Jigging World Prime Reel

[Occh639]

I was a good boy this year so I am treating myself to a new star drag reel for bottom Fishing , primarily for Tog.
I was looked at the Saltist 15H but it felt a bit unbalanced when I put it on the rod. Does anybody here have any experience with these Prime reels from Tackleworld. More drag than I would ever need for Tog and super light. Gear ratio under 6
Im going to have to pay a visit to Tackleworld after the New Year.. One of the NJ guys from dare I say , another fishing forum, said that he had it in his hands and it’s sweet little reel . It has that feature that you click on when you need to break off snags which doesn’t effect the drag. He liked it better than the Saltist. I don’t want to break the bank on a Saltiga or an Ocea Jigger but lower to mid $200 is my range.

 

[Leprechaun]

Okay, here's my criteria for any of these Chinese-built reels, no matter who the US-seller is. Is there an existing spare parts pipeline for the foreseeable future? If not, no sale, not to me anyway - no matter how cute and palm-friendly they might be.

Jigging World had an earlier version of this reel - I think they called it a "Micro Jigging" JW1000 or JW5000, or something like that. Before you buy the NEW version, ask if the main and pinion gears, drag washers and anti-reverse bearing are in stock for the OLD version. If so, then fine. If not, then its a hard pass on the new one - again, for me.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but when I buy a reel I expect looong-term durability. And if not that, then certainly long-term availability of critical wear parts. And by long-term, I mean at least 10 years, which is what Shimano and Daiwa claim, and is also exactly the reason that I've always gravitated to ABU products. I KNOW I can get parts for Abu bait casters that are pushing 50 years old. I know this because I own a bunch and do fully service mine and do the same for other guys you might know, as well.

Also, I strongly suspect that reel (or one almost exactly like it) would be available on AliExpress, being sold by an entity such as Piscifun or Gomexus, or some such name. Light jigging reels are pretty common on that site. And probably at a lower cost as well.

This is not to say that all such reels are undesirable. For example by all accounts the Piscifun Alijoz is a killer 300-sized low-pro, probably just as good as a like-sized Lexa. But part availability, once Piscifun moves on to their next version? Yeah, not too likely. So that's where I'm at with Chinese reels - no support means no sale. Not to me anyway.

I've found that in life almost everything is a trade-off, of some sort or another. So of course if a couple of hundy on a reel that might not have quality support in a few seasons is no biggie to a prospective purchaser, then that's a fish of a different color. These days there's probably more of that type of buyer than my type. The "Disposable Society," and all that . . .

 

[captmike28]

I was a good boy this year so I am treating myself to a new star drag reel for bottom Fishing , primarily for Tog.
I was looked at the Saltist 15H but it felt a bit unbalanced when I put it on the rod. Does anybody here have any experience with these Prime reels from Tackleworld. More drag than I would ever need for Tog and super light. Gear ratio under 6
Im going to have to pay a visit to Tackleworld after the New Year.. One of the NJ guys from dare I say , another fishing forum, said that he had it in his hands and it’s sweet little reel . It has that feature that you click on when you need to break off snags which doesn’t effect the drag. He liked it better than the Saltist. I don’t want to break the bank on a Saltiga or an Ocea Jigger but lower to mid $200 is my range.View attachment 57586

Anthony, are you moving over to the "dark side"? I thought you only loved Tog fishing with spinning gear!

 

[Occh639]

Anthony, are you moving over to the "dark side"? I thought you only loved Tog fishing with spinning gear!

It’s more of a necessity now that I live in the land of sand rather than stone!

 

[Roccus7]

It’s more of a necessity now that I live in the land of sand rather than stone!

Would you please care to elaborate on that? I'm very curious and I'd bet that @captmike28 would also be interested.

I've never found any advantage to spin over conventional reels for jiggin, regardless of bottom structure. I've fine tuned my reactions to engage the clutch on a conventional the instant bottom is hit. To me, it seems a spinning reel would never afford that instant switch.

I honed this reflex in Plum Gut and it's served me well here in Maine where I fish areas that are just bottom ledges that rise and drop like a rock. There's NFW I'd even think about a spinning reel in this environment...

 

[Leprechaun]

I think the reference to "jigging" is something of a misnomer when used in terms of black fishing - which I believe is how Anthony meant the word to be interpreted. The reason spinning is more popular for this species is because of the excellent free-dropping of a 1/2-2oz jig head, without the drag of a revolving spool or level wind mechanism slowing the drop. Thus, the little jig head/crab combo will land under the boat, instead of well behind it, especially if there's some tide involved.

This revolving spool disadvantage can be mitigated in some instances with the use of a very lightweight bait casting spool, with perfectly (lightly) lubed bearings, and a fully disengaging level wind system. My Daiwa Pluton 200H is like that - and I have no qualms about using it for tog "jigging." Though I still prefer to use the spinning rig if conditions permit, as its just more comfortable to hold with the reel under the rod, rather than balancing the bait casting reel up top all day long. I have enough of that all Summer, while chasing fluke on the jigs. It gets tough on my old wrists - and that's another fishery in which a properly configured spinning rig can have great impact - again, assuming the conditions will permit it.

And so, not only speaking for Anthony, but for my own experience, I think what he's saying is that the South Shore has a preponderance of sandy bottom, with a bunch of artificial reefs in better than 50' of water in most instances. This is in contrast to his "old" haunts in LI Sound - which has tons of rocky areas to choose from, deep and especially shallow. Once you get much past that 50' depth on the South Shore and encounter typical ocean tides, it becomes an exercise in frustration trying to keep a sub-3oz tog jig on the bottom under the boat, and not 30' behind it. Quarter moon phase and slack water periods are really best for tog "jigging" in my neck of the woods.

The use of a light conventional or heavy bait casting setup is preferable to handle sinkered tog rigs that typically run in the 4-8oz range on the South Shore "inshore" tog grounds. Did I get your intent correct Anthony?

 

[Occh639]

Would you please care to elaborate on that? I'm very curious and I'd bet that @captmike28 would also be interested.

I've never found any advantage to spin over conventional reels for jiggin, regardless of bottom structure. I've fine tuned my reactions to engage the clutch on a conventional the instant bottom is hit. To me, it seems a spinning reel would never afford that instant switch.

I honed this reflex in Plum Gut and it's served me well here in Maine where I fish areas that are just bottom ledges that rise and drop like a rock. There's NFW I'd even think about a spinning reel in this environment...

No, this is something that Mike and I have discussed , nothing to do with structure really other than I don’t have a lot Now ! lol. I recently moved to south shore of Long Island from Westchester County. I fished the western sound for many years where there are plenty of rocks . Not so much where I am now. I have been using 1/2 -3/4 jigs for Tog in shallow waters with not a lot of current. I know have to travel and mainly fish areas with deeper drops and plenty of current . i. e. ….. Orient, Montauk, Block.
This season alone I probably used more 8, 10, & 12oz sinkers than I have used my entire fishing life.
The only bright spot is that I probably will fish with Capt. Mike a few more times than I normally would.

I hope that clears it up a bit

 

[Occh639]

I think the reference to "jigging" is something of a misnomer when used in terms of black fishing - which I believe is how Anthony meant the word to be interpreted. The reason spinning is more popular for that species is because of the excellent free-dropping of a 1/2-2oz jig head, without the drag of a revolving spool or level wind mechanism slowing the drop. Thus, the little jig head/crab combo will land under the boat, instead of well behind it, especially if there's some tide involved.

This revolving spool disadvantage can be mitigated in some instances with the use of a very lightweight bait casting spool, with perfectly (lightly) lubed bearings, and a fully disengaging level wind system. My Daiwa Pluton 200H is like that - and I have no qualms about using it for tog "jigging." Though I still prefer to use the spinning rig if conditions permit, as its just more comfortable to hold with the reel under the rod, rather than balancing the bait casting reel up top all day long. I have enough of that all Summer, while chasing fluke on the jigs. It gets tough on my old wrists - and that's another fishery in which a properly configured spinning rig can have great impact - again, assuming the conditions will permit it.

Also, and not speaking for Anthony, but from my own experience, I think what he means is that the South Shore has a preponderance of sandy bottom, with a bunch of artificial reefs in better than 50' of water in most instances. This is in contrast to his "old" haunts in LI Sound - which has tons of rocky areas to choose from, deep and shallow. Once you get much past that 50' depth on the South Shore and encounter typical ocean tides, it becomes an exercise in frustration trying to keep a sub-3oz tog jig on the bottom under the boat, and not 30' behind it.

So the use of a light conventional or heavy bait casting setup is preferable to handle sinkered tog rigs that typically run in the 4-8oz range on the South Shore "inshore" tog grounds. Did I get your intent correct Anthony?

So , you have added telepathy to your list of many attributes. ???

Couldn’t have said it better myself

 

[Chinacat]

It’s more of a necessity now that I live in the land of sand rather than stone!

Hey be careful!
You wouldn't want to offend any of your "sandy" new neighbors

 

[Leprechaun]

Nah, no need for telepathy. After 50 seasons of fishing the "sandy" South Shore for blackfish, I "get" the issues involved.

? ??

 

[Occh639]

Hey be careful!
You wouldn't want to offend any of your "sandy" new neighbors

I’d rather you be a “sudsy” neighbor ???

 

[captmike28]

Actually, both Anthony and Lep are correct but for different reasons.

When I first read Anthony's comment on "land of sand" I thought exactly the same thing Lep mentioned about North Shore vs. South Shore.

Then Anthony and I had a conversation today about how the tackle and techniques are often dictated by the area and even the stage of the tide one is fishing.

So, while it took a while to get there, we are all talking about the same thing and sharing information, which is what this board is all about, right?
We can all learn from each other's experiences.

 

[Chinacat]

I’d rather you be a “sudsy” neighbor ???

That's a given!!
Suds are ready and available whenever you are