New Gear Earns its Stripes - Saltiga 2010 fishing reel - Hal Harvey

New Gear Earns its Stripes By Hal Harvey I’VE said before that these days, I don’t fish with new gear much. If it’s not proven, there’s a fair chance it’s not going to be faultless, and I’m a bit over experiencing what’s wrong with other peoples’ experiments. But there are always going to be exceptions. For the last few months, I’ve been fishing with a new Daiwa Saltiga spin reel dubbed ‘2010’ – although they didn’t even find their way out of the factory until October last year, so maybe they should have held out for ‘2011’. That’s an amazing 10 years since the first Saltiga spin reels appeared, although it doesn’t seem that long. I personally own six of the original Saltiga spin reels, so yes, I’m a fan. They were bought at intervals over the past six years, and haven’t let me down. So a new model, a brand new model, was deemed likely to be okay. And it has been good. I had to give it a go, you see, because years ago – about five years ago I think – I went to the Daiwa factory in Japan, and at one stage got to ask an engineer who would know – what’s next after these Saltigas? His reply still has me astounded: “We don’t know,” he replied in all honesty. I found that really surprising, but at the time it was an indication of just how far fishing reel design had come, that the products were now so good that there was markedly less room for improvement than there had been only 10 years earlier. The manufacturers had truly made such improvements, leaps and bounds, that there was not a whole lot else to do. So it became apparent, that short of something out of the hat, the next series of Saltigas was likely to be a lot less revolutionary than the first. One thing that was looking good though, was the inclusion of a genuine in-between size. In the original series, the 4500 size was a great medium-size reel, and my most used. But the next step up, in Australia, was the 6000, which was a lot bigger and heavier, and too much of a jump for some applications when the 4500 was looking a little light on for line capacity. In the USA they sold a 5000, but that was just a shallow-spool 6000, and fairly pointless – it was just as big and bulky. However the 2010 Saltigas include a genuine 5000 size that sports a one-third greater capacity than the 4500, but on the 4500-size body. Just what we needed for big fish shore fishing in WA, and most appropriate for light jigging in deep water. An extra bonus was the range of gear ratios: a fast 5.7:1 for lure casting in both the 4500 and 5000 sizes, and then a medium 4.9:1 option on the 4500 – just right for boat work with bait and soft plastics – and a grunty 4.4:1 for the 5000, for jigging and surf sinker use. I went for the 5000H with the high speed 5.7:1 ratio, as a bit of beach and rock lure casting was in my immediate future. Regular readers might remember my tales of busting a gut trying to cast far enough at times with 2.7m spin rods on surf beaches. Last August, at the Australian Tackle Show in Queensland, I had fondled some new surf rods with interest. My odd surf rod had never inspired me, but Daiwa had some interesting graphites there labelled Tournament Master; 3.6m, 4.2m and 4.8m models, all three-piece and slim-shafted designs. Nice and light, with Fuji Low Rider guides. Hmmm. So I got a 4.2m one when they came on to the market late last year. Obviously not a spinning rod … was it? Nobody spins with a 4.2m rod, do they? The first time the 2010 Saltiga 5000H was used, was also the first time a Tournament Master 4.2m rod was swung for real in Western Australia. So much for my ‘no unproven gear’ plan. And I was throwing lures. How about that. The Tournament Master rod was definitely light enough for even my weak old computer-keyboard arms to work, for hours at a time, and that should surprise you. It’s decades since I used such long rods for spinning, because they’ve always been hard work. But yea verily, they’re getting better now. I would have liked to have measured out a few casts on dry land to see how much extra distance the long rod afforded, but never got around to it. Really, it served the purpose; and I look back surprised that there were times when I had it slung under my arm with the tip down, using it just like a spin rod half its length. The Saltiga 5000H has a handful of notable changes to its predecessor; the ‘Mag Sealed’ waterproofing that has it a little freer spinning, some rearrangements of seals and drag, and a ‘Zaion’ graphite composite rotor instead of an aluminium one. Funnily enough, just about everybody who picks it up comments on how light it is – but that’s a trick of the mind, as it’s actually a smidge heavier than the original model. Perhaps the abundant cut-outs on the spool, rotor and side plates give the impression. The Zaion rotor concerns some people, but I think it’s great. Sure you need an aluminium body to hold all the gear train in precise alignment, but the rotor is not critical for anything like that. By going to the graphite composite material, Daiwa has avoided one of the potential problems with an aluminium rotor on a jigging reel: the scenario when an angler belts it into the rail of the boat, unknowingly cracks a bail arm mount, and then has it collapse under load sometime later. The Zaion material is flexible enough to forgive that abuse, but unlike lesser graphite composite materials, not so flexible that it gets pulled out of shape by the available 15kg of drag. Just right, I think. The Mag Sealed feature forms part of the Saltiga’s waterproofing. The reel itself is designed to be considered waterproof, so when you wash it you don’t push water into the bearings, and when you use it on a beach you can actually give it a rinse off in the suds to get the sand off it. Beach anglers should like this very much; between services, all you need to do is rinse it under the tap. But the problem with waterproofing a reel is that some parts move and some don’t, so everywhere the two meet, there has to be a drag-inducing seal incorporated. The Mag Sealed idea is used to minimise that drag, and it was first used in the smaller Daiwa Certates, which are relatively delicate reels where extra winding resistance would have been very noticeable. The Mag Sealed is a waterproofing ring under the rotor, where the greatest winding resistance would otherwise be. It’s achieved by using a magnetic oil, developed by NASA, as a membrane held in place between magnetised surfaces. Although it’s completely hidden away, it’s probably the most important feature of the new reel; the one that will keep it feeling newer, longer. So do I need to sell all my pre-2011 Saltigas? I don’t think so: they’re mighty fine reels, and in fact Daiwa are likely to continue making them for years to come. Most models continue on alongside the 2011 version, and it will be later this year before a new smaller model is introduced and perhaps another year until the larger ones are finalised. Whether the new features are enough to have anglers pay a couple of hundred dollars more than the originals, remains to be seen. But if it’s you, or even if it’s not, and you like a beach fish, check out a Tournament Master surf rod too. Reel improvements may be incremental now, but rods are still getting better every year. I-Fish http://daiwafishing.com.au/?p=6981

Hal Harvey is well known to West Australian anglers as the owner of the Bluewater Tackle stores, in Morley, Scarborough and Exmouth. Hal is also the weekly fishing columnist for the Sunday Times and contibutes the Sandgroper Scene column to Modern Fishing Magazine, plus the Tackle & Tactics column to Western Angler magazine along with the odd feature article. Hal has fished all over the world, but rates Shark Bay, Exmouth, and the Rowley Shoals off Broome as the best fishing spots on the planet. For more information on Bluewater Stores For more information on Western Angler magazine

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DAIWA Gekkabijin MX 2004 finnese reel

DAIWA Gekkabijin MX 2004 reel

http://daiwafishing.com.au/?p=6568

The new Gekkabijin MX delivers a winning combination of pure finesse, durability and ultra smooth performance. With its slow crank speed it is perfectly suited for the finesse hard body lure angler. The newly designed long cast ABS-R spool will let you reach the distant spots with even the lightest lures. And when you do hook up, you can count on the super light consistent sealed drag to deliver smooth even pressure to protect the lightest of lines.

Available early Autumn 2011.
Features

* Digigear II
* Silent oscillation
* ABS-R spool
* Cross wrap
* Airbail
* Twistbuster II
* Rotor brake
* Ultimate Tournament drag
* Washable
* Aluminum machined handle

Perfectly matched with

* Infeet Gekkabijin rods – coming soon

DAWIA Saltiga 2010 UTD – Ultimate Tournament Drag.

http://daiwafishing.com.au/?p=6537

The New Saltiga introduces revolutionary technology. To understand this leading technology Daiwa’s Development Engineers explain the secret to Daiwa’s latest drag technology – UTD or Ultimate Tournament Drag.

UTD

Daiwa’s latest drag system, UTD or Ultimate Tournament Drag, is a super high density, woven carbon drag washer system that is impregnated with a specially designed oil/grease.

The new system has many benefits over the old design. Firstly it substantially increases the practical drag pressure. Secondly the inertia to get the drag working is dramatically decreased. Thirdly the drag is now incredibly smooth. And last but not least it has stabilized and balanced the drag system against spool rotation.

Furthermore the carbon drag washers are up to 30 times more durable compared to the previous drag washers.

DAIWA Saltiga 2010′s ultimate waterproofing.

Saltiga 2010′s ultimate waterproofing.

http://daiwafishing.com.au/?p=6526

The New Saltiga introduces revolutionary technology. To understand this leading technology Daiwa’s Development Engineers explain that the secret to the new Saltiga is Mag Seal – perfection in waterproofing.

Offshore fishing is damaging on fishing tackle. Saltwater spray, wind and water will test a reel’s engineering to the extreme.

All spinning reels suffer from water penetration via the rotor and pinion gear assembly, so in 2001 Daiwa introduced gasket sealing in Saltiga Z 4500 to saltwater waterproof the reel and prevent water penetration. The amazing results from this system helped cement Saltiga as the ultimate offshore reel.

The original Saltiga Z rotor was perfectly sealed by a rubber gasket but it also sacrificed ease of revolution and lightness of operation in the rotor. And as with any seal, friction and abrasion will cause the rubber gasket to wear, allowing water penetration over time.

Daiwa Gekkabijin Vib 3S

Gekkabijin Vib 3S

http://daiwafishing.com.au/?p=6581

The Gekkabijin Vib 3S is an all new “vibe”. Imitating the small shrimps that are so prevalent throughout estuaries, bays, rivers and streams, the Gekkabijin Vib 3S will definitely be one of the lures to watch on the ABT Tournament trail in 2011. Guaranteed to be a live well filler for bream, it will be equally effective on bass, trout, estuary perch or just about anything that eats small shrimp!

Unlike any other available it features a hollow plastic body, giving it a full body profile and the internal weight system causes the lure to sink nose forward to avoid snagging. On a slow crank it produces a wide wobble but speed it up and the tight high pitched wiggle attracts any predatory fish.

Handmade in Japan to the highest standards, these lures feature 3D realistic eyes, ultra sharp HD chemically sharpened treble with lifelike skirt and are painted internally with chip proof paint for an incredible lifelike finish.

Available early Autumn 2011 the Gekkabijin Vib 3s is available in four fish attracting colours.
Features:

* Sinking
* Discreet vibration action
* Ultra sharp heavy duty chemically sharpened treble
* Rubber/ tinsel skirt
* Chip proof internal painting
* 3D realistic eyes

Starting at he Mindarie store

After a residential shift Im now working at the Mindarie store.

Specialist fishing tackle store Mindarie Perth

Cnr Sarasota Pass & Pensacola Terrace
Clarkson, WA 6030

Ph +61 8 9407 9766

Email mindarie@bluewater.net.au

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