Fixed spools and braid for winter

toonboymc

Well-known member
Hello boys n girls was thinking of swapping my diawa 7ht millionaire or penn 525 knobby for the above but not sure if I could use f/s on my kompressor s I have the reel up the rod not at the bottom plus which f/s reel would be best for winter fishing with braid on
What are the pro,s n cons and all advice welcome I'm not the best caster so which would get me more distance
 
Mick my mate has used a penn surf blaster 8000 on a komp sport, and a wr300 no problems. I've got one if you want to have a try of it one weekend?
 
I have two Shimano Aerlex 7000 which I have been using exclusively with braid for two years (year round) and they do the job really well. They are well built solid reels and much more sturdy than the Daiwa Emcasts I had before them which broke. If you are buying for braid use you will not need anything as big as an 8000 as the line is a lot thinner so you don't need a big line capacity. As far as I know the Aerlex 6000/7000/8000 are all the same reel just with different size spools (happy to be corrected if anyone knows better) so if you are never going to use mono go for the 6000 or 7000 versions. Have a look at mine next time I bump into you mate.
 
Got the Penn Affinity 8000 a few days ago for my C3LD rod.
As usual I have to add that I recommend using the breakaway Cannon with a FS reel, especially for braid. It's a lot easier to cast with it and I can hit distances over what I can do with a Slosh 20 on the same rod.

I filled the braid spool with 15lb braid, and the larger spool with 50lb braid.
I was down at Seaham with it the other night where I usually lose a lead every couple of casts. Using the 50lb braid, with a 60lb leader (it's more robust against chaffing on rocks when caught up) I use 30lb snoods and rotten bottom.
I never lose a yard of braid and the 30lb snoods and rotten bottom take some hammer too when pulling free.
In fact I snapped 2 hooks on my last session where I would normally have lost a lot more.

Only thing I don't like about the Affinity is the manual operation of the bail arm, but it's something you get used to rather like the manual operation of the Slosh 20 to knock the gears in.
 
fixed spools

fixed spools

Ive got a shimano Aerlex 8000,a shimano Navi 8000,a penn Surfblaster all loaded with braid your welcome to come and have a look and try if you want before you buy blind.
 
this quest is like asking how long an elastic band is but heres my opion and i am no expert.

Shimano xsc 10000 strongest smoothest most robust reel out of ones mention probaly best for heavy wrk i have one of these but also the dearest out of ones mentioned.

penn affinity very nice reel spool line lay very good realy like mine.

surfblasters had trouble line lay with two i have. but still a canny reel

a lot depends on venue you intend to fish regarding f spool choice.

if i was to pick one reel now knowing what i have used and learnt from my choice for first time f spool would be the affinity 7000 size.
 
this quest is like asking how long an elastic band is but heres my opion and i am no expert.

Shimano xsc 10000 strongest smoothest most robust reel out of ones mention probaly best for heavy wrk i have one of these but also the dearest out of ones mentioned.

penn affinity very nice reel spool line lay very good realy like mine.

surfblasters had trouble line lay with two i have. but still a canny reel

a lot depends on venue you intend to fish regarding f spool choice.

if i was to pick one reel now knowing what i have used and learnt from my choice for first time f spool would be the affinity 7000 size.
That's right john I paid £115 for my affinity £149-95 for my xsc and £120 for my okuma,the difference in price between the penn and shimano £35 but reel difference is mega.
 
just don,t get this most if not all buy braid for its thin dia correct ?.

but people buy braid from china yes its a fair bit cheaper but its not as thin as the likes of berkley whiplash/power pro

surely its beating the object.

thats the prob wth braid its the cost of the more reliable thin braid.
 
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Alright mate I've changed to a f/s and braid and I love it I use it on a m4 evo with a shimano aerolex 8000, cannon finger thingy and £24 good quality 50 lb braid with 80 lb braid shocker I love it and haven't lost a shocker or snapped main line in 7 month. If you change be patient and you won't be dissapointed in the end.
 
Good braid is expensive but I've had a full spool of 30lb ultima on my surfblaster for 18 month. That's longer than some people keep rods for. Ha ha. So it well worth it in the long run.
 
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