Ian Cook

Pro Gear went belly up financially and are currently no longer in production. They were good tough jigging reels, though not as smooth as some, but tough just the same and retailed here for about $430.00. Word through the grapevine is that AG Jiggingmaster who manufacture some of the best jigging rods in the world and who had great input into the original design of the reels are going to bring out their own reels based on the Oceanus and improving it, possibly with twin drag to meet the demand of real heavy duty jigging. We'll see what comes of it I guess in the future. Cheers, Ian

I have a pair of the heavy duty Berkley split ring pliers that are a copy of the Duel's but only cost me $39 and I have been using them specifically for all my heavy duty split rings on my jigs for the past 12 months and they haven't missed a beat even on the 300lb Decoy rings. Highly recommend for the price and the come with their own belt pouch. Cheers, Ian

The problem with braid is that not many dyes will adhere to ployethelene for very long due to its non-absorbing properties and all dyes are just a top coat as raw polyethelene is white. I've not long loaded my jig reels with Sufix Herculine and YGK Jigman X and whilst spooling up I had dye on my hands from handling the stuff as well as the guides having a coating of dye build up as the line ran through the dry runners and these are silicon runners, though whilst fishing it was minimal. I have also had the problem with Berkley Fireline, Spiderwire and a couple of others. So mate, I wouldn't get too worked up about it and it doesn't matter what you pay for it it will happen to the best of them, just as long as it doesn't loose its breaking strength, which I haven't found anyway. Cheers, Ian

Hi Bertrand, I have a fairly new CT700B sitting on a 6'6" Shimano Steve Starling TLD Special rod (about 10 years old now) running 30lb braid over it. It is yet to fire in anger, but it will be primarily to be used as a casting come light jig outfit for kings and other pelagics as well as a bottom/reef outfit. The reel certainly feels alot better than the previous model, due to the upgraded handle and freespool lever. The older CT700's have been a real workhorse of a reel over the years and have landed some great fish with everything from snapper to sailfish and the new upgraded model will no doubt be just as effective. All the best. Ian

Good one Mate, Wait until you get into the bigger babies, you'll have ball trying to keep them coming your way. Cheers, Ian

Hi Brenton, Thanks for the welcome. I gave both outfits quite a bit of thought and loaded both rods up fully in the stores that I purchased them from and had the owner's hanging on for dear life and if they did't break there and then, so a fish shouldn't be an issue I hope. The spheros seems to be a very popular choice particulary in WA with the Sambo brigade and that was one of the deciding factors other than spending a stack and buying a Stella or Saltiga.....but that's definately down the track a bit though. Cheers, Ian

This is my first post, so a big hello to all and I thought I'd start of by getting opinions on the latest outfits I've purchased to get into deepwater jigging. The first is a Jigwrex 526S PE6 Spin model married up with a Spheros 14000FA which has been suped up with Stella Handle, extra main gear bearing and carbonex drag and a matching spare spool. I'll be running 80lb Sufix Herculine and YGK Jigman X PE6 braid over it. The other outfit which I've had for a while but have yet to use is a Toruim 16 matched to a Pioneer Tuna Striker 6'3 30-50lb jig stick and running 50lb Sufix braid on it. I am actually getting the chance to christen them on the 18th of Feb out off Sydney, so hopefully the kings will be obliging. Your comments would be appreciated. Cheers, Ian