Whats the verdict of the saltist 6500??
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=60295
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2026 at 3:40am
Topic: Whats the verdict of the saltist 6500??
Posted By: HULK
Subject: Whats the verdict of the saltist 6500??
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2010 at 3:17pm
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Got a mate wanting to get the saltist 6500 for topwater fishing. How do these reels hold up to hard fishing for kings? Seen some mixed reviews but most seem a bit old so wondering if many people have used them for NZ kings?
Chur
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Replies:
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2010 at 8:42pm
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perfect ratio for top water ,you probably wont get a better reel for topwater fishing in there price bracket. Not bad from me considering im a SHIMANO lover  ------------- Live Bait , the Lance Armstrong of catching KINGFISH |
Posted By: HULK
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2010 at 9:25pm
| yeah it seems well spec'd for the price. Guess its the durability and smoothness etc that I wonder about. Other option would be the shimano stradic 8000. its not the same ratio I know but seems like a good reeel for the price. Any opinions on that reel? |
Posted By: edge01
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2010 at 9:32pm
| Ive used both. I think that the diawa has a better bail arm and drag. Shimano feels lighter to hold all day though |
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2010 at 9:35pm
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Stradic very nice reel but a tad to slow for the top water thing.In saying that it will do the job just fine around 9kg of drag is plenty bent over a 7 to 8 foot rod
------------- Live Bait , the Lance Armstrong of catching KINGFISH |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2010 at 3:04pm
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I've got a Shimano sustain 8000, could be an option in that bracket. I only fish PE3 on it thou.
------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: HULK
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2010 at 5:06pm
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Just looked at shimano website and the specs on the sustain seem pretty good. My usual price check shop websites dont sell it though. Any idea who does have them?
SJ I beleive the stradic is more like 13kg drag which should make it plenty powerful enough for a long rod.
But then again, theres lots of reels that have big drags but whether or not they last is a different story. Think I'll stick to my stella
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Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2010 at 9:14am
| Been using a saltist 5000H for topwater for a while now and pretty bloody stoked with its permformance, stock drags were a bit sticky at first, but after a couple of fish and lick of cals grease they came right. |
Posted By: Mr Plastic
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2010 at 2:30pm
Yep they are super strong and awsome value for the money, As above i would change the drag washers for a set of carbontex as i do for all my reels. you will get between 2-4kg more drag as well as a rule and super smooth. The other choice before you get to the saltigas is the Catalina for about $899.00. Ratio is 5.1-1 so not as fast but a better reel and you can jig with it as well. I own the 4500 and pull 15kg of smooth drag off it and have used it for jigging and top water, just chang your rod over and yeeeehaaaa... ------------- Synit Prototype bender |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 26 Dec 2010 at 3:50pm
| I tried carbontex in my saltist and it was a disaster, drag turned reel jerky locked up and I broke off cost me a fish and a $70 stickbait, I'm struggling to figure out why, never had this issue with carbontex in the past. back to stock washers and she's sweet just zipped out a couple hours ago and caught a 15kger on the saltist. |
Posted By: Manoa
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2010 at 8:44am
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So have they addressed all the initial issues that these reels had? I remember reading a lot of american forums that absolutely bagged the Saltist spin when it came out. Many were blowing to bits, heaps of flex in the shafts and drags burning out. At the time it swayed me away form buying one. But it sounds like they may have fixed them as have obviously been tested on a few NZ kings running full steam on them now.
------------- SAVE THE TUNA |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2010 at 1:00pm
| I got mine ex USA before they were available in NZ, also the 5000H model is not brought in here. Got a 17kg fish on it this morn, still no issues. |
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 9:42am
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They will be hard to beat for top water fishing in that price bracket.
Good value for someone just getting into it.
------------- www.extremesportfishing.co.nz. Agent for Carpenter, Orion and ASWB products |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 8:43pm
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I think they have just bought out the daiwa sealine bull hi- speed- the 5000h has a retrieve of 121cm, 15kg of drag and cheaper than the saltist.... the 6000 pulls in 136cm of line, but weighs 850 odd grams, (30 oz) the 5000 weighs 23oz (650gr) figures approximate as its off the top of my head, but the figures look good to me. Some retailers throw in a spare spool too. I am seriously thining about the 5000.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: fastjig
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 9:54am
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Heres a 17kg capture of the beach with a 6500 Saltist. One of the first we sold, Marcello is happy as with his reel it gets a thrashing (In Africa)  "Greg,Good morning. I forgot to send this one. This can provide a better idea of the size. You can use this one to convince people to buy the 6500, if they have doubts about the drag system. Have a great weekend! Cheers" Cheers Greg
------------- If there is doubt, there is no dobut. |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 11:03am
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Was on an Aus forum last few days, a guy had just bought a 6500 Saltist brand new, landed a 15kg GT and a few days later the handle fell apart. It still seems to me it is a bit of a lottery as to whether there will be a problem or not. That certainty of not being let down is pretty important and you may get a good one but a number of people have not.If I had shelled out $150 and the reel broke, sure then I'm not surprised or too disappointed but if I am forking out $500 then the break down ratio of sold/break downs should be a lot less than what is being experienced. I was about to buy one until I heard that story. Have bought a stradic 8000 and am saving for a twinpower now..... if they do a 2011 upgraded saltist I would give it a bash..... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |