Expensive Reels - Kayak Fishing....

[GONE FISHING]

I have been yak fishing for about 2 years now and really enjoy it. Been through 3 different yaks and out countless times, one constant remains, the gear takes a real (reel hehe) beating.

I have thought about buying expensive gear but always decided against for the following reasons:

1. All my gear gets sprayed and/or dunked at some point
2. If I ever drop a rod or reel in water it won't hurt as much
3. I can buy more than 1 combo if buying cheaper

I always wash my rods and reels and spray with lanox occasionally and have had my rods/reels for 2 years now without issue.

Most of my gear is Shimano Siennas with some decent braid and cheap graphite rods (Shakespeare Slingshot and Daiwa Laguna).

I find the Daiwa Laguna/Shimano Sienna 1000 combo great and very light /sensative for bream.

I have thought about buying better quality gear but given the abuse it will receive via yak fishing, is it really necessary?

I am just worried about buying a nice combo and concerned it will end up turning to dust just the same as the other, cheaper stuff.

Keen to hear your thoughts,

Jay

[stella fella]

nope.

[GONE FISHING]

Originally Posted by stella fella

nope.

Not sure what you're referring to when you replied "nope" ??

[stella fella]

Originally Posted by GONE FISHING

Not sure what you're referring to when you replied "nope" ??

I was referring to the only sentence in your initial post that has a question mark at the end of it

I wouldn't bother spending any more than $150-$200 on a yak setup.

[GONE FISHING]

I thought my last sentance of "keen to hear your thoughts" was clear enough. I guess not for some...

Cheers pal

[stella fella]

Originally Posted by GONE FISHING

I thought my last sentance of "keen to hear your thoughts" was clear enough. I guess not for some...

Cheers pal

It was plenty clear, my thoughts were just "nope"

[CHUNQX]

I've been kayak fishing for 7 years now and its really the only form of fishing I do now so if I don't use nice gear kayak fishing, I don't get a chance to use them at all.
My definition of nice is not like some of the guys here with the high high end stuff. Mine are what they would classify as mid range. I used to run a couple of Luvias, a Certate and an Airity. The Airity I only use in rivers for bream, EPs so it is not really exposed to a lot of salt. The Luvias I used for everything from the rivers to the sea for snapper, squid and I'm sad to say the Luvis are no longer with me. They just couldn't hack the splash. I didn't even have them dunked and they seized up and died.

I had a Shimano sahara and Ultegra that was dunked and went through a lot more abuse but they still turned. And I didn't clean them as meticulously as I did the Luvis but they lasted longer than the Daiwas. I have since gotten a few more shimanos ie. Rarenium, Stradic, new Ultegras and they haven't dies since. The Rarenium was dunked when I capsized (I've only done that once in my 7 years kayak fishing) but a good hose down later, the rarenium is still running smoothly.

I have an Exist 2508 that I use specifically for snapper on plastics on my NRX rod but I really only take that out when conditions aren't too choppy. It has survived well so far so maybe the higher end stuff can take a beating better but I reckon shimanos cop a salt beating much better than Daiwas in the lower to mid range reels.

[panger]

I've downgraded all my reels to siennas and couldn't be happier. I haven't missed my luvi or stradic at all, plus no anxiety when the odd reel gets dunked.

[Breamingwithjoy]

I did the downgrade thing for the yak for a bit. Then I just went all in an d bought all the reels I wanted with mag seal and made a commitment to keep them in good nick. 2012/15 exists and morethans have had zero issues. If you are worried about them taking a dive leash them when not in use.

I did lose one outfit early on and it really sucked $1000+combo but that was in a paddle yak and have had no issues since moving to a hobie.

In saying all that I do use one particular reel when the chop gets up.

[warren63]

Buy and use what you can afford and are happy with. If you wash and maintain your reels then it greatly lessens any problems with them.

[DrLuvski]

I also had a couple of sienna reels and pfleuger trions when I started off yak fishing. Its all I fish from (and have ever fished from). I had a couple of dunks when I started out and my siennas eventually seized up after a year but I probably wasn't cleaning them very well.

Now I have a stradic fj, rarenium and a stradic ci4. Fingers crossed no dunks yet. I like the feel of the better reels and could never go back to a sienna now. I like to fish standing in the flats in the summer so I suppose thats not really yak fishing, but most of the other fishing I do is. I spray and dry the rods and reels after each trip and after a year they are all in good nick.

[silver]

My rods take a beating in the bankside branches, but only if they are stored vertically, but i manage to keep my reels dry enough.

After buying a lot of scotty rod holder gear i have gradually moved away from fixed rod holders in the yak and now just take a single rod which i lay between my legs. It keeps the reel drier and its so much easier to keep the rod tip clear of branches if you are looking at it the whole time.

Do that and pretty soon you won't worry about packing expensive gear on your yak.

[GONE FISHING]

Interesting thoughts.

I think the most I have spent on a reel is $100 and that was a surf reel. I find the Shimano stuff in the lower to mid range is tough as guts compared to daiwa. I had one Daiwa low end reel that sh*t itself pretty quickly with fairly mild use in the salt, but their roda in the same range I find better than Shimano.

For me, Sienna represents great value for money. I use Siennas and for a bit more "shnaz" I have the Sedonas which (touch wood) have been solid for over 2 yeara of decent abuse.

Like I said the the only maintenance I do is wash them down and spray with Lanox, that's it. I guess its also a case of I don't really know what I'm missing.

Besides in my view for most of the species in Victoria these reels/rods would be more than sufficient... then again so would a handline lol

[BrizVegasBretto]

Originally Posted by warren63

Buy and use what you can afford and are happy with. If you wash and maintain your reels then it greatly lessens any problems with them.

This.

If you really want to cover yourself, learn how to service them too. The low to mid level Shimano's are not difficult to service.

[Partizan Fk]

IMO all reels that get dunked generally need to be broken down and cleaned properly.Any reel will last as long as you clean it properly after every trip and follow basic procedures There is mpt reason a reel should seize.Thats why i like Shimano's if i havent dunked my reel simple rinse and oil in key areas and im done.
But that being said ive really dunked a Magseal Daiwa and all that got through was barely one drop of water.Thumsbs up for Diawa.
Buy the best reel that you can justify and not cry like youve lost a child if you lose it.