Budget Popper Reel!
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=54411
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 7:45pm
Topic: Budget Popper Reel!
Posted By: Photofisha
Subject: Budget Popper Reel!
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 6:51pm
Im thinking of getting a Fin-Nor QFS5500 to use on my cheap Pioneer popper rod.Liking this model as its better retrieve rate than the 6500/7500 and still has 20+kg of drag and holds 375yds of 50lb braid. Anyone got 1 and any feedback or thoughts appreciated. I hope these models are available in NZ not sure how much they will be either! |
Replies:
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 7:07pm
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http://www.thompsonwalker.co.nz/index.php?manuf_id=21 - you could ask here Fin-Nor , i see they have an add on this page.... or ring Thomson Walker they are the importers for NZ.... 09-274 7740 ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 7:17pm
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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. |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 7:28pm
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Diawa saltist spin, real happy with mine, awesome drags and 6:1 retrieve perfect for poppers. Buy local when I can but imported this one, new spooled with braid landed for $NZ 330! seem pretty well made and all metal etc. Have used those fin nors and not for me,
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Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 7:29pm
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Thanks for the link Lethal  Also re the price i just notice FishCity website showing the QF75 @ $270 incl QF95 @ $290 incl. Maybe these are different reels?Otherwise be interesting to see what price they can do the smaller models for! |
Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 7:40pm
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I will be using the fin-nor 95 its a friggin machine and can handle the jandle with ease 2 more of the 95s on the wanted list
------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 8:06pm
| 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. |
Posted By: sid fishus
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 8:18pm
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For poppering my vote would be saltist, as line capacity which is the Fin-nor's ace in the hole, dont really count for poppers in NZ. A bit of an internet search would substantially reduce the cost from $550 too. ------------- I always tell the truth about things that never happened |
Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 8:42pm
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Smaller fin nor could be the go if just after a cheapy.
Otherwise another option would be the saragosa 8000. ------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 9:13pm
| Otherwise shimano spheros |
Posted By: cosmo
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 9:16pm
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penn 850ssm was quoted on that link somewhere as a good entry level reel ------------- i just want to go fishing..........amd ignore all my adult problems |
Posted By: ET487
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 9:22pm
| The fin nor 5500 is $250 at Fish City.Thats what they told me a couple of weeks ago. |
Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 9:25pm
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whats the smallest spheros they do Josh?
I've only really seen the 14000 size locally which would be hell chunky on that rod ------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 10:10pm
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Was told to keep away from Penns over 10yrs ago had to take note when 1 well know stockist refused to sell them. Loved my old 750s made in the US but some F#c%er helped themselves to that  How much is a Saragossa 8000 still has to be pushing $400 id think. $250 isnt bad for the Smaller Finn only thing bugs me about those is the relatively slow ratio which means id be cranking the handle something chronic
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Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2010 at 11:44pm
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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. |
Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 7:49am
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Thanks for the input guys...think it will be the 5500 Capt A still be interested in your feedback when you have tested it out on your next trip. I will try and do the same although only fishing local waters and can barely raise a trick when it comes to catching Kings. |
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 9:02am
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I have just got a couple of these to try out on the boat, the 5500 looks like a good size for popper fishing.
Willlet you know how they work out ------------- www.extremesportfishing.co.nz. Agent for Carpenter, Orion and ASWB products |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 12:05pm
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Mmmm... might have to get me one so I can compare! :-) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ what the hell, it is only $$$$byebye$$$$$$ :-) lol |
Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 2:42pm
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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. Smooth as drags on these apparently they did some tests on the drags and matched all of the elite reels they compared with! Well last of the old stock i think but at $290 and $300 a 5 Year warranty and a spare spool think ive made up my mind
 |
Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 2:48pm
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I have one of those VS55 at home Adrian. Well use and caught alot of fish with it but drags still great and new handle / bearing fitted pretty recently. If interested in 2nd hand let me know. Will give it to ya for a good price mate. Spare spool too of course.
VS55 would be good size for that rod too. ------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 2:57pm
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Damn Jade ive done the deal and handed over the $ mind you im pretty happy with it all. Thanks for the offer anyhow!
Didnt realize you had 1...did you upgrade that with the Twinpower or was it the Saragossa? What did you use yours for mainly and did it perform ok? |
Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 3:21pm
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Doh!
Ah well. Its just a backup reel nowadays and mainly used for catching bait and softbaiting off the rocks etc. Have used it alot with poppers, jigs and big softbaits on the inflatable this year and its landed alot of kingfish. In the past it has been used for all sorts and handled things pretty well but didnt need a bearing replacement and new handle (as they get a fair bit of slop).
Twinpower is my softbait reel with the saragosa used for poppering / stickbaits. ------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
Posted By: xsspeed
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 3:24pm
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One of the VS80's came up on 1dayfishingsale a few weeks back for $300 iirc, was very tempted, as all comments seem to be positive for these and the VS55's.
Did you get the 55? What was the final price and where if I may ask?
Currently using my 8000D as a default popper set up, is great for KY but with the current 10kg line a decent king would be more than a handful.
Any idea if any of those pioneer rods are still kicking around for sale?
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Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 3:30pm
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Last one I saw xsspeed was up at the bait station and behind the counter - looked to be on hold for someone and think was a 15-40lb rather than the 20-50lb. May still be some around though if you have a search on the net. Usually about $45 or $55 from memory ------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
Posted By: xsspeed
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 3:48pm
Online so far I have only found them in Oz (i think it was) at around $200 
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Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 4:01pm
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I have a brand new in box Okuma VS55A for sale. $210 includes courier fee. First in first served. I bought a stella 18k so dont it. Kevin -------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 4:23pm
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xsspeed they had 1 of the pioneer rods down at the baitstaition. And the Okuma VS55 and VS80 are at Fishcity for $290/300 but they only had 1 of each let i think but kaveman has 1 still in the box for $210
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Posted By: JK
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 4:46pm
Dont be tempted to pay that mate - they are a cheapy rod so only pay cheapy $$. Problem with them is they are a bit hit and miss. Seen a couple snapped but also heard of many handling the jandle real well. Pay $50 or so, no more as like I said, hit and miss.
------------- LedgeNZ LBG |
xsspeed wrote:Posted By: Photofisha
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 5:05pm
| Agree with that totally JK i only grabbed 1 because it was $50 wouldnt pay much more even though they may be ok. |
Posted By: travel1062
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2010 at 9:07am
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In that price bracket: Shimano Saragosa 8000 is definitely ahead of Daiwa Saltist for me. This is the only Saragosa apart from the very small ones which is really fast enough for serious popping (i.e gear ratio above 5) and is great value for money. These things are tough and hardy and perform beyond their price range. Spheros was mentioned.. all models has a gear ratio below 5:1 and that would result in tired hands if used for a serious popping session. For me\, the Spheros is capable good value jigging reel and not a jigging/popping all rounder. |