Which multiplier ?

[Persues]

Hi all

New member here - been out of sea angling for quite a few years, but the itch has returned

I still have a few decent rods (2 Penn INX 2 Groundcasters, 2 Paul Kerry's and 2 Diawa Moonraker Z) but it looks like my former better half has 'relocated' all but one of my reels

I have one Abu 7000 C Synco left to my name, which I guess is better than nothing, but I had several Abu multipliers which have vanished under mysterious circumstances.

So ... which multipliers should I go for these days, and why ?

I will mainly do close to mid-range shore/rock fishing - think Cullercoats, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay beach, Craster and Dunstanburgh rocks, and Loch Ryan a couple or three times a year.

I have had half a dozen casts with a friend's SL30SH and was impressed with it, but having only really used Abu levelwind reels and been very happy with them, I can't help thinking of sticking with what I know.

Things seem to have changed a lot over the last decade or so - there seem to be some great offerings from Okuma, Greys, Shimano and others.

So, a levelwind is nice to have (I'm a lazy hack ) but not essential.

Should my short-list contain anything other than an SL30SH and an Abu 7000i CS Pro Rocket ?

Suggestion, opinions and thoughts very much appreciated so that I can make an informed decision and start getting a line wet.

Thanks in advance

[toonboymc]

i use a sl20sh and they are very good for local areas fast and strong

[Ian Alexander]

Hello Persues,
Welcome to the forum and back into fishing, you'll get some good advice from anglers on here I'm sure.

I still have a couple of 7000c's from the 1980's and I think that the built quality of these reels is far superior to the modern ABU's.

If you want a levelwind reel then you could have a look at the Akios 757cs which is claimed to be very similar to the early ABU's in the quality of the build. I have not used one so can't comment but a friend of mine has an Akios reel and he is very happy with it.

The Daiwa "sloshes" the SL30SH and the SL20SH are very popular and very good value whist the Penn 525 and the larger capacity 535 are also very popular.
I use the Daiwa Saltist reels, they are very similar to the "sloshes" but with a metal one piece frame and a forward slung gearbox.....I love them and rate them very highly and they are my choice.

The Penns and the Akios have the advantage of of also having magnetic braking on their "MAG" models but the Daiwa "sloshes" and Saltists have centrifugal brake blocks, so realy it's all down to personal preference......some lads swear by the Penns but others love the Daiwas. They are all canny reels.

There are other reels too like the Okumas at the bottom of the price range to the american Avet reels up near the top but by far the most popular reels are the Daiwa's and Penn's.

Good luck with your choice and I hope that this has been of some help.

Regards Ian

[Persues]

Wow ! That was fast !

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I'm disappointed to hear that Abu build quality is not what it was.

I have a couple of 30 year old 5000's (in the original leather case with oil bottle, spanner and capsule of spare parts) that I use for winter pike and lure fishing off Dunstanburgh rocks and they have been absolutely bullet proof.

I will take a look at the Diawa Saltist range (thanks for the recommendation) and I will call some local dealers regarding the Akios 757cs, which is not one I had considered but it looks just the ticket, on paper anyway.

I may just be fishing by Sunday at this rate

Thanks again.

[CHOPPER]

Welcome to the forum Perseus!

I don't get to fish much so its probably worth listening to the other lads more than me! But, when I do fish its always rough ground, kelpy marks off the rocks and I recently switched to a daiwa SL30-XSHA (newer version of the sl30h) after using a 7000c3 for about 15 years and I wouldn't go back. I getter better distance and it feels far more solid than the 7000c3, it is also feels more powerful when pulling your gear (and sometimes a fish) back in through the rough stuff!! So I would definitely recommend one of these reels for the price!! If and when I do decide to buy another reel I will probably go for one the Saltist reels after been so impressed with the SL30XSHA.

Chopper

[lambengland]

525mag gets my vote for great control and great force behind them.. Very smooth drag

[Mackemchris]

slosh 30 i love it now, Hated it at first lol getting used to it now like and liking it

[Fat-Cod]

reels

The saltist 20 are fantastic reels u could pull the plug out with them lol

[codcatcher3000]

sloshes are good , so is the 525 mag which imho isan excellent allrounder have got the abu 7000 with level wind on too. ( gave it away recently tho ) . never used the akios but am wanting one. too but for clean beaches. advantanhge of slosh and penn 525 is the 6.1 retrieve. u can get the abu hi-speed to have the speed retrieve advantage too if not u r looking at 5.3 on the akios and standard abus.....if u had one reel for all purposes the 525 mag gets my vote. if u mainly di mid range and close in the slosh 30 at its price is a bargain!

[smithy ov c.ham]

Get a penn mag mate all round reel and priority cheap if you get a 2nd hand 1

[Persues]

OK, I've thrown caution to the wind.

On their way to me are:

AKIOS S-LINE 757CS
Diawa SL30SH
Abu 7000i CS Pro

I couldn't pick between them so I snagged all three

I'll see which two I like the best and hand the third over to a mate of mine - he's mad keen on fishing but was recently made redundant, so I can be sure it will be both used and appreciated.

I will try to look at and handle a Saltist this weekend, if time allows.

Next week I will service my old 7000 C Syncro and keep it as my backup reel.

This evening has turned out well too - I found a tackle box in the attic with my old Abu 6500 C Ultra Cast in it, which I used to have great fun with on a single handed bait caster rod, flipping lures out from Dunstanburgh rocks. A two pound pollack on that kind of light tackle feels like you're about to go water skiing

Thanks to everyone for your recommendations - I really appreciate the input.

No doubt I'll be asking more silly questions soon enough.

Have a great weekend everybody, and thanks again

[codcatcher3000]

the abu 6500 ultra cast is absolute rubbish ...let me do u a big favour and take the insult out of your hands......

[scotty73]

hi i use penn 525 super mag witch i think are a lot better then the slosh depends what money you are spending i have 2 daiwa st for the beach . You can not bet theses reel thats what i think . Might not be alot off peoples chose

[Persues]

I'll take a group photo when the new reels arrive, but I'll be sure to put my old 5000, 7000 C Syncro and 6500 C Ultra Cast right bang in the middle

[Persues]

Just one other question (for now):

Are you guys still using mono for shore fishing or ought I to be loading my reels with braid ?

I've only used braid on a Shakespeare Ugly Stik 15 and on my lure fishing outfit, but I see that more folks are using it for shore fishing.

Thoughts ?