[redrivergar]

Hopefully ya'll can help with a bit of advice. I like to get out in the ocean wading and casting and sometimes my reel gets in the salt water. Last time at the beach, I bought a Shakespeare spinning reel at Jennisons bait shop at Dauphin Island and it lasted the week but now I've taken it apart and it's toast. I was careful to wash it with fresh water like I do the rest of my gear, but I don't take any of the others into the surf. I was looking at the Penn Battle 2. I plan to put it on a 7' medium heavy rod. Any suggestions?

 

[Surfjunkie]

What size battle were you looking at? If the reel occasionally gets dunked I would consider the equivalent size ssv spinfisher

 

[ez2cdave]

I have a hard & fast rule . . . If a reel gets dunked, it comes apart, ASAP, gets totally cleaned, and re-lubed. If on vacation, it happens right in the hotel room !

Tight Lines !

 

[sulsj]

If you need to dunk it, ssv or dam quick should be the way to go unless willing to pay few hundreds more.
Otherwise, the lighter the better. for wading in beach, imo. I've been using Shimano stradic 4000.

 

[phillyguy]

+1 on the SSV. Not waterproof, but more water resistant than the battle.

 

[kurazy kracka]

SSV isn't too bad, still don't expect to dunk it a ton. I had bearings seize up a few times in me.

Penn is releasing the slammer 2 this fall which looks promising. Also check out the tsunami shield that's coming out. I think that reel could be a great bang for the buck based off what I've heard and seen on other sites and from a rep.
http://www.surfcastersjournal.com/sealed-reel-for-under-100/

 

[Solesolace]

I have two of the Battle 2s and I really like them. I've relegated them to surf/pier fishing though, because I bought the 5000s. They're a bit too heavy to be walking around with and casting all day. Picked up a Fierce in the 2000 size for that and it works great.

 

[RobVB]

Shimano Spheros SW
Sealed reel for $200.
Better gearing than Penn in same price range.

 

[kurazy kracka]

Shimano Spheros SW
Sealed reel for $200.
Better gearing than Penn in same price range.

this is the option I would go with based on what is currently available on the market for a lower price. Come this fall you get some more selection.

 

[redrivergar]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I'm leaning toward the Shimano.

 

[greg12345]

i wouldn't purposely dunk any reel unless you are talking $500+ VS or ZB, that's just me. alan hawk has a nice review of the SSV. i have 1st generation battles that got unintentionally dunked, immediately submersed them in saltaway solution and then when back home a week later broke them down myself for full servicing, still good as new

tsunami shield is definitely intriguing

 

[Garboman]

I have a hard & fast rule . . . If a reel gets dunked, it comes apart, ASAP, gets totally cleaned, and re-lubed. If on vacation, it happens right in the hotel room !

Tight Lines !

I will concur with Tuna's close associate Dave on this one, unless you have a Van Steal which I believe is sealed in some fashion, you cannot submerge a spinner/casting reel in Salt Water/Sand and expect a reel not to have problems, unless you are rinsing/lubing out the interior before corrosion has had time to set in.

I have from time to time rinsed off Daiwa SL30SH's in the ocean after they got sand in them. and ABU's after getting "Point Washed", but after I leave the beach I take the side plates off and clean and re-lube the bearings.

By the way getting "Point Washed" means you waded out on the spit at Cape Point and then had a wave break over the top of your head. (Which signals that it is a good time to wade back in a little closer to shore).

I also will take the rod butts with reels mounted on them into the Shower and rinse them with hot soapy water at times even if they did not get dunked.

Back in the day, day after a Hurricane one time in Rodanthe, CE Midgett (RIP) had a broken foot in a cast and could not walk real good and we wanted to check out Rodanthe Pier, drove down the pier road from Rt. 12 in 12 inches of running tide, ran into a three foot hole in the road next to the Redheads old house on Atlantic Drive.

We were stuck until a big comber came in and smacked into the front of my F150 beach truck....the wave lifted my Truck out of the hole and I hit reverse and got out of there.....forgot to re-lube my wheel bearings and two months later, they all had to get replaced by Gary Midgett (RIP) at Mac's (RIP)....seems like sometimes me and the Redhead and DD are the only ones still at them Drum from the old days...

 

[Garboman]

This wading out deep while fishing brought back a memory when I lived on Hatteras, after a few years you kind of know all the local drum fisherman and when outsiders come for the bite, they stand out. One fine May evening we were sitting around the tailgates of the trucks getting ready to fish the Dusk bite (No closures back then, Plovers did not have any benefactors). Tide was coming in if I can remember correctly. There was three or four fellas from New York or New Jersey and while we were sliding into our waders, the NY fellas were getting into wetsuits. I asked them what were the wetsuits for as it was pretty warm out and waders were just to keep from being real wet when darkness set in and the real Drum fishing started. "We wade fish" they all cheerfully replied......watched them go out in a little group and sort of swim through a slough to get to a bar....like I said the tide was coming in...the water was real warm...and it was Dusk at the Point in late May.....never saw that bunch again......like to think they adapted to NC style fishing which does not include swimming at the Point after Dark

It is a hell of a feeling when you bow up out on a sandbar far off the beach, past a slough at night on Hatteras, with waves coming in over your waist and you are hooked up to a large fish and the giant white Drum you thought you had on.........suddenly sprouts a tall Dorsal and turns a dark black color and is 6-7 feet long:redface:

 

[ez2cdave]

This wading out deep while fishing brought back a memory when I lived on Hatteras, after a few years you kind of know all the local drum fisherman and when outsiders come for the bite, they stand out. One fine May evening we were sitting around the tailgates of the trucks getting ready to fish the Dusk bite (No closures back then, Plovers did not have any benefactors). Tide was coming in if I can remember correctly. There was three or four fellas from New York or New Jersey and while we were sliding into our waders, the NY fellas were getting into wetsuits. I asked them what were the wetsuits for as it was pretty warm out and waders were just to keep from being real wet when darkness set in and the real Drum fishing started. "We wade fish" they all cheerfully replied......watched them go out in a little group and sort of swim through a slough to get to a bar....like I said the tide was coming in...the water was real warm...and it was Dusk at the Point in late May.....never saw that bunch again......like to think they adapted to NC style fishing which does not include swimming at the Point after Dark

It is a hell of a feeling when you bow up out on a sandbar far off the beach, past a slough at night on Hatteras, with waves coming in over your waist and you are hooked up to a large fish and the giant white Drum you thought you had on.........suddenly sprouts a tall Dorsal and turns a dark black color and is 6-7 feet long:redface:

Sounds like those guys up north that go "Skishing" . . . Not me !!!

 

[BLACK ADDER]

I recently dunked a small spinning reel several times in the surf. I disassembled it at home. Here, for what it's worth, are some tips for reel maintenance from 50 years pro and amateur reel repair:
1) Use good tools
2) Disassemble in order, keep parts in box, clean as you go.
3) Lube when re- assembling.
* With spinning reels, the USUAL culprits are the bearings. They are super sensitive to grit. Most modern reels have a couple bearings, but be prepared for the oriental reel manufacturers to slip in a fake. Their favorite fakes are bearings that are NOT ball bearings. They are just a plastic or metal ring that the spindle fits in. This MUST be cleaned and lubed. If you have real bearings, they will jam and must be cleaned with a squirt bottle and WATER and a tooth brush. Stick the end of the tooth brush in the bearing and gently work back and forth until the grit is discharged and the bearing is freed. Lightly lubricate. EVERYTHING needs rubbed and oiled, even if no visible gunk. Reassemble.
** When on the beach, I have done "field stripping" and adjustment, but there ain't much you can fix in a sandy reel. DO NOT FORCE THE REEL. You will likely bust the bearing or something. It pays to always carry a spare rod and reel, and repair stuff LATER....at home on the work bench.

BA

PS Reel schematics for many reels are free on line. Take a peek if you have doubts.

 

[buster]

Go with a sealed unit.Cost more now but will last much longer without the headaches.You will appreciate the money spent now compared to not spending and regretting it.My reels get wet or dunked all i do it rinse them off and wipe down with WD-40 on a rag.

 

[Garboman]

I recently dunked a small spinning reel several times in the surf. I disassembled it at home. Here, for what it's worth, are some tips for reel maintenance from 50 years pro and amateur reel repair:
1) Use good tools
2) Disassemble in order, keep parts in box, clean as you go.
3) Lube when re- assembling.
* With spinning reels, the USUAL culprits are the bearings. They are super sensitive to grit. Most modern reels have a couple bearings, but be prepared for the oriental reel manufacturers to slip in a fake. Their favorite fakes are bearings that are NOT ball bearings. They are just a plastic or metal ring that the spindle fits in. This MUST be cleaned and lubed. If you have real bearings, they will jam and must be cleaned with a squirt bottle and WATER and a tooth brush. Stick the end of the tooth brush in the bearing and gently work back and forth until the grit is discharged and the bearing is freed. Lightly lubricate. EVERYTHING needs rubbed and oiled, even if no visible gunk. Reassemble.
** When on the beach, I have done "field stripping" and adjustment, but there ain't much you can fix in a sandy reel. DO NOT FORCE THE REEL. You will likely bust the bearing or something. It pays to always carry a spare rod and reel, and repair stuff LATER....at home on the work bench.

BA

PS Reel schematics for many reels are free on line. Take a peek if you have doubts.

This is great advice.


The only thing I do different with non Abu Reels (Which I have pulled apart a lot in the last 30 years so I have ABU 4500-10000 series down pat) is that I do it on a desk and I lay a large towel on the desktop and as the parts come off the reel, I clean them individually and place them in the order they came off the reel on the towel. Do not use the good towels or the Lady of the House will go off on you.....

About 30 years ago I had a 4/0 Penn get sanded up when I flipped a Jon boat coming in on the Surf at Hatteras, I took it apart and soaked everything in a coffee can of solvent, and as this was before the internet, I had a hell of a time getting the reel back in working order...dog spring left out...wrong sequence drag washers...etc...

One thing I have yet to figure out is what is a Dickbass?

 

[Gditm]

Theyre pretty elusive. Only lurk in grassy waters. Let me know if you catch one. There's only been 3 caught all year

 

[Gditm]

I know yall will all think im still being a troll. But i hardly know how to use the Internet, much less troll shit. But i actually have something on topic to say. I have like 8 penn battles and battle 2s. And i fish in a kayak and wade for dickbass all the time. And jump out of boats with my rod and get them wet and under water like 27 times a month. And i just spray them with a hose and use wd40 and they all still work good. Penn battles are bad dudes. And really good dickbass rods

 

[digiRAMbo]

Most modern reels have a couple bearings, but be prepared for the oriental reel manufacturers to slip in a fake.

Slightly off topic, but you must be old school to use the word "oriental." I don't think I am being overly sensitive... Just wanted to let you know that the word is considered offensive. Maybe you knew that it was offensive and was trying to make a point, but please remember that the fishing community is large and diverse and that this is a public forum.

Theyre pretty elusive. Only lurk in grassy waters. Let me know if you catch one. There's only been 3 caught all year

Slightly off topic again, but does this fish have a scientific name? Lol, Google came up pretty much empty.

Back to topic, +1 for SSV in that price range. I have a Battle II and a SSV and would choose SSV for the surf. But sand still got in the way with SSV on my last surf outing, so I had to look for a more expensive alternative.