Fishing Victoria Forum

Hi guys
New here
I'm looking at setting up some different size lower end combos for kg squid and ppb snapper.
Im a shimano fan and already have a sedona , a stradic an old baitrunner.
I wanted to look at sub $100 reels and was wondering how the little siennas go?
they seem cheap enough to use a couple of seasons and bin to rebuy if necessary?
Are they up to the task?
cheers

Penn Slammers don't cost much more and will hold up a lot better than Siennas imo
https://www.dinga.com.au/penn-slammer-s ... s-821.html

I've still got a couple of these that I've been using on the kayak since I first got into yak fishing and they're fine. Easy to service and very ruggedly built.

Pretty sure Siennas still have felt drags where the Slammers have a much nicer carbon drag.

You don't hear anything bad about the Penn Slammers. The siennas used to be good but since the FE come out they are a throw away(your money)

Siennas are perfect for those situations.
I've got 4 on my snapper bait combos and they are good enough for it. I think I've had them for 3 seasons now, this year will be 4 . Sparingly used though.

I have a number of Shimano IXL4000, usually under $30.00 for 'simple fishing'.

I have 2 of these reels on Shimano collapsible rods, that I bought for squid/baitfish/herring/garfish to be fast and easy access when needed.
Whilst fishing for baitfish in shallow water I have hooked and landed MONSTER snapper-- you just have to play them. Snapper at around 90cm....

Cheap reels do not have to be 'nasty'.

My experience using the Sienna's have been positive, I have three, two on bait rods and a third on a egi rod.
Six months of heavy use fishing every 3-4 days and there were no issues or concerns.
Eight months in the squid rod Sienna had minimal loss in smoothness, a quick oil and they're back to new. Bait rods reels have been perfect.
They've tacked plenty of king george, flathead, squid and 100's of pinkies.

Cheers for the comments guys
No offence to the penn slammer fans but i just couldnt.
Battle looks good though.
At the cost, I think i'll try the sienna and see how it handles it.

Got a slammer, problem free and still going strong. Had a Battle 2, was fantastic but after a year the antireverse played up and it's sitting in the garage since. Seinas are great cheapy and generally does the job but a few if mine started to seize up after heavy use in rainy days flicking squid jigs. Water must've traveled up into it's gearings as I tend to have rod tip facing down. Hope that helps

All of my whiting and squid rods have Shimano Hyperloop 2500 reels. They are about $35 each or something and mostly last years. For the 6 or 8 rods i have with them on it i think ive only replaced 2 in the last 5 years. And the two i replaced were from when i was still kayak fishing, since buying a boat i dont think ive had one fail. The 3 squid rods are easily my most used rods, if i am taking the boat then i have at least one of them.

Edit: And i never (EVER) service my reels. I probably should.

I’ve had siennas and slammers. Both do the job, out of the 4 of each I have maybe 1 has played up.... mostly down to poor treatment.