Threadline reel for spinning up North... advice!

[guy debord]

Howdy folks. I'd like some recommendations/comparisons between these reels, one of which i am considering buying for a several month adventure in the NT and Kimberleys:

Branzino 3000
Exist 3002
Hyper Certate 2500-R or 3000
Certate Hi-Gear Custom 2508-RH
Stella c3000 or 2500

I'll be using it when spinning for larger barra, salmon and other critters i can reach from shore, spooled with 20lb castaway (i've got a few reels to cover 'smaller' situations).
Price should be an issue... but to be realistic, worrying about spending an extra $100 or so equates to one big Friday night out eating and drinking, and I can gladly make the sacrifice. Oddly my girlfriend is encouraging me to 'get something that looks nice' (she compares everything to my mint td-z 2506 type-r plus, which she apparently thinks is pretty).
Any advice, especially from folks who have tested some of these reels in tough conditions, would be most appreciated

[Minnows]

Originally Posted by guy debord

Oddly my girlfriend is encouraging me to 'get something that looks nice' (she compares everything to my mint td-z 2506 type-r plus, which she apparently thinks is pretty).

Man you've got it good

[DaiwaFreak]

Stella C3000 2010 model mate, I got one and it puts all the other reels on that list to shame.

[guy debord]

Originally Posted by DaiwaFreak

Stella C3000 2010 model mate, I got one and it puts all the other reels on that list to shame.

I own 2 stellas and I am quite attached to them. They are a very hardy and trustworthy reel. It would be nice to have 3 cascading sizes! It is a difficult decision though, as i am curious to try a larger daiwa.

[yakkindan]

certate 3500hd, or 3000 hyper custom. for bling i'd say get a branzino 3000. i havent got any experience with the high end shimano gear so cant comment. either way at the higher end of each brand you should be very happy either way. cheers YD

[DaiwaFreak]

Originally Posted by guy debord

I own 2 stellas and I am quite attached to them. They are a very hardy and trustworthy reel. It would be nice to have 3 cascading sizes! It is a difficult decision though, as i am curious to try a larger daiwa.

By the way, I have used a Branzino 3000 if that helps. Stella is easily smoother, and it feels a lot more solid and well built. Both reels have very light handle rotation. The stella c3000 is also a lot lighter than the Branzino (225g vs. 280g). But in the end, its personal preference, good luck with the decision mate.

[kakaryan]

Personally I wouldnt think about the C3000, which is just a 2500 body with a 3000 size spool on it, seems a bit small for what you intend to use, plus you said you already have a few "smaller reels".

Saying Stella is a lot lighter is unfair, considering the C3000 is just a 2500 body size reel which weights 225g. If only talking about weight, the same level Exist can kill Stella in every size (Exist 2500 = 200g, Stella = 220g; Exist 3000 = 235g, Stella = 265g). Besides the Daiwa size is slight bigger than Shimano's.


Branzino is designed to be a top end seabass reel, so it has to have that weight to balance those very long Branzino seabass rods up to 11 feet. Plus it has a very very strong gear, which Daiwa advertised it as the fusion of "Certate, Exist and Saltiga into one". So for bling and strength I would go the Branzion definitely. For light weight then Exist. Wouldnt consider any high gear ratio. If you are shimano boy then go Stella 4000 (shame they dont make any 3000 body between 2500 and 4000, C3000 use 2500 body, 3000HG uses 4000's).

[guy debord]

Thanks for the advice. I've done the finances for the trip and I have $650 to spend. I seem to be settling on an FE Stella 3000HG that i can get sparkling new and posted for around the $650 mark. It is a very strange experience not feeling guilty about buying another reel: by which i mean my girlfriend keeps telling me to "just buy the one you want!"
Just another question... I've also found Exists in 2508-R and 3012 sizes for a bit cheaper than the 3000HG Stella. Anyone got an informed opinion about either of these, as It seems these are the last options i am umming and ahhing over? A Branzino 3000 of course would suit, but i just don't like the look of the certate body... and the extra price.
Cheers, Shannon.

[bomb]

i reckon any of those reels will be fine,take your pick......providing you only intend on fishing in creeks,and providing you have some bigger gear if you are going outside.

but in saying that i've seen 15kg queenies,big golden trevs,massive threadfin salmon etc in creeks in the top end that could empty those smaller reels in their 1st run.

have a great trip

cheers
bomb

[mbp]

Originally Posted by guy debord

Howdy folks. I'd like some recommendations/comparisons between these reels, one of which i am considering buying for a several month adventure in the NT and Kimberleys:

Branzino 3000
Exist 3002
Hyper Certate 2500-R or 3000
Certate Hi-Gear Custom 2508-RH
Stella c3000 or 2500

I'll be using it when spinning for larger barra, salmon and other critters i can reach from shore, spooled with 20lb castaway (i've got a few reels to cover 'smaller' situations).
Price should be an issue... but to be realistic, worrying about spending an extra $100 or so equates to one big Friday night out eating and drinking, and I can gladly make the sacrifice. Oddly my girlfriend is encouraging me to 'get something that looks nice' (she compares everything to my mint td-z 2506 type-r plus, which she apparently thinks is pretty).
Any advice, especially from folks who have tested some of these reels in tough conditions, would be most appreciated

Unless you can tick the box with all of those it's difficult to say because it's a bit like comparing apples with oranges. - There are no bad ones on that list but assuming you want a bit of high speed for spinning go the Certate Hi-Gear Custom or the Stella. My preference would be the HS Certate. If you really want to impress the girl with bling (and function) get yourself a new Salty 4000 H. It's a bit heavier and more $$s but I can pretty well tick most of those boxes and I can confidently say that the Saltiga is in a league of it's own