Shimano Sahara FJ – The New Best Trout Reel Under $100?

Shimano Sahara FJ – The New Best Trout Reel Under $100?

For all the praise premium price reels like the Stradic and Vanford get, most of us fish with reels that cost under $100, it is likely the most competitive segment of the market. Earlier this year Shimano refreshed the Sahara line-up and released the FJ. The FJ represents a nice improvement over the older Sahara…

Best Shimano Stradic Alternative? (6 metal frame reels compared)
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Best Shimano Stradic Alternative? (6 metal frame reels compared)

The Shimano Stradic is one of the best spinning reels ever made, and it has developed a cult like following of fans. It is simply a well-built reel that is not only smooth but extremely durable. If there is one complaint regarding the Stradic it is the price, at close to $200 it is a…

Does Penn make any good trout reels? (Saltwater reels in the fresh)
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Does Penn make any good trout reels? (Saltwater reels in the fresh)

Penn is one of the biggest names in offshore reels, they built their reputation on classics like the Senator, International, and the Spinfisher. These are all heavy duty reels designed for catching powerful fighting fish in the salt. So whether you are a Penn loyalist, or just want to try something a little different, what…

Shimano Stradic FL vs Shimano Vanford for Ultralight Fishing
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Shimano Stradic FL vs Shimano Vanford for Ultralight Fishing

In this article, I am going to discuss two very similar reels. These reels, almost have more in common than separates them. They are both excellent for their price point. If I had to describe both reels in just one sentence. The Stradic is a workhorse while the Vanford is all about finesse. For the…

How to know if a spinning reel is the correct size for trout fishing?
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How to know if a spinning reel is the correct size for trout fishing?

There seems to be quite some confusion regarding what size spinning reel to get for trout fishing. I am going to provide a method that can be used with any brand of spinning reel. This method uses the breaking strain of the line you use to decide what reel to get. When trout fishing, we…

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Which ‘ultralight’ spinning reel has the most powerful drag?

The title of most powerful drag found on a readily available, ‘small size’ spinning reel belongs to the Kastking Sharky III which offers 33lb of drag on a 1000 size reel that weighs just 7.6oz. While the Sharky III has a powerful drag. It is not a reel I usually recommend. It is slightly larger…