[LoLoBeF]

Hi everyone...

First i want to apologize for my bad english, it's not my mother tongue.
I have a friend that is travelling to the USA and i told him to buy a reel for me (it's cheaper in your country).

My question is that i mostly go fish in the south america (salt water).
The most interesting fish here is the tarpon (silver king) with baits.

So I need your advice for a fixed spool reel (i don't like the others).

I'm thinking of buying a Spheros 14000, something under 200$.
So should I go for it (tarpon weigh = 20-70#)?

Or should I choose another one?


I hearded about customing the spheros for extra performance, can someone explain me how?

 

[ahistick]

Guys in Australia have done modifications to the Spheros. It seems like they replace a bushing with a ARB bearing for supporting the handle, replacing the handle with Stella handle, and upgrading the drag washers with carbontex washers. The Stella handle may cost as much as the whole reel...lol

For under $10, adding carbontex drag washers and a thin application of Cal's grease is well worth it.

Here's the Oz upgrade kit

Turn your Spheros 12000 or 14000 from a four-ball-bearing regular reel into a seven-ball-bearing precision machine with heaps more drag available!

Our upgrade kit includes a machined aluminium handle with 'Shimano' engraving, Septon handle knob with 'Shimano' badge, fully assembled with two A-RB anti-rust bearings on the handle shaft, a matching aluminium cap for the other side of the body, another A-RB bearing for the right side of the main gear (replaces a bush), and Carbontex drag washers for a smoother drag with a greater range of progression and more drag pressure available at the maximum.

It's an easy job to assemble these parts straight into your Spheros. Give the drag washers the thinnest smear of Cal's grease (tell us to do it before we send them if you want), swap out the originals, lubricate the bearing with marine grease, pull out the bush and drop in the bearing, and screw on the outside bits - you're done!

 

[LoLoBeF]

OK.

Now i want to know if the spheros 14000 is a good reel. I need something very strong but under 200$ for fishing with lures (20-70# fishes).

Can your guyz tell me more about the others brand (okuma etc...)

 

[TeamOso]

A spheros with an upgraded drag should definitely be able to handle those fish. I have one with a stock drag and i use it for casting to yellowfin in that range and hopefully bigger come july 10.

its bulky though with is why i dont like it, but im 15 and have close to no money to it does what it needs to.

 

[LoLoBeF]

Someone know where can i get the "carbontex drag washers"?

Or someone can advise me an online shop to buy the spheros + the carbontex drag washers?

 

[papio]

Spheros 12000 & 14000 will do fine and much more for what you're going after. Trust me.

 

[feeder]

Someone know where can i get the "carbontex drag washers"?

Or someone can advise me an online shop to buy the spheros + the carbontex drag washers?

These guys should be able to get you what you need. Just drop them an email with the make/model and they'll send you the invoice.

SMOoOTH DRAG *** Can Stop Anything ***

You might just want to pick up a tub of Cal's grease while you're there.

 

[Spinning Reel]

The Okuma Salina or VS (if you can spend the extra cash), are good reels for saltwater spinning.

I use those for spinning and inshore trolling in Cuba with no probs.

No need to upgrade parts, the stock drag is quite powerful (all models have a max drag over 20lb, even the small 30 size) as it is.

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

Spheros has landed a couple tuna for me. an 8000model, and a 14000FA model. I like the 14000 model. the 14000 will have more drag than needed with the carbon fiber drags in it- it will actually have more drag available than the reel is capable of withstanding..so be careful.. 20-23 pounds of drag is very usable on the 14000

 

[LoLoBeF]

I don't know what to buy now:

Penn 950SSm 150$
Okuma VSystem V-80a 190$
Quantum Cabo 80 210$
Shimano Spheros 14000 120$ + carbontex drag
Shimano Thunnus 16000 240$

What i need it's something reliable with very good drag...

I have 3 x Daiwa BG90 and I broke 2
The drag it's just OK and the reliability is not so good for my fishing condition.
I always wash with freshwater my reels and put some new grease inside if necessary.

The okuma VS it's quite good on paper "5 year warranty" + their dual force drag system

 

[awesum]

I bought a Quantum Cabo 80 over the net for $197 with free shipping and no tax so look around. The Cabos (60, 70, 80) all come with carbon disc drag washers.

 

[LoLoBeF]

Okuma V System Spinning Reels V65A & V80A
$165.95 at Saltwater Fishing Tackle, Gulp, D.O.A., Sufix, Stren, Rapala, Angler Systems

Oh my god, i'm getting confused to take this new okuma or the spheros 14000

 

[Spinning Reel]

The Quantums have ceramic drag, no carbon. There is a thread right here on the Cabos.

Buy the Okuma VS at Cabela's, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, if you don't like it, even after a few months, you can send it back.

VS at CAbela's

 

[Spinning Reel]

Ops.. they don't have the bigger sizes (I would call though).

They have them in the catalog for the Salina though:
Salina at Cabela's

 

[LoLoBeF]

I got it deep in my ass...
I'm very mad, i was going to buy the spheros but when my friend go to the website to order it, they increased the price (150$(total) instead of 120$).

Just 1 day later ! OMG!

Now i don't know what to do... I'm not a rich guy so every single penny is important to me.

Fishing cost me a lot of money... Sure you can save money by fishing small fish or something like that, but when you had try fighting a tarpon, you can't really enjoy the small fishes.

 

[Spinning Reel]

Wel.. the Okuma Salina will serve you well and leave some bucks in your wallet

 

[LoLoBeF]

What's the max operating drag of the salina? Because 90 bucks, I can't hope that he can handle a 30KG + tarpon.
I prefer paying 200$ than for something that last 5 years than an reel that break at the first big fish.
In the forums, people say that the spheros can last years if u don't put the drag over 20#. It sounds good for me.

 

[papio]

Hey Spinning Reel,

U own a Salina? They any good? I'm Considering between a Salina or an Infusion for backup to my stocked and upgraded Spheros.

 

[Spinning Reel]

I have used both the Salina and the Infusion in my latest trip to the Carribeans.

The Salina is way better. The Infusion didn't endure the strain of a few hours of inshore trolling.

Check this out:

 

[fish on]

hey spinning reel those fish on the salina shore look good but how good does the drag system sound as i know a few okuma models with very quiet drag clickers. I also noticed that you are using conventional rods didnt know this could be done.