breaks that can be put in a changed with not to much difficulty..(even I can do it) and it is a very durable reel in my estimation. I am sure that others will recommend the abu's, I also have them, and they are good casting reels, but I feel the Penn and the Slosh have better and stronger drags for beach fishing. As said, there are a ton of preferences out there and I am sure you will get quite a bit of input.... The Solaris is a good rod and loads easily, the OM a little stronger... Also look at the Tica 12, just a little stiffer in the tip than the solaris and not as heavey as the OM.. good luck with your "quest" salt...........

[DERFM]

get yourself a 525 mag with the HO upgrade ( or add your own magnets) or a 6500 abu mag . IMO these are the easiest reels to learn on . started the mrs on a 6500 & now all she wants to throw is conventional . my rods & reels aren't safe anymore :eek: .
derf

[Fishman]

The ABUS are nice reel they cast great, but in my opinin I prefer the Diawa Sl 20 or 30 Sh I havent throw the penn so I cant compare it to the Daiwa. The Diawa is a smooth casting reel with a good set of drags and a 6 to 1 gear ratio. Casting breaks are easy to change,

[Cdog]

ABU's drag stinks even with the smoothie upgrade. Cast great though and as bad as I talk about em mine has caught nice fish... ;)

525 with the HO upgrade like Derf said is the easiest IMO to learn on.

Slosh 30 is a lil harder to learn on but has the best drag by far that I have used.

Also as far as rod, I found this weekend that the OM lite can throw(not lob) 8and a spot head. Also sensetive enough to throw 3anbait and detect baby croaker. Good luck and welcome to the darkside.... :D

[johnnyleo11]

I got this sweet ass Shimano TLD15 that's hardly been used!

[The Bucket]

fmj,

Diawa Slosh 20 on a 10' Tica. Most will say 17lb Suffix Tri, but I prefer 20lb Silver Thread line. Sweet spot is casting 5-6oz & bait. Ya want to step up to chunking "8 & bait" then 11'-6"/12' Tica and a slosh 30 is in order. I run the 20lb ST or 25lb Berkley Big game on the 30.

And yes, be prepared to replace some guides/eyelets :rolleyes: The feel/nice action of a Tica given it's "low" cost for a production surf casting rod more then makes up for that issue. Fact I plan to have my Tica's re-wrapped either along the way or all at once `cause I like'em so much and I can't swing (or come off the jack for) the custom rods :eek:

Go fish & buy tackle,

`bucket

[Drumdum]

I got this sweet ass Shimano TLD15 that's hardly been used!

:p :D :D :D :D :D :D

If I didn't already have one,I'd take it off your hands.. :)

[Shooter]

Well for number one aint no one asked what ya gonna be fishn for with it mainly? If'n your gonna be fishn local for stripers then a med-heavy action 12' such as the OM Lite or a Tsunami *aint never heard anyone bustn the eyes out of them and mine has caught some good size fishies* paired up with a Slosh 20 or 525. Now if'n your lookn to head down to Da Point and hunt some of dem large Drummie critters ya might want to step up in weight to sumthang like the 12' OM Heavy paired up with a Slosh 30.
So many choices on the Dark side but a good reason to always buy a new rod and reel :D

[Cobia Seeker]

For $199.00 or less including line you will not beat the Slosh 20 and the 10" Tica. Some have had guide
problems but not mine so far.

[Fishman]

which would be the best 10 ft. Om ros to buy with a sl30 sh reel using 20 lb. test?

[Cobia Seeker]

Depends on how much money you want to spend and what you are fishing for.

[Fishman]

None of the above matters just looking for some recomedations.

Thanks for the quick reply.

[Cobia Seeker]

I don't buy from BassPro and the like because they really put a hurtin on the local tackle shops and I like to keep my money at home. Like I said for the money you won't beat the Slosh 20 and the Tica rod.

On the 2 I have there's 300 yards of 17 Gami. plus the shock leader and casts like a rocket.

[Montcopo]

I like the Shimano Calcutta 400 loaded with 30lb Power Pro

[Drumdum]

Well, I guess it is that time. I am getting ready to pick up a convential reel in a few months.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a first time convential? I might as well go all the way and put it on a 11' Solaris or a 12 OM.

I have never used one, but I would like to give it a try. And I am getting ready to start my research.

Jeff

IMO,the 12' OM lite will do the job in most cases. It will handle 8nbait,combined with a sl 30 it will hold enough 20lb line to do the job.. The 20 and the mag 525 aren't bad reels either,line capasity could be an issue with twenty lb test and cobe at the other end though,IMO..

[fyremanjef]

Well I knew what I was getting my self into by asking such a question that has lots of personal opinions.

From the replies it looks like I am going to get the slosh 20 or the mag 525. As far as rod, I am still up in the air. Since I already have 2 10' and 3 12' rods, I may go with the 10 Tica or Solaris. No wait, maybe one of the OM. Darn ;)

I am not even going to mention the line type.

well, I will have pleanty of time to practice and playing with my "afros" and "bird nests".


I will probably have to spend a few weekends wadering around tackle shops and studying catalogs, because I am completely lost when you all refer to reels by their model #'s and nicknames.

And I though I already learned all there was to know about fishing, yeah right. :D

[CrawFish]

Yup... what's DD said. If you ever fish at the point... about 80-90% of the people there use Sl30sh and Tica. Please correct me if I'm worng. But the OM lite will do the what the tica does and maybe more. ;)

By the time I realize that you don't need custom rods and expensive reels to fish there, it was too late.. :rolleyes:

[chinookhead]

If u want to just fish then stay away from the ticas---nice action, but just will add alot of frustration to your fishing with the guide problems. People say the OM is built nice , but heavy. I have been fishing the 12 tsunami for a little bit now and it's light for a heaver. I was using an old 6500C3 that I found in the basement and with the lack of adequate braking my thumb had to be educated....Now I just got the penn 525 mag/Ho custom from hatteras and all I can say is wow....My first cast was my biggest cast ever...no backlashes. A beginner like myself can put out a 100 yard cast with bait using this set-up. From experience i can tell you that it's much easier to use than the standard (non-mag) abus and the daiwa HV's. The Daiwas cast good and have great drags but the ergonomic feel of the Penn makes the Penn my go-to reel. The Daiwa is less comfortable to grip b/c of the gear box.

[fyremanjef]

I will be getting my 525 next week. I may get the sl30sh as well, but I may hold off on the second.

Now about the rods. Between a Tica and the OM lite. But I can not find a OM lite anywhere. Anyone have any idea what the Model # of BPS is for it?

Thx.

The he!! with the force, I'm on the dark side now :D

Jeff

[Rockstar]

525mag and 10" tica is a great combo... the first few days i was ready to toss the thing in the drink i got so frustrated with it, now i've got the mags down to 5 and ready for some rocket fuel. i love this thing as much as one could love in innatimate (sp?) object. it will toss 8 and bait in a pinch, but 5-6 is ideal. never had any problems with the guides either... had that shock knot hang up on me once or twice too :--| as far as nests, if i get a sloppy cast off, i get a little fluff, but a little thumb of the spool midcast and it straightens right out.

[RuddeDogg]

Learning to toss a slosh 30. Man it ain't easy.

[Drumdum]

Learning to toss a slosh 30. Man it ain't easy.

Put BOTH red brakes in,spool tension should be adjusted with just a little wobble from side to side. I don't mean enough play to see,but you can feel it when you move the spool with your fingers from side to side..

When using ANY conventional,above all the cast MUST BE SMMOOOOOOTHH or it can cause problems with furballs... ;) :D

[Fishman]

I agree with Drumdum but you can also put in both red and white brakes in.