Sahara or Spirex?

[foodsaver]

Which would you guys prefer and why? They are the same price but the sahara had anti reverse and the spirex didnt (I don't think)

 

[Bprice]

I love my spirex! Never tried a sahara though...

 

[Fishin Fool]

I also LOVE my Spirex and I haven't tried the Sahara but I will tell you that the double handle makes a big difference for me when I am fishing. The Spirex is light, smooth as silk, has no wobble, and even fighting pretty big catfish, lots of bass and a bedding Carp that was over 30lbs it performed without a hitch. I have noticed on a few of the Shimanos (I have a couple Sedonas) that the bail springs are pretty tight and adjusting them doesn't seem to help. The Spirex was good right out of the box and I have had to do very little to maintain it.

 

[Guest]

Either one is OK for a cheap reel. They will hold up for a while but the best that Shimano offers (or anyone else) for under $150 is the Stradic. If you are hard on your equipment the Stradic is bullet proof.

Cheez

 

[Buoy-Master]

What Cheez said. I own 2 and love them.

 

[MadBomber]

foodsaver - 2/18/2007 10:33 PM Which would you guys prefer and why? They are the same price but the sahara had anti reverse and the spirex didnt (I don't think)

</p>

I have several Spirex 2000's.  They do have an anti-reverse and when it is engaged, turning the handle backwards will bring the quickfire trigger to the top, which is a real handy feature.  Walmart is closing out this model, which usually sells for $54.95.  I missed 2 at the Hixson store that were sold for $35.  Fat Albert got one in Alabama for $21. </p>

 

[Fat Albert]

I have several Spirex 2000's.  They do have an anti-reverse and when it is engaged, turning the handle backwards will bring the quickfire trigger to the top, which is a real handy feature.  Walmart is closing out this model, which usually sells for $54.95.  I missed 2 at the Hixson store that were sold for $35.  Fat Albert got one in Alabama for $21. </p>



<font color="#ff0033">Yes, I did... Probably THE BEST SALE BUY I have ever been a part.  They had 2 and I had both in hand and a young man was equiping himself to do some crappie fishing and he said he really would like to have one.... I really wanted both, but he was a nice young man so I let him have the other one...Then on the way back home from our little getaway me and the BW stopped at every Wally world and could not find another one... dang it.</font></p>

 

[drumking]

MadBomber - 2/19/2007 6:47 AM

foodsaver - 2/18/2007 10:33 PM Which would you guys prefer and why? They are the same price but the sahara had anti reverse and the spirex didnt (I don't think)

</p>

I have several Spirex 2000's.  They do have an anti-reverse and when it is engaged, turning the handle backwards will bring the quickfire trigger to the top, which is a real handy feature.   </p>

I own a couple of 2000's. Although the reels are smooth, I don't like the quickfire triggers on any reel. I never use these reels anymore. I will probably donate them to the kids at the 2007 Crackerfest.

My fav 5 reels are: Stratus sgt-20 by okuma (9 bearings), Carrera Metal (8 bearings), Shakespeare Dimension (10), Quantlm Kinetic Pti-20, and finally an Abu-Garcia Cardinal 101 (cheapest reel). I really like all these reels. I got the better reels on sale, so I didn't have to morgage my house or sign over my first born. emoGeezer

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I have used a Spirex front drag model for about 10 years and it is finally starting to get loose. I got a Okuma GT on sale at Dicks and it seems like a good reel. I really like the GT for finesse worm fishing because it has an instant anti reverse. What I don't like about the GT is that it takes much more effort to close the bail by turning the handle than the Spirex. The Spirex has an anti-reverse, sort of- because you can only turn the handle backwards a couple of turns until it orients the quickfire trigger up on the bail. The problem is when you set the hook while worm fishing the reel has a tendency to reverse a turn or two which I think is hard on the bearings and shaft. I like the real instant anti reverse like the GT has much better for worm fishing. I don't have a Stradic but I've also heard that for the money they are the best Shimano reel going!

 

[dunk]

just my op but never have liked the reels that have the trigger too much play in em for a few more dollars get yourself a symetre have three alll over five old and have had very few problems at all with them just my 2

 

[Carl Guffey]

Spirex, best reel on the market under $150.00. I own six and wouldn't fish anything else in a spinning reel. I fish 200 plus days a year and I have yet to break one. If you fish small cranks b200's and such, the quick trigger will get you another 25 to 50 casts a day.

 

[foodsaver]

Is this the same reel? Its a whole lot cheaper!

 

[drumking]

ChooChooSnakeMan - 2/19/2007 7:08 PM

I have used a Spirex front drag model for about 10 years and it is finally starting to get loose. I got a Okuma GT on sale at Dicks and it seems like a good reel. I really like the GT for finesse worm fishing because it has an instant anti reverse. What I don't like about the GT is that it takes much more effort to close the bail by turning the handle than the Spirex. The Spirex has an anti-reverse, sort of- because you can only turn the handle backwards a couple of turns until it orients the quickfire trigger up on the bail. The problem is when you set the hook while worm fishing the reel has a tendency to reverse a turn or two which I think is hard on the bearings and shaft. I like the real instant anti reverse like the GT has much better for worm fishing. I don't have a Stradic but I've also heard that for the money they are the best Shimano reel going!

CCSM, I noticed that you close your bail with the handle instead of flipping it with your finger. When you use the handle to close the bail, it throws 1 loose coil onto the spool. After a few casts, if you aren't careful, you will get the dreaded birdnest. If you train yourself to close the bail with your finger, it will never throw a loose coil onto the spool. I usually flip mine closed just about 1-2 feet before the lure hits the water. The continued travel of the jig will straighten the line and and when you flip the bail closed, the line will be tight. I rarely ever get a birdnest with my spinning reels.

It takes a little discipline to get used to, but after you do, you will never close the bail with the handle again. This really is a great tip. emoGeezer

 

[Guest]

The reels will last twice as long too if the bail is not being slammed shut. Especially the bail spring.

Cheez

 

[RattleTrapper]

between those two, I would go with the sahara personally. Its lighter and a little less cumbersome. The spirex is very well balanced, however. I just think they feel somewhat bulky, especially the rear drag model. If I had any choice in a shimano, I'd go with the symetre. It's the same reel as the stradic, for about $50 less. The only difference is that the stradic has a magnesium frame and the symetre has an aluminum frame, which shoudn't matter unless you plan on using it in saltwater.

 

[polo-dog]

I bought a Sahara for a freind and it seemed like a great reel but I don't have any other experience with it. I do have one or two Spirex series reels and do like them. I have the 400 and the 200 and would suggest the 400 because it is more versatile, having more line capacity and with the 200 the bail knocks the skin off my knuckles when I turn the handle. I'm not the biggest guy in the world and I would expect that if my hands were much bigger that my hand would always be in the way.

 

[keithcatfish]

If you spend a few more bucks you can get the Shimano Symmetry. I have 4 of them all of which are 5-9 years old. They get fished often and hard. I have yet to have one break. I used to fish with cheap reels but they wouldn't last a single season. I feel if you pay a little more up front, the extra expense is far outweighed by a good reel's longevity.