Heavy FS Reels?

[Beach]

I took the plunge last year a brought a new Penn Surfblaster 8000 reel, opened the box in anticipation and loaded with 18lb Daiwa Sensor line.
put on my beach rod and found it far too heavy with my arthritis, so sold it and never been used.
Now use my trusted multi reels, far easier to use.
I only use 2000 size fs reels for mullet fishing with my 10ft - 80gm max casting rod or 5wt Jenson fly rod with a greys grxi wide arbour reel.
It will be interesting to see what other folks use.

 

[Neilos]

I've had a few multis over the years....but just can't get used to them and always seem to end up with a dreaded birds nest at some stage during the session.
Just sold an unused Akios shuttle...beautiful reel that I bought on impulse during lock down. Would have looked great on my mantlepiece...a real piece of quality. ?
Had a couple of Sloshes as well as a few others.
So now FS for me only...just got hold of a couple of Surfblasters so looking forward to giving them a go.
For lure fishing I have a 4000 size Daiwa Black Gold and a Fin Nor Lethal...both fantastic reels.

 

[Had1]

Iv always used multis but in the summer done quite a bit of light bassin using one of my many old carp reels and enjoyed it ...seems easier reeling in tonnes of weed with one lol
so looking at getting a couple of bigger reels for the hounds and rays this spring. the surfblaster sounds good apart from being heavy have u found anything else that u don't like about them ?

 

[Beach]

I've had a few multis over the years....but just can't get used to them and always seem to end up with a dreaded birds nest at some stage during the session.
Just sold an unused Akios shuttle...beautiful reel that I bought on impulse during lock down. Would have looked great on my mantlepiece...a real piece of quality. ?
Had a couple of Sloshes as well as a few others.
So now FS for me only...just got hold of a couple of Surfblasters so looking forward to giving them a go.
For lure fishing I have a 4000 size Daiwa Black Gold and a Fin Nor Lethal...both fantastic reels.

I have some Abu's, Penn and TFG 656 Multies all work for me. Just find fs beach casting reels too heavy. Each to whatever suits really. ?

 

[Neilos]

I haven't used them yet...only collected them yesterday. They feel lovely though....but they aren't the lightest that for sure.

 

[Beach]

Iv always used multis but in the summer done quite a bit of light bassin using one of my many old carp reels and enjoyed it ...seems easier reeling in tonnes of weed with one lol
so looking at getting a couple of bigger reels for the hounds and rays this spring. the surfblaster sounds good apart from being heavy have u found anything else that u don't like about them ?

I thought the surf blasters were well made, it was just the weight and balance on the rods which effected my arthritis. Have enough pain in hands/fingers without making them worse. hence sticking to multies for sea fishing.

 

[Neilos]

Iv always used multis but in the summer done quite a bit of light bassin using one of my many old carp reels and enjoyed it ...seems easier reeling in tonnes of weed with one lol
so looking at getting a couple of bigger reels for the hounds and rays this spring. the surfblaster sounds good apart from being heavy have u found anything else that u don't like about them ?

I've just put a Nomura Aichi 7500sw up in the for sale section...used once only and comes with 2 spare spools. Beautiful bit of kit but now surplus to requirements...solid all aluminium and salt water proofed. Could pull a tank out of the water with it its so solid!

 

[Neilos]

Iv always used multis but in the summer done quite a bit of light bassin using one of my many old carp reels and enjoyed it ...seems easier reeling in tonnes of weed with one lol
so looking at getting a couple of bigger reels for the hounds and rays this spring. the surfblaster sounds good apart from being heavy have u found anything else that u don't like about them ?

Just spooled the two Surfblasters up ...took the line off the two other reels I got yesterday. One is green braid all the way with a tapered leader.
The other is mono backing then red braid then again tapered leader.
Line lay is fantastic...perfectly even across the spool. And the action is so smooth and almost silent. So far so good.
Neil

 

[Stupid Luke]

Surf sized fixed spools are heavy, especially the Penns, Akios and others made cheaply in China. If you want light weight you either have to spend more money on Shimano or Daiwa. I have Shimano Ultegra CI4's 140000's with MV spools and they are about 540 grams loaded with line and leader. If you want lighter still you need to spend £400+ per reel on an Aero Technium or Daiwa Basia. The only cheap reel that is light is the Tronixpro Virtuoso XT (590 grams) which is a Shimano copy but I doubt it would stand up to winter beach fishing for very long.

 

[Had1]

Just spooled the two Surfblasters up ...took the line off the two other reels I got yesterday. One is green braid all the way with a tapered leader.
The other is mono backing then red braid then again tapered leader.
Line lay is fantastic...perfectly even across the spool. And the action is so smooth and almost silent. So far so good.
Neil

thanks Neilos nomura looks good and know it's only used once but I wana get a new one just me being fussy I know but wana use local shop too I'm guna get a surfblaster i think looking at like lay etc got some lovely multis just fancy a fixed spool now

 

[Thrasher]

Beach, I wonder if it also the mechanics of holding the rods with the two different reels?

Fixed spool you are palm down grip holding and pulling, whereas with a multi you are palm up, more supporting rod and reel than gripping, maybe one action is better for you than the other?
Also you will be holding one with left the other right? Maybe one hand is more buggered than the other?

 

[Beach]

Beach, I wonder if it also the mechanics of holding the rods with the two different reels?

Fixed spool you are palm down grip holding and pulling, whereas with a multi you are palm up, more supporting rod and reel than gripping, maybe one action is better for you than the other?
Also you will be holding one with left the other right? Maybe one hand is more buggered than the other?

I cast over left shoulder, all my reels are rh wind. Also slow multi down with left thumb before weight hits the water. When winding in (sometimes with a fish on) I hold the rod with my left hand. Strange though, when fly fishing I cast with right hand and reel is rh wound. I am either ambidextrous or cack handed . I found that when using a fs reel I tend to cast right handed which plays havoc with my hand in cool weather. It is fine on my motorbike using the throttle.
I write right handed, predominant left handed for cricket and left footed for soccer. Tennis/Badminton I used to serve right handed then change to left hand when playing.
Perhaps a rocket launcher would help when beach fishing .

 

[Thrasher]

I cast over left shoulder, all my reels are rh wind. Also slow multi down with left thumb before weight hits the water. When winding in (sometimes with a fish on) I hold the rod with my left hand. Strange though, when fly fishing I cast with right hand and reel is rh wound. I am either ambidextrous or cack handed . I found that when using a fs reel I tend to cast right handed which plays havoc with my hand in cool weather. It is fine on my motorbike using the throttle.
I write right handed, predominant left handed for cricket and left footed for soccer. Tennis/Badminton I used to serve right handed then change to left hand when playing.
Perhaps a rocket launcher would help when beach fishing .

Beach, you are just weird. ??

 

[Beach]

Beach, you are just weird. ??

That's what the wife says as well ??

 

[Radio Rental]

I took the plunge last year a brought a new Penn Surfblaster 8000 reel, opened the box in anticipation and loaded with 18lb Daiwa Sensor line.
put on my beach rod and found it far too heavy with my arthritis, so sold it and never been used.
Now use my trusted multi reels, far easier to use.
I only use 2000 size fs reels for mullet fishing with my 10ft - 80gm max casting rod or 5wt Jenson fly rod with a greys grxi wide arbour reel.
It will be interesting to see what other folks use.

I feel your pain (literally) as i also suffer from RA, fingers,knuckles,wrist`s and a few other jointy bits worse in the mornings and evenings and i also find FS difficult.When i fished the clean shingled beaches of West Sussex for many years i always used 6500 series multi`s...elites,7ht etc now i`m on the Island i tend to use mk1 525`s and saltist`s more although my local shingle is clean so i use a pair of original Blue Yonders which are a fair bit lighter than the gearbox reels...Alan

 

[Goatfish]

I took the plunge last year a brought a new Penn Surfblaster 8000 reel, opened the box in anticipation and loaded with 18lb Daiwa Sensor line.
put on my beach rod and found it far too heavy with my arthritis, so sold it and never been used.
Now use my trusted multi reels, far easier to use.
I only use 2000 size fs reels for mullet fishing with my 10ft - 80gm max casting rod or 5wt Jenson fly rod with a greys grxi wide arbour reel.
It will be interesting to see what other folks use.

I cannot tell you the difference in weight but I use Penn Surfblaster and Affinity but in the 7000 size. I use them on all my beachcaster rods from 13’ up to 15’ and I feel the balance is fine. Having crap eyesight and very little patience I have never beach fished with a multi for fear of ruining my fishing fun with birds nests so cannot compare.

 

[Neilos]

Having used the Surfblasters today for their maiden outing I have to say what a great feeling reel they are in action.
Solidly built with a really smooth,quiet action. Line lay is perfect and I was using braid for the first time. No wind knots or tangles. Very powerful, it feels like it would be very easy to drag any large fish from the depths...so much better than any reel I've ever used before.
Very happy with them.

 

[richtic]

Ive been using my Surfblasters for a good few years now, great reels, if ever had to change them i would def buy them again.

 

[Neilos]

Hahah...off to Dungeness with the Mrs tomorrow....see if I can improve on today!

 

[Tournamag]

Beach, I wonder if it also the mechanics of holding the rods with the two different reels?

Fixed spool you are palm down grip holding and pulling, whereas with a multi you are palm up, more supporting rod and reel than gripping, maybe one action is better for you than the other?
Also you will be holding one with left the other right? Maybe one hand is more buggered than the other?

The different actions impart more stress on shoulders with FS for that reason it also uses smaller and weaker muscles groups along with less of them.