Are smaller Van Staal reels the new trend ??

[Ed McDonnell]

I don’t care which reel it is as take my picture with it

[plt391]

I fished a vr 50 on a custom built 81/2 foot black hole rod (thanks bob at grumpys). Super light and I probably but 500 bass on it the last 5 weeks fishing every day. Some days 8-10 hours bass up to 25 lb vr50 just keeps going. I figured I would blow it up never happened 

[plt391]

By the way used 20 pound braid and o was cast as far as mostly everyone on the beach and the rod mad quick work of even the big fish. It was a 8ft black with with 8 inch added to make it 8’6. The blank is really only 7’10

[plt391]

Black hole Suzuki rod

[Drater53]

Using a 150 gives the smaller fish a better account for themselves and makes for a much more fun fight I think that’s what the appeal is on top of a ultra light set up. 

[gcjeep14]

The lighter the set up… more cast increase the chance for more fish.  The newer technology light reels and rods  are easy on the shoulder and back !  The vr 50 is a good fit for me!

[Surf bomber]

I m old school soooo I like the larger reel… no use showing up to a gun fight with a knife …

Edited December 10, 2022 by Surf bomber

[DZ]

51 mins ago, Surf bomber said:

I m old school soooo I like the larger reel… no use showing up to a gun fight with a knife …

Yep, I was fishing with a partner who was using the smaller size reels with a 10 foot stick.  We basically fish the same way. It took him twice as long to land the same size bass. Smaller retrieve ratio.  Less winching power. 

[Surf bomber]

When you catch a ray that measures better than 24 inches accross and he walks you down the beech you realize I need bigger tackle…you don’t want to lose any fish or over exert a fish because your undersized …the rod is heavy and in addition , the guy is carrying a back pack and walking with chest waders …. 

[Sherpah]

Another fact about the VR50 no one has mentioned is how much line it can hold, relative to its size.  Especially if you have the VR75 which is a 50 with an even larger spool size.  It can hold hundreds of yards of 10 or 20 lb braid.  There is no striped bass it cant handle.  Its not like striped bass fight like a tarpon.

[cbchurch]

On 12/8/2022 at 0:18 PM, SC said:

The "standard" with the original VS's was #300 on 11', #250 on 10' and #200 on 9'. I believe that the introduction of braid was the principal "reason" for the downsizing trend

I never warmed to the 300. I feel it was a lot of guys were used to the big Crack / Luxor, roughly the same size, and gravitated to the 300 when it came out.... . I started (in Montauk) with the 200, then the 275 on GSB120s and GSB 132s, and either was fine. 150 on the 9' sticks. I got 200 pound tuna on poppers with the VS200 by  the way; no problem......

 

Steve T

[cbchurch]

On 12/10/2022 at 10:19 AM, DZ said:

Yep, I was fishing with a partner who was using the smaller size reels with a 10 foot stick.  We basically fish the same way. It took him twice as long to land the same size bass. Smaller retrieve ratio.  Less winching power. 

retrieve ratio is why I love the VS275. Often you get a couple of turns in the good water in a rip, then you want to crank it in fast for another cast, and this is where the 275 shines.

 

Steve T

[cbchurch]

On 12/10/2022 at 10:19 AM, DZ said:

Yep, I was fishing with a partner who was using the smaller size reels with a 10 foot stick.  We basically fish the same way. It took him twice as long to land the same size bass. Smaller retrieve ratio.  Less winching power. 

Personally, I never winch. I pull with the rod, and retrieve line as I drop the tip when fighting a big fish. I always wanted to hook and land a big (200 pound plus) tuna with my VS 150, or maybe even a 704/706 (same drag) but never got to it......  I'm sure it would work.....

Steve T

Edited December 12, 2022 by cbchurch

[ASrod]

I just think it’s toxic that fishing has become a pecker measuring contest on who can catch the biggest 23 incher with a lighter 10 foot setup. Get a grip and use what works.

[Bluetaildragger]

Fish both a lami and a century, it’ll click without explanation