How To Enjoy Fishing.

Can I share a little secret about getting the most fun from fishing?  A big part of the answer to that question is to use good equipment. What could be more annoying than having your equipment spoil your fun. I am going to show you three fantastic fishing reels that won’t let you down. These fishing reels are ideal for fresh water or saltwater fishing. Japan has a great reputation for making fishing reels so it probably will no surprise to you that the manufacturers are Shimano and Daiwa.

Recommended fishing pleasure reel No 1 is the Shimano Sustain FE 5000. Weight of the reel is 13.9 oz and it is a spinning type reel. A whole series of Sustain reels are available. Reels in the range have different weight, line capacity, price and drag pressure.

Looks aren’t everything, although on that count the Sustain scores high, but its functionality that counts. What this reel excels at is smooth operation. At the end of the day, what an angler is looking for most in a reel that is a pleasure to use. After all the very essence of fishing is casting the bait and hauling in the fish and if a reel does this well its game on! Shimano engineers have cleverly engineered the shape of the spool and applied a special titanium coating to give minimum line friction when casting. You immediately notice how much extra distance you get on a cast without having to whip the rod forcefully. The next best thing about this fishing reel is the drags. This does a very good job of taking the load of a strong fish with its smooth operation. No problem with snatching or jerking here. When the fish makes a run the reel keeps pressure on it while releasing line to prevent tackle breakage.

Other good qualities of the reel include good seals to keep out moisture, elimination of line twist, and a bail arm that does not snap closed when you are casting. You also get a very durable machined aluminum handle that is directly attached to the drive gear. Too bad its not a little cheaper than $270 but it is certainly worth the price for the quality of the product and all the fun it will provide.

Not everyone likes a spinning type reel. If that’s you then the Shimano Calcutta 400 is a top conventional style reel. This is a quality bait caster reel with levelwind, high line capacity, light weight, and fine drag adjustments. Of course lightweight, high performance reels don’t come cheap and this reel is no exception.

This is a stunningly good looking reel with a beautiful gold finish. And, its not just pretty. Seems as if Shimano have made a strong priority out of providing good casting from their reels because the Calcutta casts just as easily as the Sustain, and that’s saying something. Really nice to cast with good distance too. The drag is also extremely good; strong, powerful, and very smooth. Despite its light weight there is no lack of power with 16 lbs of drag. This all translates to a whole lot of fun in your hands when you are fishing. Where the Calcutta really excels is when your bait gets snapped by a 50 pound monster. You have an excellent chance of landing that fish as long as your tackle can hold it.

So even though the price is at the top end, the performance and quality is certainly there to match it. The combination of tough materials and high design and construction standards are expected to give lasting satisfaction.

If your target fish is in the big game class then you will be more interested in the next top reel on our review list. For those of you who are targeting big game sports fishing the Daiwa Saltiga 6500 Expedition is an exciting reel to consider. It weighs in at a tad under 30 oz and sports 66 lb of drag. Mighty impressive stats for a spinning reel. Anyone into hunting big fish will be interested in this product. This reel is great for blue water fishing for sharks, marlin, giant tuna, wahoo etc or for a crafty old fresh water monster. One of the toughest materials available is marine bronze, and Daiwa have used a precision digital cutting technique to fashion this material for the main drive gear. High precision Digigear design ensures a perfect mesh. The gears are housed in a robust, non-flex aluminum body that is effectively sealed to prevent water getting in. This is a worthwhile feature as it reduces maintenance. Additional longevity benefits are provided by super corrosion resistant ball bearings, extra strong handle made form a single piece of aluminum and a high performance drag protected that is sealed to keep out saltwater.

The drag on this reel is match for any other tournament reel and is supremely smooth, while the cranking power produced by the gear and handle combination is top notch. Another handy design feature of the Saltiga is that you can fully wash it after it has been exposed to saltwater. A duct located at the bottom of the reel allows the water to flush right through. All of these features contribute to less maintenance and greater durability. Even though the Saltiga reel has performance to die for, it makes it easier to part with your money when you know a lot of trouble has been taken to make sure it is going to last the distance.

So that’s my take. So for all you keen fishermen out there, if you are looking out for a new reel you wouldn’t go far wrong choosing one of these three

Good luck with your fishing and if you want more details and online secure purchasing, visit www.bigbitefishinggear.com