Maxel Hybrid Star Drag Reel - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Ry609 · #1 03-20-2016, 10:38 AM

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

Walleyed · #2 03-20-2016, 08:39 PM

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

Ry609 · #3 03-20-2016, 10:18 PM

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

shrimpman steve · #4 03-21-2016, 12:35 AM

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

SplitShot · #5 03-21-2016, 07:39 AM

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..

Walleyed · #6 03-21-2016, 12:59 PM

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.

kurtisb · #7 03-21-2016, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SplitShot

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..

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.

rubberheels · #8 03-29-2016, 04:14 PM

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.