Im thinking of getting a Fin-Nor QFS5500 to use on my cheap Pioneer popper rod.

I just got the OF6500s, seem like a very nice reel.

Not too heavy but plenty big enough, with a good capacity of 30lb fireline (over 300m with a chunk of 24kg mono under neath as packing.

The 5500s look like they'd be good, I am curious to know though how solid the rest of the construction is compared to the 6500s. The 6500s were the ones recommended to me.
Should be retailing I imagine for around the mid $300s I think.

How is the drag Capt A does it seem smooth when its loaded up?

Im sure the Daiwa Saltist would be a more refined reel but not going to pay $550 NZ for a reel that will only get used from time to time.

Smaller fin nor could be the go if just after a cheapy.

penn 850ssm was quoted on that link somewhere as a good entry level reel

whats the smallest spheros they do Josh?

I'll let you know how it (the drag, reel speed etc) goes in a few weeks if you want... I will be trying them out in the Solomons soon.
The 6500s I have have a large enough spool that I think they will make the lures work adequately enough, I have used similar speed reels before just fine.
BA, I think that poppering all day with the 9500s may be a bit tough, they are a beast of a reel, no doubt about that, but very heavy and bulky. I have the 8500, it was just too big for easy use over any length of time poppering, the 6500 is slightly smaller all round yet seems to be every bit as solid, i think the body/handle assembly etc is identical to the 8500 I have at the beach.
I am now interested in that OF5500 myself actually, that increased speed may well be a big help!
The new Penn 750SSm reels are excellent, they got rid of that stupid anti-reverse switch on the things, smoothed the action up a lot, it is a much nicer, updated, reel to the old spinfishers.
Look about the same BA? Smaller spool but otehrwise pretty similar I thought. I thought so, anyhow.


 That is the 8500 there, it has been sitting in my un-used reels box for the last coupla years now. The reason I don't use it now is that where the reel seat joins the reel stem I found to be just the wrong tickness for my hands, gave me blisters between my fingers after a day poppering with it in the sollies. The drag on the reel and its performance in all other respects are just fine, but not for a constant cast-wind-cast type day for me. The 6500 seems to be just slightly smaller, certainly less irksome in that department, than I have found the 8500 to be. The 5500 may well be even more user-friendly for this particular use.
I really think you will find either the OF5500 or OF6500 to be prefectly adequate for you.

I have just got a couple of these to try out on the boat, the 5500 looks like a good size for popper fishing.

Just to throw a spanner in the works i had a play with a couple of Okuma reels the V-55a and the V-80a.