Boatless Fishing Forum, Reports, Info

I currently have a Shimano Spheros 4000 FB on a Star Steller lite 7' 8-17' l.b. fast tip. I like the Spheros at 22 l.b. of drag and waterproof,, the retrieve isn't as smooth as the Stradic or the even smoother Saragosa,, a dream reel for the money. My dilema is that I was told the Strdic was not designed for Salt water and that the Spheros ans Saragosa was.

Tough decision, trying to decide which way to go?

I have heard of sand working its way into the stradics so if you fish the beach you may have an issue. leaving reels in the rod holders of a boat is pretty tough on them too with all the salt water wash but most reels would have the same problem. I have taken my stradics on beaches in the past but just didn't let them lay down.
If you fish mainly from bridges,piers and rocks like I do you probably wont have a problem as mine have held up well

Thanks for the heads up. I will definitively use that bit of advise.

I was looking for a solid all around reel that i could fish canals, beaches, and light offshore if i ever get a chance and i really felt the stradic felt the best. I have the ci4 because i liked how light it was.

So far its held up well. I wash it down after every beach trip and try not to let it hit the sand. Usually have to hold the rod in my mouth *insert joke here* when im unhooking a surf catch.

That being said i have a penn fierce that has been in the sand so many times, dunked in salt water, and its still great even after much abuse.

Just clean whatever reel you buy and dont leave it out in the elements and either will last imho.

As John so eloquently stated it's about how you use what you use. Even with a sealed reel you'll want to keep it out of the sand. Sand & mono or braid is a bad combination. Even if it dosen't get into the reel it will coat the spool. It's like taking sand paper to your line.
Also as far as salt & Stradics, lot's of guy's here use em for just that with no problems.

Thanks Uncle Jimbo,

I will defiantly keep them away from sand.

I have a stradic and fish the beach with it at least 3 times a week. At first i was skeptical of a Stradic on the beach. I have dunked it underwater, dropped it in the sand, and caught a lot of snook on it. So far I have zero issues. I give it a good rinse the second I get off the beach. Like a few have said, its all about maintenance. The reel is as smooth as the day I got it. I would definitely recomended it. Just remember rinse, rinse, rinse!!

Yeah, I use various Stradics on the beach all the time with no problem other than the drag "clicker" goes quiet on a few of them. (the clicker is replacable if you want to; they even sent me one for free when I called about it.) However, if it gets dunked, I pay to have it broken down, cleaned, re-lubed and put back together again. (Some day I should learn how to do that myself.)

However, if you have the dough, I'm sure the Saragosa would be at least as good, and perhaps more impermeable to the elements.

(like the prior person said... I always rinse them gently with fresh water after each use)

:-)

Finally decided to go with the Sustain 5000 FD and gave the Spehros FB 4000 to the wife. Should of went with the Sradic but just didn't white,that paint change cost me $100.00 difference,,hope its worth it!

It will be worth it, you will not regret it, I have a 5000 and a 2500 and I haven't had a problem with them, but like everyone said on the previous post, don't forget to rinse it.

Ive put my stradic 4000 in the water and reeled it underwater and all i did when i got home was take it apart which is EZ and wash it with fresh water, dry it up and reoil it ur good.

Simple as this the new stradic FJ sucks and break and u dont even get the extra spool which stradics have been known for. get the saragosa you wont be dissapointed.

I'd look at the new penn spinfishers. I plan on moving over to them they have the same drag system as the battles and they are fully sealed. Plus, they are under 200.00. I plan on getting 2 this week.

rprieto1217 wrote:Thanks Uncle Jimbo,

I will defiantly keep them away from sand.

Yep, Uncle Jimbo is spot-on.