My reels appear to be coming to the end of their life. I don't have a huge budget but I am looking for something relatively light and good for up to 120yrds. I have been considering diawa crosscast 35s as a possible option.
Any thoughts or experience or what would others recommend to checkout?
Any thoughts or experience or what would others recommend to checkout?
I was really happy with my Penn Vantage XT 7000s until recently when they are all making a grinding noise. I've been in touch with some reel servicing companies and they have all said it's a common fault on them. So I've had to splash out on some new reels and went for the Shimano Ultegra XTE 14000 reels. Only used them a few times but they seem really good so far but time will tell. Reasonably cheap, ultra smooth, good size, spare spool and the line lay is excellent.
In reply to Post #1
I recently bought a set of Okuma Obsidian reels. Very happy with them. A lot of reel for the money. Good reliability according to Tackle Box & Johnson Ross.
I recently bought a set of Okuma Obsidian reels. Very happy with them. A lot of reel for the money. Good reliability according to Tackle Box & Johnson Ross.
What rods are you strapping them to bud?
In reply to Post #1
Fishing at that distance and your budget.
I think the crosscast 35s excellent choice or the Shimano Speedmaster XTD
Fishing at that distance and your budget.
I think the crosscast 35s excellent choice or the Shimano Speedmaster XTD
In reply to Post #1
The Crosscast is an excellent reel, fairly underrated imo.
The Crosscast is an excellent reel, fairly underrated imo.
In reply to Post #4
I have Gardner 12ft GTD 3lb 6oz test curve
I have Gardner 12ft GTD 3lb 6oz test curve
I've had the crosscast 35 5000 and I got rid as I didn't like them... I've now got a set of okuma obsidian and 8k and I find them far superior to the daiwas
When I had my reels serviced earlier in the year I asked the chap what does he consider to be one of the better modern fairly priced reels from a mechanical pov. I was quite surprised when he said the Daiwa 45 SCW, something to do with a double support, can't remember where, possibly main shaft or pinion gear, which is typically found on higher end reels.
In reply to Post #9
probably means the oscillating slider, its supported by two posts rather than just the one, only serviced a couple so far and and both was due to water ingress
probably means the oscillating slider, its supported by two posts rather than just the one, only serviced a couple so far and and both was due to water ingress
In reply to Post #8
The obsidians have been out less than 3 years. As good on paper and price they are, you can’t get away with a lot of users reporting gearing / retrieve noise.
If I was looking to get 5-10 years life I would be looking at the daiwas.
The obsidians have been out less than 3 years. As good on paper and price they are, you can’t get away with a lot of users reporting gearing / retrieve noise.
If I was looking to get 5-10 years life I would be looking at the daiwas.
In reply to Post #10
Water ingress makes it sound bad, but in all honesty is there a reel that doesn't let water in ?
Mag sealed or not, by their very nature water will always get in somewhere.
Water ingress makes it sound bad, but in all honesty is there a reel that doesn't let water in ?
Mag sealed or not, by their very nature water will always get in somewhere.
In reply to Post #7
A little more than the crosscasts, but I've been really happy with my Daiwa 22 Whisker45s. Much better clutch and smoother retrieve than the Ci4's I was using before and can be found for about £150 each new, so maybe second hand would hit your budget
A little more than the crosscasts, but I've been really happy with my Daiwa 22 Whisker45s. Much better clutch and smoother retrieve than the Ci4's I was using before and can be found for about £150 each new, so maybe second hand would hit your budget
In reply to Post #1
I find the Daiwa 22 Whisker very nice, exept for the weight & thinner bail arm, handling very similar to my basia's, witch are way more expensive.
I find the Daiwa 22 Whisker very nice, exept for the weight & thinner bail arm, handling very similar to my basia's, witch are way more expensive.
In reply to Post #11
I've not heard any bad reports about the obsidian, in fact it's only been positive reports... if a company like future reel servicing can advocate them then good enough for me. They stated upon opening one up that the internals were what you would expect to find on reels 2 or 3 times the price..
Go figure
I've not heard any bad reports about the obsidian, in fact it's only been positive reports... if a company like future reel servicing can advocate them then good enough for me. They stated upon opening one up that the internals were what you would expect to find on reels 2 or 3 times the price..
Go figure
Another vote for the obsidian reels, great for the money
Sold my Obsedian after a few sessions for a third Daiwa 23 Emblem 35 SCW QD, can't say I find the Obsedian better than the Daiwa
In reply to Post #17
So the Daiwa is as good as the Obsidian?
So the Daiwa is as good as the Obsidian?
In reply to Post #18
Nope.. not in my experience.. the obsidian is better than the daiwas
Nope.. not in my experience.. the obsidian is better than the daiwas
In reply to Post #18
If I’d thought the Obsedian was better than the Daiwas, I’d would have have 3 Obsedians now instead of 3 Daiwa 23 Emblem 35 SCW QD
If I’d thought the Obsedian was better than the Daiwas, I’d would have have 3 Obsedians now instead of 3 Daiwa 23 Emblem 35 SCW QD
In reply to Post #12
I only do reel repairs on a friend of a friend basis but from my experience, the only time I really see water getting inside a reel is when it’s been submerged, either intentionally or accidentally. when they’re used as they’re supposed to be, water getting inside really doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for any reel
only thing that lets the obsidians down is the stupidly quick drag they're as light if not lighter than £500 reels and cost £100 ea, people put their noses up at them because they say okuma, but they've been making reels for 40 odd years
I only do reel repairs on a friend of a friend basis but from my experience, the only time I really see water getting inside a reel is when it’s been submerged, either intentionally or accidentally. when they’re used as they’re supposed to be, water getting inside really doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for any reel
only thing that lets the obsidians down is the stupidly quick drag they're as light if not lighter than £500 reels and cost £100 ea, people put their noses up at them because they say okuma, but they've been making reels for 40 odd years
In reply to Post #21
Exactly that... for me the very quick drag isn't an issue as I play on the backwind anyway... I also own a set of okuma 8k and again, for the money they are excellent... having owned many daiwas and shimanos over the years I can honestly say I prefer okuma reels... when either daiwa or shimano can produce a reel of the same quality as the obsidian for the same money then I might change my mind.
Exactly that... for me the very quick drag isn't an issue as I play on the backwind anyway... I also own a set of okuma 8k and again, for the money they are excellent... having owned many daiwas and shimanos over the years I can honestly say I prefer okuma reels... when either daiwa or shimano can produce a reel of the same quality as the obsidian for the same money then I might change my mind.
In reply to Post #20
Well the original post was about the daiwas crosscast compared to the obsidian, when comparing the two mentioned reels then there is no contest, the obsidian is superior.
I haven't used emblems but I've owned whiskers, isos, crosscasts, emcasts, entohs and the original basias and the only one of those reels that compare to the obsidian is the iso.. which imo is one of the very best carp reels ever produced.
But after all isn't variety what is all about, if we all liked and used the same things out would become boring, one man's basia is another mag 🤷
Well the original post was about the daiwas crosscast compared to the obsidian, when comparing the two mentioned reels then there is no contest, the obsidian is superior.
I haven't used emblems but I've owned whiskers, isos, crosscasts, emcasts, entohs and the original basias and the only one of those reels that compare to the obsidian is the iso.. which imo is one of the very best carp reels ever produced.
But after all isn't variety what is all about, if we all liked and used the same things out would become boring, one man's basia is another mag 🤷
In reply to Post #15
On paper spec looks great.
You can’t say that means it’s definitively better than Shimano or Daiwa at the same price simply from the specification.
Bearing count, carbon bodies and named technologies don’t necessarily tell you the quality of the gears, tolerances, seals and long-term durability.
On paper spec looks great.
You can’t say that means it’s definitively better than Shimano or Daiwa at the same price simply from the specification.
Bearing count, carbon bodies and named technologies don’t necessarily tell you the quality of the gears, tolerances, seals and long-term durability.
In reply to Post #15
Yeah they told me that,mine got sent back.One reel developed a horrible squeaking noise on retrieval,they told me it was something to do with how the gearing inside is laid out.I agree the original iso is the best of all the reels ive owned and wished id never sold mine
Yeah they told me that,mine got sent back.One reel developed a horrible squeaking noise on retrieval,they told me it was something to do with how the gearing inside is laid out.I agree the original iso is the best of all the reels ive owned and wished id never sold mine
In reply to Post #24
I can say it's better than all daiwas or shimanos that I've owned or used apart from the iso...
I can say it's better than all daiwas or shimanos that I've owned or used apart from the iso...
Interestingly after my post a few days ago I was in the Tackle Box and they have a demo Obsidian on the counter with a cut out so you can see all the internals.
I’m no expert but I’ve serviced my 10+yr old XTB Ultegras a few times and they look pretty similar to me.
Re. water ingress, I find a drop or two of a winter bike lube keeps my Ultegras smooth and the Obsidians have the same easy access screw for oiling as the Shimanos.
The clutch is definitely very fast, but I don’t find it a problem - I’m always switching sets of rods/reels for different waters.
I’m no expert but I’ve serviced my 10+yr old XTB Ultegras a few times and they look pretty similar to me.
Re. water ingress, I find a drop or two of a winter bike lube keeps my Ultegras smooth and the Obsidians have the same easy access screw for oiling as the Shimanos.
The clutch is definitely very fast, but I don’t find it a problem - I’m always switching sets of rods/reels for different waters.
In reply to Post #1
I’ve been using the obsidians this year. I’ve not used them loads admittedly as I’ve been mainly fishing for tench all summer, but they’re really decent reels for the money. So far so good.
The reel would have been so much better if the drag was slowed down. I can’t see many people liking those super fast drags, why that didn’t get spotted prior to a production run is anyone’s guess.
Don’t let the drag put you off though, you just have to be careful playing a fish in.
I’ve been using the obsidians this year. I’ve not used them loads admittedly as I’ve been mainly fishing for tench all summer, but they’re really decent reels for the money. So far so good.
The reel would have been so much better if the drag was slowed down. I can’t see many people liking those super fast drags, why that didn’t get spotted prior to a production run is anyone’s guess.
Don’t let the drag put you off though, you just have to be careful playing a fish in.
Thanks for all the advice, I managed to find a set of used Shimano aerlex 14000 for a good price.
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