Stella 20000fa line capacity

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HuntaGrunt

Member
Hi there Gents,

I am hoping one of you tackle gurus or anyone who has owned the reel could possibly give me some info on the line capacity of a Stella 20k FA. Il be using the reel for sharks paired with a makaira 15ft and for the occasional Gt popping session etc should the chance become available, so line capacity is essential. Il be spooling it up with either 80lb boss or 65lb suffix for the sharks depending on what info on capacity becomes available. Unfortunately accurate specs on the reel have been hard to find on the net. simply put, aprox how much 0.35mm braid could the spool take?

Thanks in advance.
Kind regards.
 
F

Fin-S

Sealiner
440m of the 65lb without a leader - I fish mine with one turn of elec tape, a full 300m spool of 65lb and then an 80lb mono casting leader - this is just under filled. The spool lip is such that when it is slightly overfull, you gets coils coming off mid cast. I would not use for sharks - rather get a higher capacity reel but then I do not deliberately target them.
 
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HuntaGrunt

Member
Hi fin-s

Thank you for the reply, unfortunately confirming my suspicions. I thought the spool looks as though the capacity is quite small for a 20k.Though it is a 2003 reel. I will have to rethink my setup as i already have the rod and reel. i will look at a thinner braid as a new 20 or 25k gosa is out of my budget. Any advice on setting up my current rig to be adequate for sharks would be appreciated. if it is possible.

Thanks again.
 
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Fly-aholic

New member
Hi Huntagrunt.

My 2 c's. Use pound braid as it is 25% thinner than 65 pound. 50 %0 pound @ 0.28 and and 65 pound @ 0.35. As Fin-S has said, 440 meters of 65 pound. Theoretically you will fill your reel with 440 x 1.25 = 550 meters of 50 pound braid. 50 pound braids breaking strength is more than 50 pound. Ask Brandon (takle-holic) he knows these figures. Lets say we under fill by 10% to prevent knots and cater for braided leader, you will still have 500 meters of 50 pound braid on your reel.
Substract a 110 meter cast and you have 390 meters on your reel. More than enough to subdue most toothies in the sea. I have fished with Trophy, Adrian and Mark Norval in P.E for a few years, and yet to see them being stripped on 0.55 mono. Yes, the fact that braid has less water resistance and does not have as much drag as nylon is true. These guys know there stuff and fish for big sharks.
I lived in E.L for 9 years and have fished from Gonubie point many times. Sometimes with Alton (aka Fluke) and have never seen these guys stripped. Most of the time with 250m of 0.55 top shot the fish does not even take them into their braid. Yes, if you are going to drone, different story, but you are casting.
If we are trying to 'peg' all the variables, we will not have time to fish.
My suggestion is as above and go fish.

kind regards,
Pierre
 
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HuntaGrunt

Member
Hi fly-aholic

Much appreciated sir, im going to take the advice and drop to 50lb. My concern with 50lb was initially the monster 26 kg drag of the stella but thinking about it i will never use more than an absolute max of 15kg drag, more like 10 kg and therefor the drag will never be enough to cause a braid snap.
The advice is much appreciated as im eager to get the big toothies but not willing to risk harming the fish due to in adequate tackle. You have given me a bit more confidence that this setup will be all right.

Thank you.
 
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Dr halibut hoffman

Moderator
Speak to Theo/Josh @ TJ's Tackle in Jbay, Theo will know but Josh I remember at one stage he used to fish this reel for big sharks. They are both guides that have/had their SA colours multiple times..Josh will be able to tell you first hand what it was capable of, I seen him with enough mega bronzies landed successfully and not seen him loose many if any fish LOL..

Offshore this reel was used as a grinder for marlin and big tuna I've read on forums, but I'm not a shark fisherman so my guess is just that..
 
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HuntaGrunt

Member
Hi there Doc,

Thank you for the reply but all is sorted. I managed around 450 65lb backing backing with 300m 65lb suffix performance pro8 top shot.So my worries were unfounded as it clearly has a larger capacity than id origionaly been told or had thought. and if need be i will drop backing to 50lb giving an extra 100 to 150 so mtrs. But your reply does give me confidence that my tackle is up to the task of landing these fish safely and without unnecessary strain added to the fish due to improper tackle.My first priority.

The advice is much appreciated.
Thanks to all who assisted.
 
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