Is This A Good Fishing Reel?

by

Hi. I am going saltwater fishing at a pier this weekend. I am mainly going to use one rod. That rod is my Shakespeare Catch More Fish Surf/Pier 7′ Rod. My friend broke the reel, so I need to get a new one. I found one that would look great on the rod and has 11 BALL BEARINGS!!! It is on the Dick’s website and is on sale for $50! (normally $80) I would love to buy it. But I would like to know if it is a good one. I would use it for saltwater pier fishing and they only have a size 30 in stores. Even though it is normally a freshwater reel, would I be able to use it in saltwater? Should I put braid or mono on? Would it withstand braid? How many pounds test. Sorry I can’t provide the link, but it is on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website as Pinnacle Fishing Matrix XT Spinning Reel. The rod can be found on the Shakespeare website under Combos> Normal Combos (not Ugly Stik)> Kits> Catch More Fish Combos> Surf/Pier 7′!!! Please answer all questions asked in this one and give as much information as possible!!! Thanx!

1 Answer

? Favorite Answer

  • 1. A reel with a lot of bearings doesn’t automatically make it a good buy, (or even a good reel)- 11 “half-@ssed” bearings aren’t as good as 4 “good” bearings. Never buy a reel on “bearings alone”.

    #2. Pinnacle only recently began making quality gear. For many years, their reputation was terrible. Although their newest reels have been getting good reviews- your taking a chance on a dud.

    #3. A size 30 reel isn’t designed for Pier fishing. It’s too small- unless your targeting smaller fish in the immediate surf. Even then, if you happened to hook into anything of size you’d be in trouble trying to get him in. Do you have a Surf/Pier basket or access to a gaff hook? How are you going to get the fish in once you hook him?

    #4. Yes, you “could” use this reel in saltwater. Yes, you could use braid with this reel. And with diligent care given to maintenance, it might last a year or more. But the first larger fish you wrangle with the drag might strip, (because it’s not designed for fish over 10-15LB’s in a pier environment). And the first couple times you decide to forgo washing the reel it will probably seize, (meaning- if you don’t wash it off EVERY SINGLE time it will break.)

    In my opinion, stick with Shimano, Daiwa, Fin-Nor or Penn for saltwater pier fishing.

    Hope this helps?

    • Leave a Comment