Bob9863

Little differences and tactics can produce fish in a lot of places that other people give up on.

Should be good for a big fight.

That's the thing with them, my Vanfords do a brilliant job, they are probably 70% as good as the Stella and I definitely don't need a Stella for the fishing I do around here. But they are just so buttery smooth, balanced and feel that little bit more special. In no practical way is it worth upgrading, but I do a lot more casting then catching and using the damn things almost is a pleasure in itself. The other option is a twin power, it would be 90% or more as good as the stella but only 50% of the cost.

I went into that same local today to get some 10lb braid and almost walked out with the one remaining 2500 they have. I'm waiting on my new 4-6kg nitro rod to arrive and if my 2500 vanford balances nicely on it then I might be popping back to grab it. I was damn tempted as it was.

Which is the point, if places that have been completely destroyed of fish life can bounce back using this minimalist methods, then they can do so much more here without banning fishing for the weekend punter.

That's the real aim of this sort of thing, to take away people's desire to fish. It's the same thing they do with hunting ect, it's about reducing the number of every day people that engage in outdoor activities. It's not about looking after animals or the environment it's all about controlling what people think, what people do and making them city centric sheep that just live and do as they are told.

I had a cast with it before work this morning and I might have made a mistake. Now I'm giving serious thought selling off my vanford and buying a couple more Stella's in a 1000 and 2500 size. It's just such a beautiful reel to use. Might have to have another hit this afternoon.

Those measures, not the total closures but safe zones and limits on both minimum and maximum size have worked in the Amazon and areas in Asia that have otherwise been wiped out due to dynamite fishing ect. If it works everywhere else in the world it's been tried it will work here. Not total closures or massive marine parks but a balanced number of measures that give the fish a break and a chance to breed, and allow both recreational and commercial fishing to take place. Without a, doubt commercial fishing does the lions share of damage, but there's room for it if it's done responsibly. Something does need to be done, but it can't be some knee jerk over reaction. We need a moderate balanced change, not some scorched earth policy like this.

I've fished a lot of places next to exclusion zones and definitely caught a lot more fish. A few exclusion zones will definitely help improve fish numbers and size. But you don't need massive areas or large numbers of them, and you definitely don't need to close entire areas off to all fishermen.

Breading zones and off limits areas are hugely successful at increased fish populations. Blanket bans especially on recreational fishing do bugger all that's beneficial. Stopping all fishing will work brilliantly but at a huge cost to the public, what's needed is a balanced approach. Another really good measure is minimum and maximum legal sizes, it's had a huge impact on cod numbers around here. Building habitat and artificial reefs work really well to. A balanced approach is what's required.

I spooled it up with 180m of ultra thin 65lb braid so it's going to be perfect for what I want. I'm glad I went this way.

Well the decision was made for me today, one of my local shops had a Stella 4000XG reduced to clear for the low low price of $895 so I simply couldn't pass that up.

There's still catching them, you might not eat them but you would expect a few catch and release blokes to be having a go.

Been down for a, few, days with the wife visiting friends in Melbourne. But we have spent that time walking around the river and the docks and I know the water is an ugly muddy colour but I have not seen one person having a fish. What's the go with that? You would think somebody in a city this size would wet a line.

Some bloody nice fish there.

Some nice ones there.

For a reel chasing trophy big fish like Arapima and Tarpon ect, money isn't a deciding factor for me. If it was for fishing down the river 20min from home then I'd go for the best bang for my buck, but flying overseas and maybe getting one shot at a dream giant fish, be it the reel, the line, the rod or the knot then you don't want to risk any of those things letting you down. When your catching 5-8 different big fish in one day then you don't want your drag letting you down either, not the maximum setting as even after 10min of 6kg drag you start wearing out, but having one that can handle 10-20min of line screaming off the reel without cooking is very important. I was just getting out of baitcasting gear so having sold a lot of good gear off I've got plenty in my fishing kitty to get something top of the line. Well as long as the wife doesn't find out how much I've put aside anyway.

I have looked at it, and honestly the only reason to go a stella I've one in my situation is ascetics and the flag ship name. A twin power would do the job just fine. It's less purely about need and more about my fondness for high end gear.

It would be used exclusively for targeting trophy fish in fishing parks, so it will be well looked after and infrequently used.

One curious thing I've noticed is that the main stella features are the same as vanford that I've already got. I'm thinking that my current vanford 5000 might do the job, although that definitely doesn't mean that I don't want one any more. The most popular reel the locals use is are shimano bait runners, and the Vanford definitely has better bearings and drag then they do.

I'm partial to pink myself, although I prefer to refer to it as aggressive salmon.

Is there a reason why, everything I read up on the 2022, hell any of them actually says they are the gold standard. What are they missing or not good at that makes them not worth it and what reel is the best of the high end value for money wise? I'm quiet certain my vanford 5000 would be up to the job if I didn't abuse it too much, but I would like something I can really work the arse off of.

Yeah, I gotta agree it's hard to read much of what he writes. I also think the Diawa certate range is bigger then I need, all I need is around 8kg minimum drag, 150m of 50lb braid, smooth drag, light weight and a long cast. If the Stella is worth the money over other reels in their line-up then it's worth it for me. It fits all that criteria and it's supposed to be a beautifully smooth and long lasting reel. I'd like this to last like my C4 ambassadeur, just keep on ticking and doing all I want it to for many many years while other reels come and go.

I was looking at the exist range too, but I like the look of the Stella more but feature wise they are very close. The exist does hold more line and is a little lighter which are very big advantages for what I'm after. The rod I intend to put it on is an 8kg 5 piece nitro travel rod, it will see service mostly on arapima, but red tail catfish and tarpon are also in its sights.

I'm thinking about getting a Stella 5000XGFK compact as a light weight heavy duty reel. I need something that will handle some hard fighting fish overseas, smooth drag, can handle some heavy abuse on long fights, controlled retrieval for both slow sensitive finesse work and fast retrieval when needed, with plenty of cast length and the ability to handle big lures. Most of all I want lasting quality that won't let me down when needed. Diawa has some good options too but I am fond of my shimano's.