Diawa SL20SH too small for mech jigging?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Heavy Metal - Jig fishing
Forum Description: Anything related to jig fishing here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=119943
Printed Date: 30 Jan 2026 at 8:16am
Topic: Diawa SL20SH too small for mech jigging?
Posted By: 3rnzir
Subject: Diawa SL20SH too small for mech jigging?
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 10:21am
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Have this reel(lightly used mind you). Only has around 7kg max drag I think. Was wondering if I could tool this reel up to see if I like the whole mech jigging thing,then invest in a dedicated combo if I enjoy this style. Cheerz ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Replies:
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 10:26am
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Even a small legal king will tax it Rob. Great reels but not for that. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 10:41am
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Rodger that Smudge. Thought as much. Seem to be a few upgrade/strengthening kits around. But overkill for me. Will just `nut up`and get a balanced kit. Cheerz ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 11:02am
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What about an Okuma CV30L? Have 1 of these too. ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: Bigfishbob
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 11:37am
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You can throw a carbontex drag kit in them. They're fine for 15kg line, but 24kg maybe a stretch. But to be honest they have very similar sized drags and gears to their bigger cousins, the 40 and the 50 SH. So why not give them a go. Absolutely definitely not enough for 37kg braid, but 24 kg could be ok. definitely put the carbontex drag washers in them though.
------------- www.waikatosportfishing.co.nz |
Posted By: OuttaHere
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 12:25pm
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stormbringer (I think it was him?) down Welly ways used to jig kings all the time on a SL20SH. Add carbontex drag, button it down and give it death. The biggest issue with them is they have no instant anti-reverse and the ratchet gear on them is very coarse so there's a lot of back-play in the handle. There are some alright reels out there that are pretty cheap - Okuma Cortez and the SLX-10CS would do OK as entry level jigging reels, as would a Penn Squall or Shimano Torium (or Torium HG)
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Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 12:28pm
Well there you go 3r, it can be done. Imopressive ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Rozboon wrote:Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 4:30pm
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Cheerz men. Carbonex drag washers it is then. ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 5:55pm
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All sounds good in theory, until you keep getting smoked by average fish. If you think your gonna give it a go get the right gear from the start to give yourself a chance to experience the activity to the max. IMO ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2016 at 9:33pm
Have to agree with Pete...I tried jigging for the first few times with a similar sort of reel (Penn 525 Mag) and just got busted off (spooled even) over and over...didn't even get to see a fish and started to think about all these fish dragging my leader and line around probably causing them a slow death or at the least causing them massive problems. Long story short...kingfish are highly addictive, especially after you boat one or two but can also be very expensive, I know...it turned me into a unashamedly uncontrollable tackle ho... ------------- if your boyfriend doesn't like fishing....you have a girlfriend |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 7:22am
Better explained than me  and all true!------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 8:32am
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Yep go it. Probably sell some of my game reels to bankroll a decent MJ setup. `Spose one could also use the reel on another rod for a different style of fishing? Cheerz ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: OuttaHere
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 10:36am
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Bollocks to all of that. I have a SL30SH (same gears/drag as SL20SH) with Carbontex and it makes plenty of drag for a 24kg basic MJ setup. Go out and give it heaps. You'll quickly decide if you love it or hate it, if you've just dropped $1k+ on a high end jig stick and you hate it that will sting a bit. And if you love it, you can pop the SL20SH on a 7ft rod, spool it with mono and have a sweet strayline setup. EDIT: If it's buggering off with your line then just thumb the spool and hang on. If you hook a 20kg+ fish you're gonna have your hands full but anyone new to jigging is going to have a time and a half with a fish that size regardless.
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Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 12:13pm
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Decisions decisions. Was planing on some carbontex washers anyways. Be just my luck to sell the game gear and see the best gamefishing in a generation occur next season. I can buy a small sheet of that carbontex from Straya for about $30 and do all my boat reels in 1 go. ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 5:54pm
Still not convinced... Now please don't get defensive...I'm not saying anyone or any reel is right or wrong...it's just my opinion that although the SL20SH is a great reel I believe a good sized fish will win most of those battles, I thumbed the spool on my 525 with full drag and lost most of my line and a fair amount of skin off my thumb... But hey...I'm sure it has been done and I cannot stress enough, this is just my opinion...no right, no wrong, no judging... ------------- if your boyfriend doesn't like fishing....you have a girlfriend |
Posted By: muchalls
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 8:39pm
| Got my SL50SH Carbintex upgrade by Swordfish Steve.....whaddya reckon? Stick to livies or try jigging? |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 9:34pm
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I used an sl20 fo a couple of years, upgraded the bearings and put carbon drag washers in and found it went well it landed alot of kings upto 25KG, the only weak point is the main shaft I replaced 3 broken shafts ...... The reel in action and the result   -------------  |
Posted By: jackel
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 10:33pm
| Have you considered sourcing a Diawa 30T, good entry level jig reel. I started with one and got obsessed with jigging and upgraded to a JM eventually. You could pick one up pretty cheap I would say. |
Posted By: OneWayTraffic
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2016 at 11:54pm
| Okuma Metaloid. Only $300 or so. |
Posted By: OuttaHere
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 7:42am
No worries - sometimes you just aren't going to stop the fish regardless with anything short of a big game reel. You would be amazed how much drag you get when thumbing a spool, a crummy old star drag + thumbing is probably a fair bit more drag than most lever drag reels put out without the bearings turning to poo.
Personally I only rate the Saltist a tiny bit higher than the slosh for mech. jigging - you get an instant anti-reverse but otherwise the guts are very similar. There's something in the clutch mechanism that blows up eventually as well.
This, get a 5N, great entry level jigging reel. Spool with 24kg line and set it up for around 8kg at strike and go have fun. You'll crush the pinion bearing if you try to wind in too much drag though. It doesn't have an instant anti-reverse either but it has dual alternating dogs that minimise back-play. Finally if you decide you want to get something a bit flasher the Metaloid would make a great slow-jig or even general purpose reel.
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Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 7:46am
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Good stuff Stormbringer. What bearings did you upgrade to? Handle upgrade to by the looks of it. Nice looking rod in that pic too. As you say with the main shaft issue,undergunned a bit eh. Still the washer and bearing upgrade wouldn`t hurt for other types of angling though. Cheerz cobber ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 4:57pm
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Ceramic bearings and yeah put on a longer arm and ball handle made it a little more comfy, the rod is a 100gm rod I built myself ;) ------------- |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 6:12pm
That is impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I said, I'm sure it has been done and there is the proof...that is a hell of a fish on any reel and an absolute beast on the little SL20SH...well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------- if your boyfriend doesn't like fishing....you have a girlfriend |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 6:39pm
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I would probably still be using it if it wasnt sitting on the ocean floor :( ------------- |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 6:50pm
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This has turned into a really interesting thread. I'm so impressed with those fish on a little SL20. My son has one and it has caught legal kings but to get big stuff on jigs man that is impressive. Takes loads of skills all round to consistently achieve those results. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: KikBac
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 6:57pm
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Posted By: OneWayTraffic
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 7:26pm
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My takeaway from the thread is use what you have, but if buying gear get the right stuff. I have a Calcutta 200d on my slowjig rod. Will be a short fight if I hook a kingy on that.
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Posted By: John_Ra
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 11:34am
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Since your only wanting to try mj, the sl20sh will be fine to try it. Drag upgrade is a good point. If do get hooked then I would seriously look at using the right gear for the job... Don't need a Jm or accurate. PM Kaveman about a poseidon. Since you want to try mj with sl20 bypass "entry" lv gear... pm Boulder for a suitable rod... I started with a SL50SH wayyy back using 40lb nylon, braid what was that. Back then Kingi's galore used cruise past Pukenui Wharf..... These days have a JM pe5 & poseidon 500r.... Better to try with what you have before committing to the "right" stuff I still do a little of it, but as I'm 50+ a livie suits me a lot better  Good Luck with Mech Jigging ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: 3rnzir
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 7:05pm
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Good point Jonny Ra. I am of a similar age to you. Maybe use the SLOSH for slow pitch fishing perhaps. Sounds a lot easier on the body. Was given a big knife jig awhile back so was just tyre kickin` to see if some of the gear I already have is up to the task. Looks as if it could,occasionally. Man there are some powerful mid to hi end small reels capable of handling big fish on the market these days.. Cheerz ------------- Peace.Via superior firepower.. |
Posted By: OuttaHere
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2016 at 10:48am
I've probably spent nearly as much on jigs, braid and terminal gear as I have on the actual rod and reel I jig with. When the razor gang are around it's not uncommon to feel a slight twang on your line then suddenly the whole lot goes light, the ******* seem to like to hit the braid -> leader knot, especially if it's a big long PR knot, and there goes $30-40 worth of terminal tackle to the bottom of the briny. |
Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2016 at 10:05pm
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If you can put up with the back play and light drag of the SL20SH then go for it. Outside of specialist jig reels, I think the SL probably has the best attributes of any reel. Of course, the reel is only half of the equation as the rod should also be suitable and you will be opening up another can of worms. If you can't borrow a mate's gear, go with what you have but expect the jigging to be contagious. You'll soon be shelling out for better, more appropriate gear before long. I remember way back when, the famed Jimi the Fish started off with a Penn LD40II game reel and he still caught plenty! ------------- give it death! |