Shimano Stella SW
At the largest sport fishing show of 2008, Shimano's Stella SW was honored as the best saltwater reel. A few of the reasons are its durable carbon-coated line roller, 500-yard line capacity, smooth feeding tapered bail arm, corrosion and scratch-resistant multi-coated frame with ceramic coated spool, twin bearing drag system with sealed ball bearings and an easy access port for routine maintenance. This is Shimano's best spinning reel and it delivers top performance without sacrificing durability.
Penn Slammer
According to saltwaterspinningreel.net, Penn's best spinning reel is the Slammer and it's a favorite of charter services and professional guides. The Slammer's all-metal body and stainless steel shaft are built to take extreme punishment and all of Penn's innovative features are included in its design. Some of the highlights are a Techno-balanced worm drive and rotor, an infinite anti-reverse, a Leveline Oscillation System and a shielded drag washer. This feature set has what it takes to compete at the highest levels, but the real claim to fame of Penn's Slammer is durability.
Daiwa Saltiga
The Saltiga is one tough customer with a "less is more" design that eliminates failure prone and unnecessary features to maximize reliability. According to saltwaterspinningreel.net, its digitally cut Hyper Digigear is the strongest in the world and Daiwa also has one of the toughest drag systems available. A 15-bearing design, zero-friction main shaft and five-year warranty make this reel a hard act to follow.
Van Staal VS Surf
You'd be hard pressed to find a spinning reel that delivers the performance and toughness of Van Staal's VS Surf, according to saltwaterspinningreel.net. With titanium and stainless steel internal components and a rotor, spool and frame machined from billet aluminum, the VS Surf's construction goes well beyond the die cast aluminum and plastics that are common in many inferior models. Van Staal has a world-famous two-bearing drag system and a sealed design that's waterproof and maintenance free. With pinion and main gears machined from hardened stainless steel and a main shaft made of polished titanium, this reel can take the punishment of a record-breaking catch without stripping its gears. The VS Surf also has an oversize main gear that delivers the torque per crank you need to land trophy fish.
Article Written By Dan Eash
Dan Eash began writing professionally in 1989, with articles in LaHabra's "Daily Star Progress" and the "Fullerton College Magazine." Since then, he's created scripts for doctor and dentist offices and published manuals, help files and a training video. His freelance efforts also include a book. Eash has a Fullerton College Associate of Arts in music/recording production and a Nova Institute multimedia production certificate.
