7ht mag and st
- Thread starter mardenq
- Start date
cod magnet
Well-known member
had both still got the blue one, casting wise nothing in it imho, same gears , lighter spool in the st , but still made no difference get the blue one and save a fortune
thought there might not be much in them as fishing reels
Stewart 1971
Well-known member
I haven't used the ST but I can't see what it will give over the standard blue 7HT Mag as a fishing reel. The standard will cast as far as you will ever need and is a lovely smooth fishing reel.
You will need to fit the pinion support (a few quid from Blakdog) and they need regular servicing or after a while the drive shaft can fail to re-engage which is a right pain in the arse when you've got 140 yards of nylon out to sea
But if looked after they are a cracking clean ground fishing reel
big phil 123
Well-known member
Like cod magnet I had both and only regret selling my blue mag great reels probs the best and easiest mag control I have used
Tried both and have 2 blue 7hts which i wouldnt part with
I honestly could not tell the difference between the 2 casting and retrieving (i am by no means a a good caster so that could be the reason i couldnt tell the difference) the st does look very nice in comparison to the the blue mag if thats your thing
Blue 7ht mags,There in a class of there own if well looked after
big phil 123
Well-known member
A rod is ment to bring the fish in not the reel
Codcodcod!
Well-known member
I chuck further with a 525
Stewart 1971
Well-known member
I've landed double figure Smoothhound on mine, probably the hardest fighting big fish in British waters
Codcodcod!
Well-known member
Thing is there's a massive difference between bringing a fish in over clean ground and mixed/rough.
You tend to use the rod more over clean ground knowing your not going to loose it to a snag. When cod fishing up here the reel takes the majority of the strain as you just continuously wind to keep it clear of snags..
You tend to use the rod more over clean ground knowing your not going to loose it to a snag. When cod fishing up here the reel takes the majority of the strain as you just continuously wind to keep it clear of snags..
g-force
Well-known member
I much prefer the standard blue ones for fishing - I had a go of the ST and while it was a nice reel, I didn't get on with the little handle and certainly didn't think it was worth the price tag. I've had a couple since they were launched and given them a fair bit of abuse, especially in the early days, using them to land pollock over 8lb from Newbiggin and on rougher ground than what they were intended for. These days though, i just keep them for clean ground use only - as others have said they don't have the cranking power of 525s & Sloshes etc.
But with 15lb line over clean ground I love them: I fitted mine with dry-running ceramic bearings which are a bit more hard wearing (as well as upping the spin-time) and keep the reels running consistently whatever the temperature (no slowing down on freezing nights). I've also fitted Carbontex drags, which improve them no end. They've handled double-figure double shots of codlings no problem, and with the mags set on 3 I can use any rig in any wind and just spank them all night long without worrying about them blowing up - the only time you've got to be careful is when lobbing one short (because the brake won't engage at slow speeds).
I've also got the pinion supports fitted and have had no issues, other than the dreaded re-engagement problem...a nightmare in a comp with over 100 yds of line out, fish on along with lumps of weed and having to palm the lot back in! This is the reel's way of saying "please clean me" and with a little regular maintenance I've had no further issues. Like the Saltists though, they've really hiked in price since new (I paid £120 each for mine new) - I'm not sure I'd be forking out the current asking price.
Gary
But with 15lb line over clean ground I love them: I fitted mine with dry-running ceramic bearings which are a bit more hard wearing (as well as upping the spin-time) and keep the reels running consistently whatever the temperature (no slowing down on freezing nights). I've also fitted Carbontex drags, which improve them no end. They've handled double-figure double shots of codlings no problem, and with the mags set on 3 I can use any rig in any wind and just spank them all night long without worrying about them blowing up - the only time you've got to be careful is when lobbing one short (because the brake won't engage at slow speeds).
I've also got the pinion supports fitted and have had no issues, other than the dreaded re-engagement problem...a nightmare in a comp with over 100 yds of line out, fish on along with lumps of weed and having to palm the lot back in! This is the reel's way of saying "please clean me" and with a little regular maintenance I've had no further issues. Like the Saltists though, they've really hiked in price since new (I paid £120 each for mine new) - I'm not sure I'd be forking out the current asking price.
Gary
topbanana
Well-known member
If a rod meant to bring the fish in, then why argue which reel is best ? Does that mean you can put any reel on a rod and pull a fish in ? If it was that easy there wouldn't be the choice of reels available, people owning a dozen reels for different applications etc. I agree with Karl m, great chucking reels over clean ground but there are better reels with more cranking power. I've used them in the tyne and struggled with 2 and half/3lb fish in a bit of tide.
Ok, so no force is on the reel when bringing a fish in? The 7ht I had would slip with the drag on full when bringing small (up to 2lb) fish in on clean beaches.
So, when fishing i would go for something stronger (such as a 525) where this wouldn't be an issue. Personaly I like to know that what i'm using will bring a fish back to the shore. I didn't have faith in the drag system of the 7ht mag.
However, if using light tackle they probably wouldn't be a problem.
To conclude, if your looking for a reel to use for fishing the beaches with fairly powerfull rods and heavy end gear (6oz + weights etc...), you can save yourself some money and get a better fishing reel.
marco1967
Well-known member
im sure I read somewhere the makers of akios used to work or design reels for abu , :question: they are designed around the 6500 anyways , probably no better nor worse. tbh . as for being better than a daiwa !! id say for casting yes .. the slosh range I mean not the 7ht.
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big phil 123
Well-known member
Ok, so no force is on the reel when bringing a fish in? The 7ht I had would slip with the drag on full when bringing small (up to 2lb) fish in on clean beaches.
So, when fishing i would go for something stronger (such as a 525) where this wouldn't be an issue. Personaly I like to know that what i'm using will bring a fish back to the shore. I didn't have faith in the drag system of the 7ht mag.
However, if using light tackle they probably wouldn't be a problem.
To conclude, if your looking for a reel to use for fishing the beaches with fairly powerfull rods and heavy end gear (6oz + weights etc...), you can save yourself some money and get a better fishing reel.
If it's slipping with a 2lb fish your using your reel to much and not letting the rod do the work on a clean beach you have no reason to bully a fish
I like to use the 7ht mags when the fish are at extreme range or your using 12-15lb line. Using very light line like this on a 525 is just asking for trouble. The spools are too heavy to be easily controllable. Whereas on the 7ht mags you have every confidence in the reels and can also adjust the mags mid cast. Imo there isn't a better reel for the job. Ive tried the akios and found them ok but they don't inspire the confidence like the braking you get from a 7ht mag.
When your pushing 180-200 yds with bait (yes 200yds!!) the 65-7ht will be 20yds up on the 525 type reels.
This 20yds may not be much but it can be the difference between a treble shot of jumbo whiting or 1 or 2 small ones. If you fish somewhere on the south coast like Pevensey Bay believe you me if your not putting your baits right out at the very limit then you probably wont be competing and having the right reel for the job matters.
You need to use the right reel to suit the conditions but 65 and 7ht's really are a beach reel. Using them on the piers or for dogfish and the like is just asking for bother.
65- 7ht for light line and extreme range - the slower retrieve stops you ripping small fish off, just go steady.
525 for distance with 15-20lb and the ability to crank fish in
saltist 30 for the rough stuff 25-40lb line
As for Abu 65's save these for the field, they are difficult to set up and maintain the settings, this makes them prone to birdsnest's just when you don't want one!!
When your pushing 180-200 yds with bait (yes 200yds!!) the 65-7ht will be 20yds up on the 525 type reels.
This 20yds may not be much but it can be the difference between a treble shot of jumbo whiting or 1 or 2 small ones. If you fish somewhere on the south coast like Pevensey Bay believe you me if your not putting your baits right out at the very limit then you probably wont be competing and having the right reel for the job matters.
You need to use the right reel to suit the conditions but 65 and 7ht's really are a beach reel. Using them on the piers or for dogfish and the like is just asking for bother.
65- 7ht for light line and extreme range - the slower retrieve stops you ripping small fish off, just go steady.
525 for distance with 15-20lb and the ability to crank fish in
saltist 30 for the rough stuff 25-40lb line
As for Abu 65's save these for the field, they are difficult to set up and maintain the settings, this makes them prone to birdsnest's just when you don't want one!!
Ok then thanks for the advice. I must learn how to fish.
