Looking at upgrading the topwater reel from my current Stradic 8000 fj ( which is a fantastic value topwater reel if anyone's after one ) Saw the 2012 Catalina's on the over seas sites but haven't heard much about them here . Seem reasonably priced when brought in from over seas too $700 ish . Anyone got any experience with them?
Cheerz

what are you after for the stradic?

Talk to Fishpimp on here, He really rates them, Apparently most of the same guts as the old saltigas but with half the pricetag. The 5000 high speed is on motackle.com.au for $699, but if you ship out of australia they take gst off (-10%). There is one in Hunting and fishing for $900, so atleast you can go in there and have a tutu in the flesh.

campbellc wrote: Cheers Jonno , I didn't realize they had one in Hunting and fishing. It's a toss up between the brand new catalina 5000h or a used stella 10k now

I have a catalina, saltiga and a couple of stella's, I would choose anyone of them to use for casting and working lures all day, IMHO the Daiwa's are more robust, and for the money a catalina is hard to beat, compared to the saltiga's. I have added a second roller bearing to the catalina, as they only have one and a bushing. I didnt do this out of necessity, rather I ordered replacements for the saltiga and found only one was knackered, the good bearing from the saltiga replaced the bushing in the catalina.

Hi all,

Ive got the 2009 saltiga blast 4500. Same reel as the old catalina shape.
Just a dif handle. Caught loads of kings w it. Sweet reel and built super tough. Its a hard reel to fault for the money. Having pulled it apart after a tough years fishing it was perfect. Just cleaned everything, good quality grease and back together.
Only thing ive done is put a carbon drag kit in it and a nice ball handle on it. Worth doing as it pulls 12kg smooth. Asually more than enough on a 150-200g rod. Looking foward to another year of trouble free fishing.. Cant comment on the new model but the mag seal is a plus for sure. Just my 5¢..