950SS best useage advice

[FNQCairns]

I have a brand new US made one of these sitting around for a little while now.

What would be the best purpose I can put this reel to on the Great Barrier Reef?sort of what does it do best of best?, will be doing a fair chunk of everything at some time from trolling for samll marlin to tuna to downrigging deep reefs with lures/livebait, trolling, jigging etc the whole lot over time.

Will probably need the breaking strain or diameter of the line to best suit also, think I have enough rods to make one work, if not I will budget for one later.

Look forward to any reply's,


cheers and thanks fnq

[jewgaffer]

Hi .You've sure got the king there! Hang on to it!

9500's don't have the finesse of the van staals or the saltigas or the high price tag either but they as tuff as rawhide and in reality closer to a shark reel as far as big spinning reels go.

Penn 75's, 85's and 95's are equally at home with 100lb braid on kingfish as they are with 12 lb mono on say pylon jacks up your way.

As far as spinning rods go, after 50 years of experience and lots of major brands plus very costly custom made spin rods, i purchased 10 ugly stik tiger rods from the states about 8 years ago. you wouldn't get a better light to medium game spinning rod regardless of price. there is still a top yankee review with photos of a double hook up somewhere on google and they are also available in overheads in the same line class.

My Ugly stik tiger rods are u.s. model number bws 2201-2 , which stands for bigwater spinning.

they are not not available over here (we are part of the asia pacific market !) but you can order them thru cabelas' or bass pro shops etc and they only cost about $70 u.s. each!! , but must be 2pce to slip past the u.s.ps, post clerk as being 7' they are still a fraction over length even at 2pce for u.s.ps.post which works out at about $25 u.s for 1 or about $80 u.s. for 10 in a single tube which i paid .

they are 7' yellow rods 10-50lbs fuji guides and reel seats , extremely fast action and they have huge backbone and butt strength enough to cushion, tire and turn a 100lb jewie or a hammerhead which i landed once . yet they are pretty sensitive with a memory that jolts the hook into the mouth of a 6 inch bream at the first tug!

just that i don't want to see you spending an arm and a leg on a spinning rod to match your great 9500 when i don't believe it's necessary.
hope this helps.

fish on and follow the birds up there!

p.s. I use several big spinning reels - penns up to 9500, tica, pflueger, centron, alvey even the smooth little shimano 6500's but I would be more at ease if a 100lb animal chose the 9500ss' livie over some of the others and that's for sure !

[reggy]

FNQ
You can do everything you mentioned there.
People used to laugh at me for using a 8500 spinfisher for trolling with, but you don`t need a strike alarm if you keep your eye on the rod ., and it caught plenty of mackeral.
I would put 50lb braid or 30lb mono on it , whichever you feel most comfortable with.
cheers
Reggy

[nigelr]

Hi FNQ.
The 950SS pre-dated the 9500SS, so your reel is a collectors item, especially if you have the original box and accessories!
However as jewgaffer stated, it would cost you an arm and a leg to replace it with anything of similar or better quality.
Regarding the ugly stick rods recommended, MO have the 'Black Tiger'.
http://www.########.com.au/index.cfm?pr=product&product_id=508
(sorry link hasn't 'taken', google up MO tackle in Australia)
I have the 1484-017, great rod for the price. Don't know about the freight issue however as I got mine in-store.
This reel would comfortably handle 15kg mono, I use my 750SS with 30lb fireline, it does quite a good job of laying the braid for an old reel, so as Reggy states 50lb braid should be fine.
Great reel you have there, IMO the best large spinner available in its day, certainly within its price bracket. Smoother than the big mitchells and IMO with a better drag, should last for many many years.
Cheers.

[krazyfisher]

I would load it with 50lb braid on to a heavy rod about 5'6-6' and use it as an all rounder. ie the following
popper fishing GT
bottom bashing
floating a baid for spanish
trolling if you need another rod out.

maybe not perfect for anyone thing but great to have on board as a back up

[FNQCairns]

Thanks fellas for the replys, yes it is 9500SS sorry for the confusion, will spool with 50lb braid and see what all the fuss is about and use it for a bit of everything, I like that idea:)

Thanks again for the reply's.

O'yeah nice to be reminded about the tiger rods(thumbs up) I was going to buy one a while ago then promptly forgot they existed, will write in my list this time to team with the SS.

cheers fnq

[moater]

A top reel - I've also got the same model ie US made 9500SS and it's only been used once at Eden trying to get a Kingfish early this year.Christened it on a legal size snapper/pinkie/squire.I put 15kg Platypus Pink on it but was thinking about 50lb braid.

As for a rod I sent an email to Paul Worsteling's Tackleworld (in VIC) about what he reckoned and I ended up buying one of Tackleworlds custom Ugly Stiks TWSP8-12.It's a 1 piece 7 footer and it's got HEAPS of guts with a tip that's great for casting.It's got Fuji components with a large stripping guide to suit the big spool of the Penn.Cost me around $180.Worth a look at least :)

Darren