Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Any thoughts on this one? Got a lot of suggestions to go with star drag over lever drag for first conventional reel and this one seems like you get a lot for the money. Thanks in advance

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

What are you fishing for...hard to recommend tackle without knowing the target.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Sry, deep water fluke, tog, anything deep vertical jigging. People on here have told me to stay away from lever drag if I'm just getting into conventional gear and that lever drag is over kill for anything inshore or even nearshore on the east coast. Have a healthy budget which is a good thing and I do really like the lifetime warranty that Truth reels offers and made in the USA, starting to lean toward them over Maxel. May have just answered my own question :D

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I personally prefer lever drags and no level winds. Avet SX is a fine reel. Send it in every two years for $49 and two weeks later you get your reel back rebuilt. I love em. Have two sx's and one mx

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Check out the Saltiga... got one for blackfishing in the fall and love it.... also have Avet's and have had no problem with them either..:D

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I love lever drags, but for bottom fishing, I'll take a star drag any day.

If money was not object and I was looking for a reel specific to what you just described, I'd being getting a Daiwa Saltiga Star Drag 15H. Has a spool lock, hi-speed gear ratio...this reel makes me sweaty.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I agree. I have a Saltiga and the Hybrid. The Hybrid is okay, but wish I would have bought a second Saltiga instead.

One thing I don't like about the Hybrid is if you accidentally engage the drag while line is going out, the gears make a very loud grinding noise until they engage. It is fairly easy to do since it only takes 1/8 of a turn on the handle. I hope there is no damage being done. It scares the crap out of me every time it happens.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Some people have a love/hate relationship with Lever Drags. They take some getting used to, and you have to know how to set the drag properly or you'll tear up some pinion bearings in the process. All the above reels are great, but if money is no object, I too suggest the new Daiwa Saltiga 15. Either the US high speed H or the Japanese low gear ratio are both good. Will most likely be the last reel you purchase for long time to come. Call around for the 15H as many shops are still offering show discount pricing and you shouldn't have a problem getting it for well under $350.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Funny thing I own all those reels, not fished the Maxel yet since just purchased for inshore use .
I to believe the Saltiga to be a quality reel &'probably best in it's class ! That being said I bought Penn Fathoms several years ago & used them on many bottom trips over the years primarily cod , sea bass etc. This reel has performed flawlessly to date , I have a pair , but if their other models perform as well, money well spent, or saved I should say !!

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I guess the rod you plan on using matters too. How do the maxel and saltiga compare in regards to weight?

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Maxel is 13 oz, Saltiga is 14.3.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

The saltiga is incredible. I adore my 15. However you are spot on with the fathoms. What you are getting for the price is fantastic. I have used my fathom 12 for everything from porgy to pollock in 300ft of water. Great reel by Penn.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Amen. I've got Squidders, Jigmasters, Calcuttas, Avets, Ambassadeurs, and points in between. If I was starting over, a Fathom 12 star drag would be at or near the top of my list. Spooled with braid, it's enough reel for most anything short of tuna, and a bargain considering what it does.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Have Avet Penns daiwa shimano
Release now truth and some others in star and lever drags probably fish about close to 150 times a year and like star drags for bottom fishing checked out maxell hybrid at show last week seems nice but my thumb didn't fit between spool which wasn't comfortable so I passed good luck

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I have used the Maxel Hybrid all of last year for blackfish season as i was one of the first ones to get my hands on one. I also was concerned about not being able to get my thumb to fit in between the spool due to narrow spool. What you need to take into account is when you have reel filled with line it is not an issue. Put that reel through the ringer during blackfish season and had several fish over 10 lbs. Super light with more drag than you will probably ever need.
Was very happy with it. I also fished the Micro jigger 100H which is a level drag reel. Also super light with a ton of drag. These became my gotto reels this past winter while trophy hunting. I have no issue using level drag when bottom fishing and actualy prefer it as it allows me to back off drag when fighting big fish towards the end of the fight when fish take that final run when they see the boat. Picked up both of these reels at Jigging World (sponsor) and could not be happier with both reels and service received at store.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

Just got a maxel. Love them, super durable and strong little reels. I have both maxel and truth, by far prefer my maxel.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I own the new Maxel hybrid& I have yet to use it. I also own the Truth & have yet to use it as well. But I do own 3 Saltigas 20,30 & the 50 I fish them hard & never ever failed me at all. I have owned Avets I don't like the lever drag I can't get used to it. But I can see it as a good top water reel but I don't do enough of top water stuff to need one. As far as the weight of the Saltigas they are a little bit heavier then the average reels but my rods are so light it doesn't matter. A good balance if you ask me a little bit of weight on the back of the rod is good. If I was looking into the Saltigas I would look for the older used models they are like the old timex watch's they take a licking & keep on ticking.

Re: Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel
 

I came close to buying the Maxel but pulled the trigger and bought the Daiwa Saltiga H15 at Tackle Direct today! They are both very nice reels.I just wanted a star drag. Good for the party boats.