Van Staal Reel Servicing Turnaround = 6 Weeks!

[Flaptail]

Ben, I guess your right in one respect. Maybe Squibby or Gayhead you might need one but I still would be fine and my reel would be out of the water, me being so tall and you being a tad shorter. Here on the cape, even in Falmouth, the bass have this habit of swimming right up close to shore. Maybe if you guys weren't walking around in the water with them and scaring them half to death all the time they would do that where you fish. True surfcasters out where I surf fish on the outer cape never set foot in the suds (cept bassmaster and that drives me nutz when I fish with him). In %%%%%%% we have this spot called *&****&^*$#. It's pretty good in the spring and fall. Reminds me alot of RI. All rocks but the best fishing is right in them and around them. ( if Bassmaster sees this he will go nutz but everyone knows the place anyway) I fish that whole shoreline in November almost every night including all the jetties to the point and if you put one toe in the water they spook, a good 3/4 of a mile of rocky shoreline mixed with sand flats and boulders. Awesome needle spot ( they luv stubbys with feathers there bigtime). My old 704's would get dunked in water and sand all the time and they still work and my Spheros' and Stradics do too and all you do is hose em down and a touch of WD-40 and your off. I still don't buy it, at least not for the cape and try not steppin' on em it might work to your advantage! Salters soon! (Saltiga)

[Backbeach Jake]

Geeze, learn to cast and you won't have to stand up to yer neck in water. OK, that was my funny for the day. I've read countless VS threads, and they've convinced me NOT to buy one. What I've learned is: 1;They are pricey as all hell. 2; You gotta send 'em back for service every year and add another half a c-note. 3; Their lightning service will get it back in a couple of months, maybe, if they don't change hands again. I honestly don't get it. You coulda had 6 or 7 704z's which you can service yourself. Really wish I had that kind of ching. Not putting anyone down, mind you. It's just that my checkbook won't let me rationalize that way.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

I've read countless VS threads

I have too, especially on SOL. What I find amusing is that one out of ten guys who post to those actually owns one. The rest "heard from a friend whose buddy" had one crap the bed on him.

The two I own have never been to any of the various owners for service. I could give a crap about the warranty at this point, since they clip you for "wear and tear" items anyway. They're even simpler inside than a 704 or 706. The hardest part is getting the plate off, after that, anyone can clean and grease them. Oil leaks and you can't find the O-rings and seals? No prob, just grease them like you'd do any other reel.

When I look at the schematic of a Stella or a Saltiga, I

[spence]

I'm on the fence about VS. I used an older 250 last season that I picked up at a good price on several rods. I need another reel so I've got a backup and so I don't have to swap out so much.

Mulling through the options, nothing seems as good. I like the VS but don't want to spend the dough for another, nor do I want multiple reels that I can't service.

So instead of a VS250/200, what reel should I get for my 1204? Probably braid, and won't be dunked as much as I do the VS.

-spence

[Nebe]

Oh great another VS thread

[Fishpart]

Is weewee trying to scare other VS owners into selling him their reels cheap???

[fishweewee]

I'll be honest with you guys...

I do enjoy fishing with VS reels, whether conditions require them or not.

I haven't had one problem with any that I have owned personally.

(I did have a beef with a set of VS pliers a while back, I got so pissed off that I destroyed them with a rifle on the 100 yard firing line, but I digress).

Let's forget about the merits and disadvantages of how others think the VS reels perform.

Just from an ownership perspective, what I've found is that it's a pain in the arse to have to send in multiple reels for servicing every year... so... I am down to just one VS. It's an old style (factory retrofitted) black 250. It's the perfect size for most of the immersive fishing I do in Rhody, Long Island, and Mass (and yes, there are certain places in the OBX I would fish it). There really is no substitute (I haven't checked out the Saltigas yet, they don't make a size that exactly corresponds to a VS 250).

I can justify owning one and sending ONE in every year. Not 2,3, or 4.

My backups are modified manual Penn 704z and a 706.

Am I every going to plunk down $800 for a Saltiga?

I doubt it. I'm getting really picky about what I'm spending my money on nowadays.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

spot called #########.

. ( if Bassmaster sees this he will go nutz but everyone knows the place anyway)


Salters soon! (Saltiga)

dangerous spot





Saltiga is looking good to me too.

I like what Mr. Sandman says about the service on the Shimano also