decisions decisions !!!!!!

[nifty]

Hi guys, I had a look today at a new rod, it is a Daiwa Heartland i m 7, it is a lot whippier than the i m 6 and is the same price, $129.. Not sure yet what to buy, would like one of the dropshot rods but I don't have the $530.. I think I will get the Heartland i m 6, also looked at a Shimano Stradic,the superceded model is $195 and looks and feels a million dollars, liked the Okumo Epix too but I think the Shimano may be the one.. Any one have any comments or advice on these items....:( :(

[kevinnugent59]

Originally posted by nifty
Hi guys, I had a look today at a new rod, it is a Daiwa Heartland i m 7, it is a lot whippier than the i m 6 and is the same price, $129.. Not sure yet what to buy, would like one of the dropshot rods but I don't have the $530.. I think I will get the Heartland i m 6, also looked at a Shimano Stradic,the superceded model is $195 and looks and feels a million dollars, liked the Okumo Epix too but I think the Shimano may be the one.. Any one have any comments or advice on these items....:( :(

A Heartland combined with a Stradic? Beautiful. :D

Kevin

[Bear]

I've got a mate that just bought a Dropshot. He took one look at the Bream Reaper and has just ordered one. No word of a lie.

After fishing with it at Walpole, I know what will be in my boat for Perth. Hope to have a new Inspira sitting on it as well.

I'd definately go the stradic matched with the proven heartland im6. Shimano's quality in the stradic is awesome for the price!:D I think there are some new bits and pieces on there latest model so check for that before you buy!


Dave

[Bear]

The fact that the Black Diamond rods are made in Australia are a big plus for me.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Nifty,

Before you spend anything on the reel, just have a wind of a Shimano Sahara 2000 in a tackle shop, it doesn't have the amount of bearings that the Epix does but I own both reels and the Sahara is so much smoother.

One other bit of advice, always put the reel on a rod in the shop, holding a reel in your hand whilst winding is definately not the same feeling as having it mounted on a rod and if the tackle owner baulks at you doing that go else where.

[pw-bream]

While the lower to mid range reels such as the Shimano Sahara feel good when new, they wear more quickly than the higher grade reels. They have bushes or nothing more than a hole in the body where the higher models have real bearings. That has been my experience with cheaper Shimano reels anyway.

[LakeConjolaFish]

You know I've fished for over 30 years pretty much daily and I have never worn a reel out !

Maybe I have too many and they don't get enough wear and tear ! :(

[pw-bream]

I have a Shimano Custom EX 3000 which I bought new about 20 years ago, it is pretty much stuffed, very worn handle shaft bushes or plain metal bearings in the body. It was quite a good reel in its day, but has a rather silly rear drag. I bought two of them, one for me and one for my father, he used his about twice, hardly ever went fishing. My first one stuffed up in the drag area almost immediately and went back for warranty repair, they admitted thay lost it after about a month delay and I got another new one.
I have a Shakespeare Sigma of similar age and apart from cosmetic damage it works as good as new. My Penn Spinfisher 420 looks like it would last forever, although the handle was broken in a non fishing incident.

[LakeConjolaFish]

I have a 20 year vintage Shakespeare Sigma as well, It looks pretty rough but is still a good reel, its rare that it gets used these days though, just a spare if I need one for someone who visits that doesn't have an outfit to borrow. :)