Salmonchaser
Well-Known Member
Over the last 20 years guiding fishermen out in Bristol Bay I've developed some strong and sometimes misguided opinions.
Yes, people do occasionally spray bear spray on themselves, intentionally.
Thoracic surgeons can't fillet a salmon to save their soul and they will cut themselves.
The very best spinning reel is a Penn Battle. I've used all the top end Shimono, Fluger, Okuma etc. it's easy to test them, every year we get 1/2 dozen or so given to us by manufacturers. They are all pretty good but all have failed after two seasons except the battles. On a very slow day a reel will be expected to handle 10 or so salmon. On a very good day you'll do three times that by lunch time. Once or twice a season a guy can push 100 fish in a day. Everything has to line up for that to happen. Point is, they get pounded. The Shimano and Flugers always gave some warning they were going south. The okumas I had, really liked them, the drag was great. In 48 hours at the start of their third season they all (6). Went down while fighting fish. Talk about a guide nightmare.
The Battles are a little heavy, but if you need a new real this year you they are worth looking at.
Yes, people do occasionally spray bear spray on themselves, intentionally.
Thoracic surgeons can't fillet a salmon to save their soul and they will cut themselves.
The very best spinning reel is a Penn Battle. I've used all the top end Shimono, Fluger, Okuma etc. it's easy to test them, every year we get 1/2 dozen or so given to us by manufacturers. They are all pretty good but all have failed after two seasons except the battles. On a very slow day a reel will be expected to handle 10 or so salmon. On a very good day you'll do three times that by lunch time. Once or twice a season a guy can push 100 fish in a day. Everything has to line up for that to happen. Point is, they get pounded. The Shimano and Flugers always gave some warning they were going south. The okumas I had, really liked them, the drag was great. In 48 hours at the start of their third season they all (6). Went down while fighting fish. Talk about a guide nightmare.
The Battles are a little heavy, but if you need a new real this year you they are worth looking at.