Help deciding Saltiga or Stella

[ManofTroy21]

Gents,

I’m based in Tampa area and offshore fish(no more than 200 feet of water) for BFT, AJ, Snapper, Grouper.

Got into jigging and I’m hooked. I’m having some good results thus far but realize my rod/reel setups aren’t ideal for this technique.

Looking at the new 2020 Saltiga and the 2019 Stella.

1) which one would you choose and why? 2)For the depths and species I’m fishing, what size reel would you recommend(thinking an 8k or 10k)? 3) If you had another $500 to pair a rod with this class of reel, what would you recommend?

thank you!

 

[esgeo]

Most people on BD use conventional reels for jigging. I personally think an Avet JX raptor is a great reel for that application. I match it with a rod that is meant for fishing 60# line

FYI, people see BFT here and general think bluefin not blackfin...

I have a Stella 8k (2008), and love using it for popping and top water applications, but have never considered using for jigging.

 

[ManofTroy21]

Most people on BD use conventional reels for jigging. I personally think an Avet JX raptor is a great reel for that application. I match it with a rod that is meant for fishing 60# line

FYI, people see BFT here and general think bluefin not blackfin...

I have a Stella 8k (2008), and love using it for popping and top water applications, but have never considered using for jigging.

gotcha. I prefer spinning for this application. I find it much easier.

why have you never jigged with it? You should see the aussies and kiwis on YouTube pulling up huge GT from the depths with these reels

 

[BrokenBackRebel]

I use the crap out my Stella 8k. On the beach. Bought it used. 8 years ago. Still kickin’ ass.

 

[hucklongfin]

Both Saltiga and Stella are great. Only downside to the Saltiga is you have to send it to Daiwa for service. You can have Stella's serviced locally.

 

[esgeo]

gotcha. I prefer spinning for this application. I find it much easier.

why have you never jigged with it? You should see the aussies and kiwis on YouTube pulling up huge GT from the depths with these reels

1)i prefer the option to lay the rod on the rail, thus I like conventional.
2)I get a better sense of how deep I’m getting bit using a conventional set up.
3)like being able to control the jig descent with my thumb in freespool
4) i only have one Stella, so I have it rigged for top water

i’ve definitely seen plenty of videos seeing it done, but I’ve gotten used to conventional gear, so that works for me.

you might get better answers at 360tuna

 

[ManofTroy21]

Both Saltiga and Stella are great. Only downside to the Saltiga is you have to send it to Daiwa for service. You can have Stella's serviced locally.

I’m not sure if that’s the case anymore. When I do a search of Daiwa service centers, I actually have one locally to me in Tampa Bay listed. Now, I’d love to know what the cost comparison of service is between them and Shimano...but I’ve looked and looked online and haven’t found anything.

 

[hucklongfin]

The place in Holiday is listed as doing mag-seal service. Mag-sealed bearings are the issue since Daiwa won't sell the oil. If you don't mind sending it in or have a place close by then there's no issue.

 

[Explorer1]

I am still learning so my experience don’t count much . Fished a 50 hours trip last year off Taiwan for AJs at 120meter of water, I had my 2008 Stella 10000(16000spool) and few other conventional reels. All reels had identical braid and Flouro. We were jigging 500g . We had a blast that 2 days but I only landed 1 AJ with the spinning setup and I went back to conventional immediately. I find i have better control/power with conventional reels Both when speed jigging and fighting fish. Maybe it’s just me but I suggest go with what you feel comfortable.
Just saying

 

[ManofTroy21]

I am still learning so my experience don’t count much . Fished a 50 hours trip last year off Taiwan for AJs at 120meter of water, I had my 2008 Stella 10000(16000spool) and few other conventional reels. All reels had identical braid and Flouro. We were jigging 500g . We had a blast that 2 days but I only landed 1 AJ with the spinning setup and I went back to conventional immediately. I find i have better control/power with conventional reels Both when speed jigging and fighting fish. Maybe it’s just me but I suggest go with what you feel comfortable.
Just saying

sounds like a cool trip! Why were you using such a heavy jig? Seems Iike a lot of weight for that depth.

 

[Explorer1]

I don’t know, like I said I am still learning. Maybe because we were drifting ? I honestly don’t know (1st time out). I followed this group of local anglers out to Senkaku Islands On a party boat that had 14 Anglers. Everyone was using 450-550 and some electric reels guys were using 650g. Anyways it was so good, I am making it a yearly trip now, hopefully Taiwan don’t need 14 day quarantine for tourist come December.

 

[Buttchaser]

Don‘t count the shimano Twinpower our , it’s cheaper then the Stella..

 

[ManofTroy21]

Don‘t count the shimano Twinpower our , it’s cheaper then the Stella..

Was turned off by Alan Hawk’s review of the TP...

 

[david shelton]

From reviews by the likes of Alan Hawk and talking to friends from Australia, sounds like the new Saltiga is the one to go for....

 

[ManofTroy21]

From reviews by the likes of Alan Hawk and talking to friends from Australia, sounds like the new Saltiga is the one to go for....

I checked and there was no review of the new 2020 Saltiga. Just the old Expedition which he did have glowing reviews of. Not sure why he has yet to publish one for the new Saltiga but I pulled the trigger on a 10000h yesterday and had it overnighted from CT. Paid $150 less than retail due to a promo code they honored too, so I feel like I made out like a bandit

 

[david shelton]

I checked and there was no review of the new 2020 Saltiga. Just the old Expedition which he did have glowing reviews of. Not sure why he has yet to publish one for the new Saltiga but I pulled the trigger on a 10000h yesterday and had it overnighted from CT. Paid $150 less than retail due to a promo code they honored too, so I feel like I made out like a bandit

True but he gave some initial impressions and his review of the 2019 Stella was not favourable :

2019 Shimano Stella SW (SWC)

2019 Shimano Stella SW (SWC) AlanHawk.com

www.alanhawk.com

 

[hucklongfin]

If they went back to having high speed versions of the Saragosa I'd have no reason to look at TwinPower or Stella but then I guess that's why they don't have high speed Saragosa's any more!

 

[david shelton]

If they went back to having high speed versions of the Saragosa I'd have no reason to look at TwinPower or Stella but then I guess that's why they don't have high speed Saragosa's any more!

Fingers crossed the new Saragosa will have a 14k high speed version.... though Alan Hawk mentions Daiwa is coming out with some new mid range reels. Hoping they are the ticket otherwise....

 

[ManofTroy21]

Fingers crossed the new Saragosa will have a 14k high speed version.... though Alan Hawk mentions Daiwa is coming out with some new mid range reels. Hoping they are the ticket otherwise....

I have a feeling Daiwa is going to start taking more market share from Shimano. I just think they are doing more advancing of their products than Shimano and frankly...the styling is better too. The Saragosa has always been an ugly reel to look at but one that performed.

 

[hucklongfin]

They used to have a Saragosa 14k that got 53" per crank. I want/need that kind of speed for popping but don't want to pay the big bucks for a minor improvement. I do have a TwinPower 14k for popping but I'd rather have paid 1/2 that and gotten 95% the same reel.

I certainly agree that the Spheros and Saragosa don't look as good as the TwinPower and Stella and that's probably intentional too!

 

[ManofTroy21]

They used to have a Saragosa 14k that got 53" per crank. I want/need that kind of speed for popping but don't want to pay the big bucks for a minor improvement. I do have a TwinPower 14k for popping but I'd rather have paid 1/2 that and gotten 95% the same reel.

I certainly agree that the Spheros and Saragosa don't look as good as the TwinPower and Stella and that's probably intentional too!

but are they selling more of the TW and Stellas to recoup what they may be losing in the lower tier segment? That’s the question.

also, how much line retrieve is really needed for popping? I don’t do a ton of it, honestly. More
Jigging. I was thinking my Saltiga 10000h with 46” per crank could do double duty and be used for popping if i swapped out the rod.

 

[hucklongfin]

They aren't losing money on the Saragosas! 46" is a good compromise between speed and power and is still fast enough for popping. I've caught lots of YFT popping with my Saragosa 10k before getting the TP 14k. Higher speed just makes it easier to catch up after a pop.

 

[MattFred1414]

The saltigas are so much better. A lot of the Australian guys who were using stellas switched to saltigas. (Gt fishing). The stellas don’t seem to hold up as well. I don’t like my stella or Twinpower very much.
The Saragosas only downside in my opinion is that it doesn’t have a large drag capacity. I do like my Saragosa better than my 18k Stella and 10k twinpower though. If it had more drag capacity I would be all for the Saragosa in this application.

 

[ManofTroy21]

The saltigas are so much better. A lot of the Australian guys who were using stellas switched to saltigas. (Gt fishing). The stellas don’t seem to hold up as well. I don’t like my stella or Twinpower very much.
The Saragosas only downside in my opinion is that it doesn’t have a large drag capacity. I do like my Saragosa better than my 18k Stella and 10k twinpower though. If it had more drag capacity I would be all for the Saragosa in this application.

I noticed that as well. I follow a couple of those lads on YouTube. I just wonder if Daiwa put those reels in those guys hands knowing that it would drive demand. I never hear them comment on whether or not it’s better than a Stella and why.

I doubt I’ll ever truly get to put it truly to the test fishing my waters.

 

[MattFred1414]

I noticed that as well. I follow a couple of those lads on YouTube. I just wonder if Daiwa put those reels in those guys hands knowing that it would drive demand. I never hear them comment on whether or not it’s better than a Stella and why.

I doubt I’ll ever truly get to put it truly to the test fishing my waters.

I fished Sebastian inlet and the surrounding area a lot when I was growing up. Probably 3-4 times a week and I think that in America, Florida is the only place you could really use the reel(nearshore). Idk if you tarpon fish but I used my twinpower for tarpon and big bull reds. You also get enough stopping power that you could rip a Goliath out from under a bridge or a pier. Plenty of options for that reel. Especially if you go with the 8-10k. They’re not as big as the 8k dogfights were so they are a little more versatile.