Seahog

Braid is a very good choice at times, its not the answer to " all fishing scenarios " but certainly should be a part of your tackle. There are times the specie your after is best catered for by using Braid, again the depth and tide rip also can determine when braid is best suited to the occasion. I find it extremely good for Bass fishing and flattie fishing … when fishing for flatties it pays to sit on your hands with braid, and Thornback Ray for that matter! I don’t tend to like using braid if there is no run! … I find it can coil on itself and becomes a nuisance in this instance … likewise the slightest rub on a ragged rock and it has a canny knack of parting … but all in all its an extremely useful piece of kit. When to use braid or mono I’d hazard a guess and say it’s down to the individual and experience gained trying out both as and when the situation arises. I like spinning with braid, but I hate Beachcasting with braid … regarding boat fishing which is what I do mostly, I’d say it’s about 50/50 …. I use braid more spring/summer and mono winter time “ but not exclusively “

Regarding to the Daiwa Sealine Series of reels! ..... which models would be most suited to the task of Skate fishing? I was considering the Daiwa Sealine 400H & 600H models, or are these a none starter and not suited to the task? [ 31. August 2005, 10:22 PM: Message edited by: Seahog ]

Cheers for all the info much appreciated indeed ello Tig ... hope your keeping well as it appears you are by all accounts, congrats is the order of the day I believe Davy I have emailed you and if your able to help me out that’s great if not, then no problems m8 .... I will be off for two weeks starting from 19th Sep. The mother in law is terminally ill, as long as she doesn’t take a turn for the worst I will be able to travel as and when it suits you Davy, any time after the 19th Sep, I was thing of fishing at least one day if possible two. Accommodation wise I can sort out the day prior on arrival, I’ll trundle up there using a whole day, no rush … ( haven’t got a rush in me nowadays, which is nice! ) Stopping off as it pleases me, its been a while since I’ve been to Loch Lomond and I would like to spend a hour or so there. Anyhow Davy if its possible I can get in touch with you by phone …. Listen m8 if its going to put you out anyway and interfere with things you might have planned, please feel free to tell me so Davy, I don’t want to lean on you m8! Rods, reels, rigs etc …. Is all the fun, I’ve never fished for a species this heavy before and its something that I enjoy doing prior to fishing. Rods wise I only have a Hardy 30lb class boat rods, Daiwa TDX 30lb class and an old 80lb class rod that looks like it was last used out of Whitby in the 30’s … in good condition and useable all the same though. Reels wise, I have a Policansky Monitor 4B … in good nick, might not have even be used before … other than that they are all going down in size, albeit they are top quality reels ( Daiwa Saltist 30 ) .. Abu 10000CL …. I don’t mind if a reel dies on its shield lol ... I might even pick something up for the occasion, I often get offered the odd reel that’s big, I could use it and sell it on after or even keep hold of it if the bug bites me Anyhow thanks for all the kind help to all. Cheers Peter

I may have the chance to get up to the Oban area for a couple of days, if it comes off it would be within the last two weeks of this coming September. Basically I would like to have a crack at those Common Skate! …. if anyone can give me some info on sorting out a boat trip I’d be very appreciative. I will be travelling up on my own, would anyone be aware as to if these charter boat skipper are likely to take single anglers out to make up the party numbers? If there are those that are aware of the Skate fishing around this period “ last two weeks September “ I’d be grateful likewise for any info … rigs, bait, tackle, etc anything you think might assist me …. Sorry if it sounds a bit like the Spanish inquisition … but I am just trying to get as much info as possible ;O) Cheers …. Peter

[ 17. February 2004, 01:22 AM: Message edited by: Seahog ]

Peter Coogan 0151 677 3609 Due to the fact he is an Adviser to Abu, and carries out repairs on behalf of Abu, he will carry all spares needed for the Abu 7000 Leverdrags .... and an excellent selection of present and pass golden oldies spare parts with repair to these reels likewise. [ 17. February 2004, 01:21 AM: Message edited by: Seahog ]

Nice site of yours Kieran .. tried to join but have had a problem ... anyhow will try again, if I keep having a problem m8 ... expect an email, asking for help ;o) cheers Hoggy

Alan its a very interesting topic you have brought up, and I think that there could be more in this than at first would appear .... well done, it going to take initiative to make any inroads and off the wall ideas are well worth looking into ;o)

Just use a glue stick, the one that come with the glue guns, if you haven't the gun, just slice a small piece off, insert into top eye, put a lighter or match under it for 5/10 seconds and fit to rod, align and thats it, off you go again, when it need replacing reverse the operation. Take all of two minutes ;o)

Hi Newt .... Basically I can only talk about Okuma reels in general, they appear to be very good reels, good value and reliability too match. As with many Far Eastern business they tend too like to cover the whole spectrum of a range, making sure that they enter with a very low priced product, then moving upwards as time goes by. The lower end of their range I personally would avoid, but their upper range, I would certainly be interested in, and the reel you are suggesting you might be interested in, falls into the upper bracket! Okumas have no better or worse corrosion problems than say Abu, Daiwa or Shimano, I’d suggest Penn probably have the edge on the others with regards to fending off the dreaded corrosion problem. I might be wrong here Newt, but I think you mainly use your gear in Fresh water? … if so, that also goes someway in preserving your reel in the first place. Yes I would quite happily purchase with confidence an Okuma Titus LD reel, somewhere I have a revue on this reel, but just where I not sure, if I can dig it out I will scan and send you it, that said I don’t go a bundle on mags giving reviews on tackle such as reel in particular, mainly because a true reflection needs to have a long period of usage and a totally unbiased approach from the start, which unfortunately some mags reel analysts don’t do, possible because they are not totally independent, not all but in many cases it’s a sad fact they don’t. Your average Joe that uses a reel could give more accurate information than most magazine can and do, this in my opinion makes the forums so valuable for all to read and consider, with basically what is said with regards to tackle in general. Yep Newt I’d buy with confidence, the day I buy a reel and I catch a fish so big it smashes the reel to bits is a day I will not complain about, as long as it died on it shield I’d not moan.

With regards to Star drag versus Leverdrag systems it's a touchy subject really ... for instance you can have a star drag model that is better than its opposite number made by another manufacturer which is a Leverdrag reel ... so basically I’m saying its not clear cut by a mile. So most opinions must be taken as general! Most S/D " Star drag " reels usually cast better than Leverdrag, and most L/D "Leverdrag" reels have a more powerful clutch set up than their opposite number, again only generally speaking. I personally evaluate the possible fish I'm most likely to catch with the reel I set out to fishing with, and decide that way on which reel I will use on the day. A Leverdrag that has a quick spool release mechanism is a distinct advantage, there by not having to reset after each cast, for example the Abu 7000 L/D needs resetting as do most L/D reels, but an Abu 6600 Leverdrag needs only for you to use the thumb bar spool release mechanism, in my opinion a big advantage. Most Leverdrag reels have single plate clutches, Stardrag tend to use multi plate system, as a rule! Leverdrag reels in general! ... tend not to be so good at stripping down quickly should you need to, say on a boat, then again the odd one or two are ok It’s the same old adage, money tends to get you a better reel and with it a better clutch system. For beach fishing, say after large quarry, its really a bit of a dilemma, you need a reel that will cast a decent distance, but again you want a powerful smooth clutch system, some tend to go for the Penn 555 sized reel, and most have no complaints about it performance. In a nutshell I’d probably say the Star Drag system is more versatile with regards to usage, this again depending on the size of reel and usage, and the Leverdrag is more powerful and smoother to use and a more pleasurable system to operate when playing a large fish, in most instances. This said a poor example of either can turn this upon its head. Myself I use both, and enjoy the use of both types, its horses for courses and experience gained is invaluable, for instance the Abu Morrum Star drag is extremely smooth and forgiving to use, but for the cash the Policanky is a bargain likewise, totally different reels and impossible to compare realistically, but that’s basically what I’m getting at!

So sad, extremely well thought of, and much missed.

Hi Jabee

Abu Ambassadeur 6501 C3 ........ £55 Abu Ambassadeur 6501 C3 ........ £55 Abu Ambassadeur 6600 Leverdrag ....... £65 Seahogfisher@hotmail.com

Sounds like you all have had one hell of a fishing jolly ....... lucky sod's .... but all the same great to hear you had so much success, I'm only jealous ( ... Jealousy is a terrible emotion, I must learn to live with it and deal with it better, I will tell myself this 10 times a day till I'm cured ;o)

Sorry Chris sold mate ..... have emailed you, should be getting more in a few weeks, if your still interested then I will hold one for you, if you manage to get sorted between then, no problem mate, either way cheers Chris ...

Got one only, Abu 7000 Leverdrag reel for sale, has got a couple of cosmetic marks on it, in a very good condition otherwise, mechanically 100% ... these reels are boat fishing reels, they are excellent for uptide or downtide boat fishing, they have mechanical cast control, one of the best all round fishing reel on the market today ... these reels are featured in Octobers 2003 Total Sea Fishing p90 ....... £55

Sorry also as follows ... Abu 7000 variants .. 6 Abu 7500 variants .. 2

Could not really separate the models due to the info given, that was the reason I requested one reel only and model information … but thanks to all those that gave info. Not surprising the final outcome really.. The Abu 6500 Mags and Penn 525 Mags ran away with it, nothing no one didn’t know there, Abu 6500 Mag variants tops the list. What was unusual was what was not in there! Or was but in such a low number! Abu 6500 Mag variants 34 Penn 525 Mag Variants 18 Slosh 20 3 Slosh 30 1 Slosh 40 1 Penn 525 GS 1 Penn 535 GS 1 7HT 4 6HM 2 Abu Morrum 7700 CS 1 Abu 5500 Mag 1 Shimano Catala 1 Shimano TSM 2C 1 Shimano TSM 11 CFS 1 Shimano TR 2000 1 Shimano TLD 5 1 Shimano TLD 10 1 Shimano TLD 20 1 Shimano Triton Fightin Star 1 Shimano Aero 1040 1 Daiwa Jupitor F/S 1 Daiwa Emblem 55 ST 1 Daiwa Emblem S 6000 T 1 Abu 6500 Rocket 1 Abu 6500 Synchro 1 Abu 6500 2 Abu 6500 C4 1 Abu 6501 C3 1 Penn Squidder 1 Penn Mariner 1 Penn 112 H 1 Penn 940 1 Penn 975 1 Penn 535 GS 1 Penn International 80 TWS 1 Shakespeare CT President Delux 1 Ryobi 7000 F/S 1

You have surprised me Chrispy, I'd have thought you'd have had more engine than that in the under 10hp class ... ;o)

The ABU EON series has a fully floating levelwind when in the free spool position, as opposed to say Abu 5500 & Abu 7000 series, these reels and you have probably come across them have the levelwind still engaged mechanically when in the free spool position, as you cast, the line is drawn off the spool, and the levelwind is then driven by the spool energy, not so with the EON, as mentioned its fully floating and the line having been lay’ed in a, across the spool pattern, in turn moves the levelwind across the width of the spool ..... When you press the spool release mechanism, the levelwind should glide across the levelwind tube with ease, and it should have no resistance.... hope I’ve helped more than confused matters ..... lol

Most of use if not all have the use of more than one reel, basically I am asking you to list the reel you use the most, don’t want reel X is the most common reel I use when I'm boat fishing and reel Y is when I'm on the beach ... its a straight which Reel do you use most when fishing, so you will post “one reel only “ …. Name and model please, there is a method in my madness

Abu 7000 C3 are good reels, a bit slow on the retrieve, but well proven reliabiltiy, spools are strong, 3 piece job ...... Abu 7500C3 is basically the high retrieve version of what you have already, there is an Abu 7200, same as an Abu 7000 but with the 7500 C3 gearing basically, has cosmetic changes to it but its basically what I have said it is. Your reel should hadle most fish your likely to encounter, not withstanding the unexpected, Abu 7000 C3 cast well also. A couple of alternatives are Penn 545 GS and or Penn 225GLS or Penn 25GS, none of the above cast as sweet as the Abu 7000 C3, first Penn mentioned is a star drag job, the other two are leverdrag jobs .... I think you will be fine with what you have ..... tight lines and hope you catch ...

We got a small 4 stroke Yamaha, bought new, think it cost £800 ..... been very reliable, when used! Iv'e also heard that Tohatsu are good engines, never owned one, but heard there reliable motors. Its each too their own really you pays your money you takes your chance, buying secondhand can be a problem at times, then you could buy a fantastic secondhand engine! ...... if you can hear it run or better still see it being used in action for a while all the better. As Chrispy mentioned, would it be worth putting some cash into the motor you have now, if its basically ok, no major/terminal problem etc ... Obviously you know the history of the motor! ..... good luck either way mate.

When braid first became quite popular amongst anglers, it sort of gained a reputation with regards to it being the answer to all our problem line wise ... I think that most of us are well aware that Braid is a very useful tool, at the right time and place. I now have as many reels loaded up with various mono lines as with various braid lines, and I have quite a few reels Braid has the habit of letting go when you least expect it too " downside " Braid has a much better diameter build, low drag, bite detection etc, the bite detection can be a plus or a minus till people that have not used it much realise that you can hit into your fish too soon at times, but I would still say it is a benefit of this type of line " Upside " Basically you need to use both types of line as and when the conditions prevail, and experience will indicate this too you, neither types of line has all the answer, so cover your bet and use both as and when