My casting reel

[JerseyBrian]

I bit the bullet.




Couldn't afford a Stella so hope this will last me for this year's BFT season in MA as well as the next 3 years in the caribbean

The drag knob has a unique feature that I've never seen before. It has a silicon type of built-in gasket on the underside of the drag knob; my guess is to help prevent the entrance of saltwater and sand.

Can't decide whether to spool with PE4 or PE5.

Comes with a nice Shimano Black Bag and Spool band

[gman]

I would totally agree that the drags are conservative

[gimmedeal]

JB, Spool it with PE 5. You'll have capacity for popping and be able to use a few lbs more drag. I've fished the TwinPowers for several years and fed one to the GOM (jumped out of a rodholder on the way out). I ordered a replacement when I got home. They are first class reels, equal or better than the F series Stellas and only the large FA's outclas them. Wish they made a 10000 spool for them.

Fred

[JerseyBrian]

Originally Posted by gimmedeal

JB, Spool it with PE 5. You'll have capacity for popping and be able to use a few lbs more drag. I've fished the TwinPowers for several years and fed one to the GOM (jumped out of a rodholder on the way out). I ordered a replacement when I got home. They are first class reels, equal or better than the F series Stellas and only the large FA's outclas them. Wish they made a 10000 spool for them.

Fred

Great! Thanks for the recommendation Fred Do you experience the "heavier" drag knob effect I'm speaking of?

[gman]

In reality with the 8000 size reel, Fred is right with PE5 however with that said ... if your using this to cast to 100# bluefin off Cape Cod this year I would say PE6 just my opinion but when those bluefin get stubborn boatside your going to need some balls

[JerseyBrian]

Originally Posted by gman

In reality with the 8000 size reel, Fred is right with PE5 however with that said ... if your using this to cast to 100# bluefin off Cape Cod this year I would say PE6 just my opinion but when those bluefin get stubborn boatside your going to need some balls

I can see $110 PE line in my future already You don't think Varivas Avani Tuna PE5 would suffice? Rated for 78lb breaking strength. I know John Flores loves that line.

[gman]

Originally Posted by JerseyBrian

I can see $110 PE line in my future already You don't think Varivas Avani Tuna PE5 would suffice? Rated for 78lb breaking strength. I know John Flores loves that line.

if thats what its rated then yes go for it

[hatidua]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

By the way, I was testing the drag on my ATD 12 the other evening in my garage, where I do most of my fishing, and the 100 pound JB snapped (must have been a bad place in the line). My overweight old ass fell backwards onto a plastic bin which shattered, sending shards all over God's creation.

Gotta youtube link to that sequence per chance?

[PurEvl]

Originally Posted by JerseyBrian

I can see $110 PE line in my future already You don't think Varivas Avani Tuna PE5 would suffice? Rated for 78lb breaking strength. I know John Flores loves that line.

YGK Dyneema Jig Man Line is also good.