Thread: 500 size reels

Just as a side note - BPS is 'liquidating' the old model Pflueger Supreme XT reels for 33% off since the new model is in. New model dispenses with the anti-reverse switch.

Supreme XT-25s still available for $100 - not much bigger than the 20s, so still in the L/UL class - weight is 6oz.

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Originally Posted by gunwhatgun

It's funny you mention the Sahara. I have that one in 500, and it is one of my favorite reels. Is the only difference in the one from Japan the spool depth? I have actually been trying to work up the nerve to pull the trigger on ordering a reel out of Japan. I have noticed that if you shop on Feebay, you can find all kinds of reel that are "from" Japan, but when you look at the pics, they are either marked "Made in Malaysia" or "Vietnam". When I try the JDM websites, they get a little confusing, and most of them seem to be having stock issues. If anyone has a trusted site, I would love to learn about it.

JDM does not mean made in Japan. It just means that the reel is sold in the Japanese market. The Sahara is just like the one you get in the states just with a shallow spool. Made in Japan reels are becoming fewer as each year goes by. Digitaka and Plat are trusted websites...as are many others. I have used both of them...and several others for over 10 years. I only buy from sites that use PayPal. The only issue I ever had was I got the wrong reel one time. Digitaka offered to pay return shipping and send me the correct reel....or they told me I could keep what they sent me. I kept the reel as it was a better reel that I had ordered and cost more money...LOL. Years later I found out my reel went to a guy in Norway and I had gotten what he had ordered...he had tracked me down from a post on the net about my mishap. Digitaka sent him a new reel.

Regards

Wish I had money for Japanese made jdm reels and rods

I’ve bought a couple of KastKing Zephyr reels over the past year .
I’ve read they are a copy of a Shimano Tatula.
KastKing makes one they call a Zephyr Spin Finesse System reel (SFS) a spin-off of the BFS craze.
I decided to try the spinning SFS reel after buying the BFS KastKing Zephyr and was happy with it .
It’s a 1000 size reel , with a shallow spool that weighs around 6ozs .
They have recently introduced a 500 size Zephyr ice reel that only weighs 5.6ozs .
The 500 , IMO , is more like a 750 size .
It doesn’t come with an anti reverse switch, but I’m not a back winder anyway. So it doesn’t bother me .
The ones I’ve bought so far have been smooth reels with smooth drags .
I own too many reels to wear one out , so I can’t speak on the durability of them .
They’re smoother than the last three Shimanos I’ve bought .

I had no idea this question would take off so fast this morning and now I think I am about to hi-jack my own thread, but after learning that JDM simply refers to its availability on the Japanese market and doesn't require it be made in Japan, I have to wonder, is the JDM craze just about having items that you can't walk into BP or other places and buy off the shelf?? Are the reels made in Malaysia that are sold in Japan better than the same reel made in Malaysia and sold in the US? What about reels like the Freams, it seems to be an Austrailian model? Another thing, what is the "BB" designation? I did some googling and answers range from ball bearing to "blood brother", meaning "kind of the same, but not as good". It is all very confusing.

I have been eyeing the Vanquish, which I have found in the 500 size, and also the Ultegra, I think it starts at a 1000 though. I will admit, my quest is for a very light weight reel. I just finished a couple of UL rods and I need new reels for them. I would like to get very nice reels for them as they are my custom built rods. I am not looking to spend 5oo bucks a reel, but I don't mind paying for quality and nicer features.

Originally Posted by BobC

I think that is a big factor. I bought a 500 size Shimano for just that reason and it is a nice reel, but after using it I will only buy 1000s in the future. The Daiwa Legalis 1000 that I have my eye on comes in at 6.5 Oz, and unLess I want to spend a lot more money it is a real nice weight for all of my rods. My all up is about 8.5 oz or so, and a real pleasure to fish with.
Bob

Bob, no doubt your rod/reel weight of 8.5oz is light, but the Japanese for some reason have this affinity for everything light….and lighter! I read it somewhere, I think it’s the ci4+ 500s review from one of Christ Stewart’s customers, saying the current Japanese “target” lightness for a combo is 200 grams or under. That’s crazy 7.05 oz in total weight! All this is very possible if only most anglers here own UL rods in the range of 60 grams or under.


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Originally Posted by TWFairweather

Wish I had money for Japanese made jdm reels and rods

TWF, I bought a used 13' Daiwa Certate 1003 in 2016 for not much over 120 coins and it was shipped from Japan and it was the best investment i ever made. Still smooth to this day having caught over several hundred sunfish and small carp. Only downside is that its 7.2 oz weight would have to be mounted to a more robust rod or its balance not ideal especially on these feathery JDM rods. Not saying everyone should go out and bought bang-up used reels jsut to save money but there are lots of excellent used JDM reels out of Japan fishes just like new. I'm on the look out for a "nice" used Shimano Soare 500s as we speak to go on my recent aquired 4-10ul Ajing rod, JDMheaven is asking $270 for this 500 size reel new....LOL> Cheers!

I just got a pro50 from BnM. It is light and seems to work well. Hope to use it more tomorrow Not expensive. $30.