I've been setting aside a little magazine money with the express purpose of buying a top-end offshore reel ... something with machined parts, anodized surfaces, big handles and, above all, a superlative drag system. Does anyone have any experience with the Alutecnos reel series (made specifically for California albacore fishermen ... I saw them in the Bass Pro Blue Water Catalog.

Sure would appreciate comments from anyone who has tried or owned one of these ... especially someone who has been using said reels for several consecutive seasons of hard blue-water fishing.

POSTED ON TACKLE FORUM (more model-related info, comparisons):

Is anyone familiar with, or using, Alutecnos one-and/or two-speed reels? I came across them in the Bass Pro Blue Water catalog, and they look awesome ... which, being in the $400 to $1,300 range, they ought to be.

I want one really high-end offshore reel to use for fishing IGFA light line purposes. I want a reel, however, that when I am not using while trying to break a 6- or 8-pound line class record I can fill with 30-pound mono.

Looks like the reel I want is the Alutecnos SALO3000A one-speed ... weight is 52.9 ounces (3 pounds, 4.9 ounces; it has a 3.3:1 retrieve ratio, holds 870 yards of 30-pound-test and sells for a mere $493.00 (with a "free" custom neoprene cover; it'd kill you just to scratch the anodized gold finish.. If it's worth it ... and, if it's really worth more than a Shimano Trinidad TN30 ($419.99), I might just drop the dime to have a high-end reel for the upcoming offshore season.

Other than that, I'm sticking with my Shimano 20/50s, and a Penn OceanMaster I own (at $129, a hell of a lot more reasonably priced).

On the other side of the ridiculously-high price spectrum, the basic equivalent in an Accurate reel (the ATD12) goes for $999.00.

I just want to make sure that if I bite the bullet for the Alutecnos it is worth it ... mostly, in regard to the drag system. When you are fighting a yellowfin on 8-pound Trilene XL, that counts.

Many thanks for any input you might have.

Larry

Not to Hijack your intended Info search...

You might also want to look at the Penn 12LT or the 2 speed 16 SVX . You can get a 2 speed conversion on the Penn 12 LT at Cals and I dont think you'll find a better reel for the money.

The Shimano Tiagara is another High end Smooth Drag serious Offshore reel...I have the 30 WLRSA I use for Yellow Fin with 80# spectra.

I have a vintage A/C Custom Truarc 8# & 20# class rod if you need one.

Larry ask here:
http://www.noreast.com/discussion/ViewTo...w=61&page=1

Larry.. I have not heard anything bad about the alutecnos, but they are truly high end and very popular w/ pacific albie & salmon anglers.
What I can say is I learned an expensive lesson;
Bought an Accurate BossMag270 w/ power handle.
spooled w/ 350y/50#spectra. Total cost $438.00
Absolutely Awesome Engineering! Real nice.
....BUT...
Discovered in short order on Quatro
1. Could not cast spectra far w/ out backlash
2. 6:1 retrieve is good for a hookup, Terrible
when trying to pump a large fish
3. My Avet reels performed flawlessly, same
excellent U.S. engineering, for roughly 25-30%
less across the board, w/ a far superior
anodization.
High-Dollar doesn't always mean hi-performance,
Especially if the Reel doesn't fit the
application. I'm not taking anything away from
the accurate or the alutecnos. make your choice
based on available applications, not
manufacturer. just my .02, hope it helps
-B

i agree with Brian.. the AVET looks to be the best value. I was looking at several differnt options for the tuna trip- They do make a 2 speed with a high gear (6.0:1 and then you still have your lower gear to switch into). WHen I get the chance to start purchasing reels again AVET will be my first choice. ANd besides the quality engineering, you get several different colors to chose from. Sure is easy picking your rod out of a pile of em if your reel is green, or blue..... I dont know aboutt he purple ones...lol. Might start singing Barney songs...lol.

Larry,

From what I understand you wanting to do, there is one reel that comes to mind - Shimano Torsa.

To fish 8lb for YFT will require an incredibly smooth and powerful drag. I own Accurate, Penn, Avet and Shimano lever drags, and the Shimano is the smoothest of all, they are BUTTER smooth.

The Torsa has one other feature that may be very helpful to you when fishing light line, and that is exchangeable drag cams that allow you to fish an ultra light line drag profile with one cam, and then a regular drag profile with another. The cams change out in a matter of a minute or two. The reel is very versatile! You can fish 80lb spectra with it for jigging, bottom fishing, or billfishing, or you can fish ultra lite! All with one reel.

Take a look at the Shimano website and read about the different drag profiles, I think there are about 6-8 of them. I know the reel isn't as flashy as an Altunecos, but it's strong, smooth, and versatile.

JMO.

Tom - DeepBlueGulf

Hey, to heck with "flashy." For the kind of dough we're talking cosmetics are nice, but they run a distant 10th or so on the priority scale.

I really appreciate all the suggestions. It seems that invariably we come back to Shimano, and there is obviously a good reason for that. I have two BSV100s that I use for the bays, and when the budget allows (or my birthday/anniversary, when my wonderful wife Liz bought me the two reels last year), I'll get another one.

For 400 bills or so, a fishing reel ... inshore or offshore ... ought to stand up for at least 10 years, properly maintained (I use CorrosionX on virtually every reel I own). With the light line aspect ... and, I suppose, in any situation ... the drag is everything.

I'll research all the tips, guys ... and from what I have read, will probably pass on the glitzy California albacore reels. I've yet to meet a big wahoo, amberjack, etc. that gave a flip how pretty a reel is.

Much appreciation ... if ever I can return the favor in any way, drop me a line.

Good fishing to all ...

Boz

Can't beat the AVET reals in price, performance, and customer support. The 2 speed is an awesome powerhouse. Need a custom rod to match your reel, drop me a line. xh

I'd go with the Torsa for the light line fishing. I've caught three stripped marlin with one. Along with a great jigging reel it has the largest gears on the market. Smooth drag and interchangeable. I've also caught grouper and AJ's with it. I really like it. I own a bunch of the Tiagras and they are great also, but I'd rather use a torsa30 then a 20 or 30 tiagra if I was going to buy one reel. Just my two cents.

Since y'all started talking about Shimano Torsas and Tiagras, I want to ask a question not related to deepwater fishing. Can the Torsas, 16, 16N, 20 and 30s along with smaller Tiagras, 16, 20 and 30s, be used for surf fishing and pier fishing. Are they good for those purposes, just right, overkill? What do you think?

Thanks,

Ray