20lbs drag on Shimano Sustain FG 5000

[ThuanTran]

I use a Sustain FG 5000 for my sturgeon fishing, never caught one yet but each time I bring it out I was always told it’s not sufficient since it’s so small.  I spooled it with 30lbs Power Pro.  Has anybody had any experience using this reel for sturgeon?  My other reel is a Stradic FB 4000 CI4.  I pair these rods with the Shimano Trevala

Thank you for inputs/insights 

[ThuanTran]

I like to use lightweight rods/reels.  I have Penn Spinfisher V 5500 and Shimano Socorro 6000, but prefer a lighter set up 

[boscoebrea]

 You should listen to your friends,butt hey that reel can catch you a legal size,I use your setup for stripers not sturgeon.I caught a 60# sturgeon and it put a strain on my middle wt. outfit,why use a spinning reel for sturgeon,is that all you got?It can work,but if you got into a large sturgeon you may wish you had listened,just saying,good luck .

[Silverado]

If you are fishing somewhere around the  bay area, I would not worry too much about a 100 pounder although a long time ago I saw a 420 pounder from the Sacramento River near Rio Vista.

 

Most guys up around the Columbia use something like a Penn GTI 330 or so, full of 60 or 80 pound braid.  With a mono leader about 80 to 100 pounds, 6 or so feet long.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2018 by Silverado

[Silverado]

However, I would not hesitate to use my 6500 Penn V with 40 pound braid in your area.

 

I like conventionals for big bottom fish as they are a lot easier to feed bait when a bite is detected and for me they are easier to handle a big fish with beside the boat.  

 

Are you boat fishing or shore fishing?    

 

 

[regulate]

If you have done enough sturgeon fishing, you surely have caught enough bat rays to test your gear out.   That's generally the rule, if your gear can handle large bat rays, it should work for sturgeon.

 

FWIW,  I seized up the gears on my Penn 6500SSM while fighting a decently sized bat ray I've caught the last time, same reel I've been using for the past 10 years.  I wouldn't use anything smaller for sturgeon.

[Silverado]

4 hours ago, regulate said:

If you have done enough sturgeon fishing, you surely have caught enough bat rays to test your gear out.   That's generally the rule, if your gear can handle large bat rays, it should work for sturgeon.

 

FWIW,  I seized up the gears on my Penn 6500SSM while fighting a decently sized bat ray I've caught the last time, same reel I've been using for the past 10 years.  I wouldn't use anything smaller for sturgeon.

Agree.

 

The OP needs to come back so we can continue this discussion.

 

 

[telecronista]

The other issue is getting spooled. I have 80lb maxcuatro on a 6500ssv with a long 80-100 mono leader. The braid is  really small for it’s rating, but sometimes i think i would be better off with a 7000 or 8000. Casting from the bank with a 12’ rod you can just see miles of line peeling off the spool. 

[Silverado]

Where is Thuan?     Would be nice to know if he is in a boat on on the shore.

 

Spinning:     

 

Fin Nor Lethal 100, I have two of them. Penn 700 Greenie in the  middle.

 

400 yards of 80 braid.   45 pounds of drag.    Should handle any sturgeon out there.

 

Takes a beast of a rod, I have a couple of Rainshadow 1569 blanks that I will wrap for the Lethals.   Will be a nice 8 & Bait outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by Silverado

[ThuanTran]

Hello, sorry I’m new.  I didn’t receive any email notice to anyone responding. I end up picking up Penn Slammer 3 5500 and 6500 over the holidays and will use those instead.  I fish from the boat.  Planning to pair the new slammer with Penn Carnage 2, jigging and boat rod.  

 

So, back to original thought.  If my Shimano Sustain 5000 FG has 20lbs drag and spoiled with 30lbs braid.   That 20lbs drag should be strong enough to slow and tire down the sturgeon, yes no?

 

thanks again 

[ThuanTran]

On 12/4/2018 at 4:22 PM, boscoebrea said:

 You should listen to your friends,butt hey that reel can catch you a legal size,I use your setup for stripers not sturgeon.I caught a 60# sturgeon and it put a strain on my middle wt. outfit,why use a spinning reel for sturgeon,is that all you got?It can work,but if you got into a large sturgeon you may wish you had listened,just saying,good luck .

I’ve always used spinning reels, never a bait caster or conventional. Just picked me up couple Slammer 3 5500 and 6500, I believe those should handle sturgeons 

[ThuanTran]

On 12/6/2018 at 4:48 PM, Silverado said:

Where is Thuan?     Would be nice to know if he is in a boat on on the shore.

 

Spinning:     

 

Fin Nor Lethal 100, I have two of them. Penn 700 Greenie in the  middle.

 

400 yards of 80 braid.   45 pounds of drag.    Should handle any sturgeon out there.

 

Takes a beast of a rod, I have a couple of Rainshadow 1569 blanks that I will wrap for the Lethals.   Will be a nice 8 & Bait outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those Fin Nor are awesome.  Tackle Direct had really great deals on them awhile back, glad I held out.  Came up on couple Penn Slammer 3 this last week 

[ThuanTran]

My new gear :0)

[Totoro]

Slammers are the better choice IMO.

 

As nice as the Sustain is, I dont believe its build to the same "ruggedness" as a Slammer.

 

Be sure the drags are smooth and go catch some sturgeon!

[Silverado]

Slammers are good reels, I have two.

 

The advantage of fishing from your boat is you can follow the fish if you are being spooled.

 

 

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 1:37 AM, ThuanTran said:

Hello, sorry I’m new.  I didn’t receive any email notice to anyone responding. I end up picking up Penn Slammer 3 5500 and 6500 over the holidays and will use those instead.  I fish from the boat.  Planning to pair the new slammer with Penn Carnage 2, jigging and boat rod.  

 

So, back to original thought.  If my Shimano Sustain 5000 FG has 20lbs drag and spoiled with 30lbs braid.   That 20lbs drag should be strong enough to slow and tire down the sturgeon, yes no?

 

thanks again