Shadow Z6?
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=98640
Printed Date: 27 Jan 2026 at 2:40pm
Topic: Shadow Z6?
Posted By: snoteel
Subject: Shadow Z6?
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2014 at 9:40pm
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So...after days of in depth research i am close to a decision about what reel to attach to my Kojak 350...i will wait to see/hear feedback on Jigstar's new Shadow Z6, sounds as tho these reels will have little competition price wise and it is my belief that if chris puts his name behind these new reels then they must be good...this will be a major investment for me so its "do it once, do it right" how will the Z6 compare to a JM PE5 in regard to performance and longevity? |
Replies:
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2014 at 9:55pm
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Hey Ian, be very interested to keep any eye on this thread. Don't know anything about the Z6 so might do bit of research myself. Good luck let us know how/which u go. ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2014 at 7:58pm
   ------------- if your boyfriend doesn't like fishing....you have a girlfriend |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2014 at 8:04pm
these Jig Star Shadow reels are now available in a Z5 or Z6 model. |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2014 at 9:04pm
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Hey Ian they look the mutts nuts bro. Have you made your move if so which one?? ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2014 at 11:56pm
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no pete, haven't committed to anything yet, need to hear from some owners and/or see some reviews...to be honest, anything i consider is competing with a JM PE5 for my very hard earned $$$ and obviously those are big boots to fill. like i said its a case of "do it once and do it right". will keep you posted. ------------- if your boyfriend doesn't like fishing....you have a girlfriend |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 6:40pm
 Well, it took a while but this is what is now attached to my "Kojak", a Maxel OSL08D, it is simply beautiful. It is the very latest version available from this company, much refined from earlier models. Its build quality is equal to and above other offerings, a fishing fanatic and tech friend of mine who is familiar with another brand NZ jig fishermen hold in the highest esteem opened it up and found its internals to be nearly identical, his educated opinion was that it was amazing value. Anyone interested should try John at http://www.tas-tackle.co.nz/" rel="nofollow - http://www.tas-tackle.co.nz/ He gave me fantastic, fast and friendly service and his prices cannot be beaten. I am in no way associated with the distribution or selling of these reels, I just want to put it out there. Watch this space!!!! |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 7:26pm
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FYI
http://www.btrfishing.com/forum/rods-reels/ocean-max-reels-compared-reels-jersey-coast-t711.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.btrfishing.com/forum/rods-reels/ocean-max-reels-compared-reels-jersey-coast-t711.html |
Posted By: Fishing Addiction
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 9:37pm
| Nice. Do they come with the rubber handle shown above or the other shape as per the website? What are you going to spool with it? |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 11:37pm
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It came with the rubber handle shown, awesome oversized grip. I have spooled it with 50lb suffix, may go to 80lb tho if need be, makes 35lbs of drag comfortably with free spool, more than enough to bring in a good fish or pull me overboard. I couldnt be happier with this reel, it is the 3rd version to be released, much improved since Maxel's agreement with a certain other asian reel maker recently ended. |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 11:36am
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Nice reel, glad to see you did your homework well. Very surprising just who makes what brands of reels out there and the variation in prices depending on who's name is stamped on them....
It will make for interesting times regarding the JM/Maxel reels and the recent ending of the suppluy contract between the two. It will be a little bit of a rock and a hard place for JM and JM reel owners in the fact that when they spilt company from Maxel do they continue with that design, what about the supply of parts. If they end up getting the same design of reel made elsewhere the irony is it will be a copy of their own reel...  if they continue with Maxel the same reel under the Maxel name is near 1/2 the price.... you do the math...------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 1:12pm
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I have to agree MIB, I am amazed that more people looking for a jig reel didn't find the same information as I did, it is all there, you just have to spend some time looking. That reel company had success partly based on a very aggressive marketing strategy and partly based on the fact that they went to Maxel for manufacturing, Maxel's standards of build quality have benefited from this relationship and now that the partnership has run its course they are free to offer their own reels of equal quality at much more attainable prices. I expect to see Maxel up the ante with their own marketing in the near future, I am surprised the NZ distributor is so quiet, jig fishing is growing in popularity all the time here and a company offering a quality product could corner the market with the right approach, just look at how many fishermen out there have the other companies reel and paid close to 1k for it in a lot of instances, I paid half that for mine. Do yourself a favour, call John at http://www.tas-tackle.co.nz/" rel="nofollow - http://www.tas-tackle.co.nz/ for the lowest price on Maxel reels in NZ. |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 1:17pm
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Couldn't agree more, I think you'll find the reel you originally considered is a generic version of another brand...
I can remember the denials by JM that Maxel weren't making their reels...... just how many buyers were taken for a ride and parted with their $$$$ for a JM logo... thousands...
Consumers have a right to know just who really is behind the products they are buying instead of all the smoke and mirrors.... ------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 2:18pm
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just glad I didn't jump in blindly, the reel I looked at originally looks very much like the "Taniwha", it is likely a good reel in its own right but while I was researching it I got sidetracked by the Maxel and that was the end of the story. A friend who owns and services his own reel from the other asian company opened my OSL08D up this morning and became visibly upset, he bought his 2 months ago and insisted at that time there was no alternative when I said I was looking for a jigging reel, this morning he conceded. He says now that he will never buy another of those reels and feels cheated, Hell...think about it, you could buy a 08 or 10 model Maxel and attach it to a brand new Jigstar ninja for less $$$ than the other asian reel alone. I agree, the consumer does have the right to know who is behind the products they buy, unfortunately when two companies enter into a contract and that contract includes a non-disclosure clause, that is the smoke and mirrors, to the point that when Maxel representatives were asked point blank they had to lie because even saying that it was something they couldn't disclose would be an admission that there was a connection, now it is as obvious as the nose on your face. |
Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 11:49pm
Where is it confirmed that Maxel have stopped supplying JM with reels? ------------- give it death! |
Men In Black wrote:Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 4:23am
All we do know is that the original contract has ended, that doesn't mean the relationship is over. The benefits of staying with Maxel are obvious, it will however become a difficult job marketing to new buyers who are aware of the alternative. |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 7:36am
I can't see the relationship continuing if Maxel are price pointing the same reel for near the price.. ------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: Nagged
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 8:39am
 Graeme, I'm probably not the only one looking at this and thinking this is not the time or place to be hijacking a thread on a new product. Bit sad really.Chris,
 I would have replied to his post with something different |
Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 9:24am
Correct as usual Nagged. I was too timid to raise a point of order and I was astounded to hear that Maxel have stopped producing JM reels? So where did that come from? PM me your replies please. Ok, I'll meet some of you in the corner. ------------- give it death! |
Posted By: Boulder
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 9:44am
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Agreed guys some opinions expressed as facts in here I landed a nice King on Friday on a Z6 and was very impressed with the drag A reel thats well worth the $ being asked for it and backed by one of the NZ industrys real Stalwarts. ------------- http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">  http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">www.boulderguiding.co.nz |
Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 11:11am
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I have Roy from Jig Star Africa with me who has just come off 10 days at the 3 Kings. Reels used were Z5 and Z6 with matching Jig Star rods. They landed 31 over 30kg and 9 over 40kg. A big chunk of these fish were landed on z5 and Z6 including some over 40kg. These reels are proving capable of handling big fish though to be only capable from the kilo buck reels. Many jiggers have chosen the Z reels and have cleaned out our entire stock. So I suppose the original question has been answered. ------------- give it death! |
Posted By: Fishing Addiction
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 11:55am
| It just shows you how spoilt we are for great Jigging reels in Nz to have this sort of competition. Got to be great for the consumer |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 12:58pm
Chris as for the JM/Maxel debate I will PM you regarding where this came from, you maybe surprised... ------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: snoteel
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 2:33pm
My apologies too Chris, I started this thread because I was looking for a reel and I updated it only to share what I had learnt and what I had chosen for ME. I strongly beleive that anything with the Jigstar name on it will be of the highest quality and the recent trip you mentioned to three kings only proves that, I congratulate you on bringing what is obviously a world class reel to the Jigging community. |
Posted By: snapps
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 6:04pm
Have had my Jigstar Z5 for around a month mounted on a Jigstar 250g rod and absolutely love this set up.. Got mine off hookerpuka Mike at Top Catch Whangarei top class service as well  ...------------- KAYAKS: STEALTH EVOLUTION 495 & STEALTH BFS... |
Posted By: hookerpuka
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2014 at 6:11pm
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Just on a side note here to. just because a reel comes from the same factory doesn't mean they are the same reel, externally they may well be but you can bet they don't share all the same parts, this is common through a massive range of products. Mono, lcd TV's, LED TV's. and many thousands more. they are all from the same plants for sure but they also are all built with different standards, quality control and materials. many companies have patents on there variations and it is quite often the little things that make the big differences. |