| When
targeting kingfish with poppers from the deck of a launch, casting into
a head wind, and then actually subduing one of these torpedo like
speedsters, there are few fixed spool reels that can foot it with the
SpeedMaster TSS-4 from Shimano.
This reel has been around for about twenty years and so has survived the test of time, and for good reason, it works!
The
SpeedMaster, as the name suggests, is all about making your lure return
to the rod at high speed. To this end it has a gear ratio of 5.8:1.
This fast retrieve is vital for triggering a strike from a kingfish. A
fast retrieve also has the added advantage of keeping you in contact
with the lure. A strike at the rod results in an instant hook-up, and
so a reduced likelihood of the fish throwing the hook.
There
is a considerable advantage to the angler using an "eggbeater" when
casting a popper because there is no chance of an overrun, as there is
with a free-spool. This particularly applies when the wind is blowing
strongly and your boat is being tossed about. When casting a popper
into the wind with a free-spool reel the popper tends to come to a stop
in mid air whilst the spool is still spinning rapidly with disastrous
results. The worst part being is that you find yourself picking at an
over-run right when the fish are biting! When kingfish are biting hot
on surface poppers, and the crew is very excited, it is all too easy to
give your cast that bit of extra distance with the sad result
described.
The 5.8:1 ration means
that the lure can be made to chug or skip across the surface of the
water like a fleeing baitfish with the possibility of a blood chilling
strike right before your eyes.
The
TSS-4 holds sufficient line to enable a fighting chance against the
biggest kingi. It will hold 270 yards of 20 lb line, 230 yards of 25
lb, or 185 yards of 30 lb line.
When
fighting yellowtail kingfish or tuna a reel needs to be strongly built
and have a smooth drag. Kingfish are immensely strong for their size
and will wreck any but the strongest reel. Shimano have been making
bicycle components, particularly gears, for over sixty years. They are
also one of the world's largest fishing tackle manufacturers, so have
all the qualifications and expertise to make a reel which not only has
a fast retrieve, but also has gears strong enough to deal to big
powerful kingfish and tuna.
The
drag features a waterproof seal similar to that employed on Shimano's
big TLD 2-speed level drag game reels to prevent water saturating the
drag washers and causing the loss of a trophy fish through the line
breaking. Three ball bearings are employed in the design. The TSS-4 is
made from tough corrosion proof graphite and weighs 20.4 oz.
As
a good tough all round "eggbeater" type reel the Shimano SpeedMaster is
hard to beat. It also makes a very fine surfcasting reel, and is
popular in the South Island with many salmon anglers because of its
toughness, fast retrieve and good line holding capacity.
Fishing Reel Tests and Reviews |
