mike rousseau Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 raven matrix special edition... $189+ http://www.fishusa.com/Raven-Matrix-Special-Edition-Center-Pin-Reels_p.html okuma sheffield... $189+ http://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Sheffield-S-1002-Center-Pin-Reel_p.html okuma aventa...$149 http://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Aventa-VT-1002-Center-Pin-Reel_p.html i know you get what you pay for... but i dont live near tribs and will only use the reel a couple times a year... im planning to pair it with my st.criox river rod... 10.5 foot light acton spinning rod... thnx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen-fire Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Perhaps you should spend a few bucks more and go with the Islander? It's a float reel that will likely never fail you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Perhaps you should spend a few bucks more and go with the Islander? It's a float reel that will likely never fail you. It's 400 dollars!!!!!! That's not a few more dollars... That's double what I'm questioning to spend... Like I said... I'm only gunna use this reel ... Max... 6 times a year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ThisPlaceSucks Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Mike, I started on an aventa reel and there was nothing wrong with it. Don't let the gear snobs tell you otherwise. I used it for 2 seasons problem free as long as i kept it clean and free of sand. The okuma rods however were complete trash but that's a totally different thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Mike, make a single thread dude, lol!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJL Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 It's 400 dollars!!!!!! That's not a few more dollars... That's double what I'm questioning to spend... Like I said... I'm only gunna use this reel ... Max... 6 times a year... Used Islanders usually go $200-$250...Excellent bang for the buck...Been running mine since the late 90’s and prior to that had the Pacific Steelheader. Hard to go wrong with Islander. Customer service is also amazing. Beyond steelhead, I use mine for carp when they're in the shallows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Mike, make a single thread dude, lol!!!!! I know right... I just wanna try steelhead seriously and I wanna cover my bases... Sorry about tge thread clutter... Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen-fire Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 It's 400 dollars!!!!!! That's not a few more dollars... That's double what I'm questioning to spend... Like I said... I'm only gunna use this reel ... Max... 6 times a year... As stated earlier, they generally go for around $200-250 used. I didn't know you were looking for a brand new reel. If you're only going to head out a max of 6 times per year for steelhead, maybe just stick with a regular spinning reel and save the money? If you know you're not going to get into it, I don't think it's worth it to buy all this extra gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Out of the 3 you mentioned the Sheffield for sure. But didn't you say you had an in with Raven? If you do imo the Raven Vectra SST is even better. I agree with trying to pick up a used Islander for 2-250 though. They're the Honda Civics of float reels. Never let you down. If you don't have an in with Raven drop this guy an email. He's selling brand new Raven reels for 200 bucks as well as a bunch of other stuff: http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-hobbies-crafts-Float-Fishing-gear-sale-just-in-time-W0QQAdIdZ313894930 If you're lucky he'll ship the stuff for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepe Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 I started out with a sheffield and it runs nice same thing for the aventa. Actually all three reels you stated are good values, and they will catch fish ! If you want to splurge get a Kingpin Imperial they're gggrrrreat !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bare foot wader Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 i started with an aventa, now have an islander and a kingpin i still use the aventa on my small stream rod, spins as good as the islander....think i upgraded the bearings for 40 bucks in woodstock way back when buy the aventa and use your savings on floats and quality shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Out of the 3 you mentioned the Sheffield for sure. But didn't you say you had an in with Raven? If you do imo the Raven Vectra SST is even better. I agree with trying to pick up a used Islander for 2-250 though. They're the Honda Civics of float reels. Never let you down. If you don't have an in with Raven drop this guy an email. He's selling brand new Raven reels for 200 bucks as well as a bunch of other stuff: http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-hobbies-crafts-Float-Fishing-gear-sale-just-in-time-W0QQAdIdZ313894930 If you're lucky he'll ship the stuff for you. I agree with Solopaddler. I've used an original SST for nearly 10 years and it has always been steady and smooth. The SST3's are a gorgeous reel, too, and extremely light. Amazing bang for the buck if that's what the seller on Kijiji has. For $11 more... p.- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 The more I'm out,the more I hear about the aventa probably best bang for the buck.Still a quality reel from what I've read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 The more I'm out,the more I hear about the aventa probably best bang for the buck.Still a quality reel from what I've read. If your lucky enough to know a good guy with good quality used reels,you will find a deal to be had. I bought my first Matrix new.$180 tax in. Then I found 2 other used reels for a great deal.Matrix (Copper) and a SST2.Saved 50%, and they are like new. Everytime I find an Islander,thier snatched up .One day I,ll have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckster Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 You should look for a used reel. There are so many options... Personally if you can find one, a tournament drifter or G loomis float reel shouldn't be over looked. They are like tanks built to last! Sometimes you can find them for as low as $100. I would take one hands down over any raven or okuma but thats just me, I'm old school Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workwear Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 there is a nice used float reel for sale in the classifieds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettiop Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Go with the Sheffield.....great real for the price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 there is a nice used float reel for sale in the classifieds... mine? why thanks for pointing that out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 there is a nice used float reel for sale in the classifieds... too bad your price is so high.... a brand new aventa is 150... that was your original price... thirdhand... so 125 now third hand... or 150 brand new... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Mike, check out the SST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thalweg Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 You should also consider a baitcaster on a steelhead baitcast rod. BC style. A quality baitcaster will unspool as freely as a centrepin. Don't have to have a centrepin to be a serious steelheader Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 You should also consider a baitcaster on a steelhead baitcast rod. BC style. A quality baitcaster will unspool as freely as a centrepin. Don't have to have a centrepin to be a serious steelheader Baitcasters are great if you are tossing heavier rigs, but with a small float and barely any shot, it's a challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCLT Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 hey, I would personally start low end to get the feel for pinning if you havnt already done so - okuma aventa VT1002 is a great start, I pin carp and have landed fish up to 28 pounds on this reel! Pinning is great and can be killer in the right hands! good luck mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-M Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 hey, I would personally start low end to get the feel for pinning if you havnt already done so - okuma aventa VT1002 is a great start, I pin carp and have landed fish up to 28 pounds on this reel! Pinning is great and can be killer in the right hands! good luck mate I've got a stanton right now which has been a workhorse and hasn't given me an issues. If I were to ever replace this reel, I'd go with an islander.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin elia Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) If your lucky enough to know a good guy with good quality used reels,you will find a deal to be had. I bought my first Matrix new.$180 tax in. Then I found 2 other used reels for a great deal.Matrix (Copper) and a SST2.Saved 50%, and they are like new. Everytime I find an Islander,thier snatched up .One day I,ll have one. I hope those reels get you into some fish Brian. They are great. As for the OP, I would stay away from Okuma altogether. They are at the very low end of the spectrum. Islander and Raven SST are the way to go. If you look hard enough, you can probably get a new Islander for 300 and change. Best of luck. Edited September 18, 2011 by justin elia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now