You guys think the Avet SX 5.3 is too small to troll striper

[penn113h2]

Should I go with the Avet SX 5.3 or the Avet MXL 5.8 because the SX 5.3 is pretty small to me for trolling striper? Help!!

[BentRod]

What is the definition of "trolling Striper?" If you're pulling umbrella rigs with braid, then it's plenty big. It holds 200yds of 25lb mono too so not sure why you'd need anything bigger but I have no clue how you're actually planning on using it so I can't say for sure.

[Gotcha]

200 of 25lb sounds perfect to me!

[fishhook]

Hey Gotcha, I use the SX exclusively for drum, there isn't a striper that can pull like that.......

I prefer level-wind on the lake though. But it is sure big enough for stripes here and at the coast.

Fishhook

[Gotcha]

Fish hook. Was you down that way yesterday. They sure loaded up! said a school come threw look like a school of blues busting the water! Catching bulls on spoons/plugs! Wish I could have seen that sight!

I was looking at the sx. And the prices on them ain't half bad! May try to find a way to get me one or two! But yeah, it may not be a reel I would want to beat on a boat all day, or let somebody with me beat! Saying that, it's one of them reels I would use on a boat to jig(keep in my hand) or cast out and let it sit like drum fishing like you do fishhook!
I like that style reel, maybe because I'm a distance nut, and do more still fishing than I do trolling!

But size is plenty big!

[fishhook]

The M/C is great for casting larger baits, but I static mag all of mine to gain some distance. You can't hardly use a standard SX out of the box, it is crazy fast. I like the reel for many reasons. USA made. All Aluminum. Small with large line cap. and I love the lever drag.

No, I missed that bite, got into a few of them early in Oct. off of the planks, and had a nice trip in August on the Neuse for them.

Fishhook

[penn113h2]

Well I've actually changed my decision on what Avet to get, I'm actually going to get a MXL 5.8 because everywhere I look it's been said that it's great for trolling Stripers , and plus I looked at the demensuons of the SX, to me it's way to small to troll U-rigs or live for striper, but hey that's just my opinion

[mwardncsu]

I don't know anything about the Avets, but just curious about where you are looking and what they man by "trolling stripers" - trolling stripers on the Bay or ocean is a totally different thing than trolling for stripers on SML or Leesville - and then are we talking about trolling artificials (U-rigs, 3-way rigs, etc) at 2.5-3 mph or trolling live bait at 0.5-1.5 mph.

The MXJ looks to be a narrow-frame reel - the MXL looks like a beast....

I guess our point is that most of the on-line resources about striper are regarding the saltwater variety - and those fish are generally larger and you're using a different techniques. A bigger, heavier reel won't hurt you - though it may take some of the fight out of the fish if you can just winch them in.....

[penn113h2]

Well fesh is what I'm currently looking at, but salt would be hopefully a later opinion. MXL 5.8 is to me a power house just before you cross the line to me, umm, I'll be using the MXL for U-rigs art. And live. The reason why I'll still feel the fight I guess is because I'm gonna put it on a somewhat line tackle rod from Penn, I'm going to get a Penn Mariner Boat rod to combo it up. Also my knot range is around 0.5-2.5 to maybe 3.5

[mwardncsu]

They do look like nice reels - would like to have a couple of those for the Bay - something made to hold up against the salt and the beating the bigger salt water fish will put on a rod..... just feel they may be overkill for here but the price does not look too out of line for a good reel you'd use here and if you can also get saltwater duty out of the reel then all the better. I am a believer in buying quality and buying once......

[fishhook]

The SX is plenty big enough for all striper. Like I said, I have 5 of them, but I don't use them on the lake. A non-level reel is just not practical. The non-level is for distance and speed live baiting large ocean fish like Tuna. These reels are not designed to use on the lake in my opinion. I would spend that money on Shimano Takota. They, handle all in-shore and lake fish very well.

My .02

Now if Avet ever comes up with a level wind reel in the SX size, I will sell every other reel I have. They claim to be working on it, but I have been told that for several years now.

Fishhook

[penn113h2]

I agree a lil bit about what your saying Fishok, and mward. But, I mean to me, the size isn't overkill it's not a two speed and it's just as big as a Penn 209. I perfer the Level Drag now days because you can obviously guide the line yourself but you have multiple drag settings to work with. I definitely think the price is affordable for what I was expecting and plus I've kinda been wanting to go in that direction of reel types for awhile and I finally found what I want. Yes, to some or most it may be overkill, but not to me because I will use it in the future in saltwater.

[penn113h2]

Oh yeah, mward, I've seen a few reviews on the Avets SX-MXL, they can supposedly be put in a tub of saltwater for 2 yrs. and not have any saltwater damage. It might not totally be true but that's another good reason why I choose Avet MXL's and SX's

[piper]

Damn.. I can buy 4 or 5 Okuma reels for that kind of $$ ...they work stellar for anything you might find in Leesville or SML.. Are you planning to hit tournaments to recoup some of the $$ ?

[penn113h2]

No, not yet, I would like to but Donnu where to start. So for right now I'm working for it. By the time I move out I'm hoping to have at least an arsenal of 12 combo, I've got 2 senators, 2 209's, and hoping to keep purchasing these Avets once I get my first. And like I said in the last post I've definitely decided to go with the Avet MXL 5.8. Just a lot of things I like about it.