biggstriper Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 I found one of these on sale for $15.99 at a B & T so I picked it up this weekend. It's got plenty of line capacity and was filled with 12 lb. mono but I put on 100 yards of 6 lb. Berkely Triline XL and used the 12 lb. for backing. I don't think the reel would hold up to saltwater fishing but it should be fine for fishing ponds and small lakes for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. The spool is kind of in between the long cast and normal spools. It feels ultra smooth but we'll see how that holds up after heavy fishing. The Bucks stop here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Chechev Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have a few of these that I give away at kids fishing derbys. I think I picked them up for $12. I use one on a ocean kayak too. It gets dunked in the ocean and locks up after a week even after soaking it in fresh water each time out, but it's not too hard to rebuild. Better than dunking a $200 reel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster flex Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 I got one from Ramseys for $10 just because it was $10. Now I don't know what the hell I am ever going to do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12lbSunny Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 My brother bought one last year at the outdoors show in edison for $10.. I think its a 4000 size, he hasnt had a problem with it.. He only uses it in fresh water and the avg size bass he gets is 2lb.. This biggest being 6lb even.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefish1928thing Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 don't expect it to be super smooth nor free of windknots but for general fishing cheap reels under 25 dollars can last several years if u fish for just trout, panfish, and bass without ever having to test the drag vs a 20 pound striper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggstriper Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 It is super smooth. I didn't buy it to fish for Stripers with. I have Penn 704s and Abus for that. Mine is a Sweepfire 3500B BTW. The Bucks stop here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster flex Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Are you kidding me? You can even hear the gears when reeling. They are worth ten dollars but no way are they smooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggstriper Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Are you kidding me? You can even hear the gears when reeling. They are worth ten dollars but no way are they smooth. No. The Bucks stop here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster flex Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 No. I don't know what freshwater reels you have used then because it is far from "super" smooth. I think it only has one cheap bearing in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_tin_squid Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I've been using the same Sweepfire for 3 seasons, only in freshwater, and it works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catchnr3lease Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Looks like a nice little freshwater reel , I like my 20 $ bass pro megacast though . Prefer it to my shimano and abu but then again i need a new gear for my abu so that may change . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ketch69 Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 I bought one a couple years ago while on the Outer Banks, actually it was buy one get one free. There is a reason they were running that special. Only one of them is still alive and its not going to make it much longer. Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggstriper Posted March 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Why, what's wrong with it? Is it something you can fix yourself? Parts shouldn't be too expensive. I'm taking mine out to a field just to see how far it casts and maybe soak a few Senkos and Strike King Shads this weekend if i get a chance but it looks like rain. The Bucks stop here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink_man Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 I have to respectfully disagree with the guys that don't think highly of the reel, and I can see from the comments that at least one is commenting despite never having even tried one. I have several of them, 2500's, 3500's and 4000's. I've been using them for a few seasons now, and only using them in salt water. I buy them, open them up and stuff them with marine grade grease, gearcase, line guide and drag washers, and then use them. Haven't had a single issue with them. For me, they handle braid better than any other spinning reel I've used, and I have fewer windknots using these reels than any other. if you go past 8 lbs of drag(set by scale), the drag will bind up a bit before it breaks free and you could break a light rod(don't ask me how I know this, LMAO), set the drag at 8 lbs. or less, and you're fine. The reels may not be 'super' smooth, but it's pretty smooth for a reel that only has one bearing in it. I usually spool the 3500's and 4000's with 40 lb braid, set the drag to 8 lbs. and have taken stripers to 34 pounds with the reels, and haven't had any issues. While the pic below is of a 30 inch striper, I have used that same outfit, a Sweepfire 3500 with 40 lb. braid and a 6 foot heavy freshwater ugly stick to take the 34 pound fish and lots of others in between 30 inches and 34 lbs. Here's a pic of a Sweepfire 3500 with 20lb. braid that just landed a false albacore off the jetty. Note the vintage 1980's all fiberglass Abu Garcia rod I put it on just for giggles, LOL. The collective IQ of a small group of individuals here is WAY low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrubMan Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 The sweepfire is a little sloppy[no anti reverse]but is still fishable.For 15bucks you can fish them hard,beat them up,then toss them,without any pain!Can't say that about a stradic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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