The S-Line 757 reels, with their large capacity and powerful retrieve, are ideal for uptide or general boat fishing and shore fishing into rough ground.
The S-Line 757CTM is a specialist reel with many features, including centrifugal braking and a magnetic braking system, which is adjusted by a chrome knob on the left-hand side plate. The open cage allows you to get a good grip of the spool for casting longer distances. The spool has the capacity of 320 yards of 20lb mono, or 290 yards of 30lb if you’re fishing rough ground.
It’s a very robust reel with chrome-plated brass side plates, upgraded stainless-steel power handle and machined brass gears with a powerful 4.3:1 gear ratio. The carbon drag system offers a maximum drag of 20lb that gives line smoothly to fast-running fish, plus there’s a larger spindle to prevent flexing during a powerful cast or when playing large, hard-fighting fish. Add dual anti-reverse, corrosion-resistant instant anti-reverse bearing, Japanese stainless-steel bearings and a line-out alarm and you get a lot for your money!
The 757CS is basically the same reel without the magnetic braking but has a synchronised levelwind, which is very useful if you’re boat fishing with braid.
For live testing I loaded the CTM with 20lb mono and a short shockleader for uptide casting, and the CS version with 30lb braid and a short mono leader to act as a shock absorber for fishing downtide.
The first boat trip had to be called off due to the appalling weather but the second went ahead in less-than-ideal conditions. The CTM was matched with an uptide rod for blasting 6oz Breakaways and lug-and-squid cocktails away from the boat. The CS with the levelwind was used to lob a legered whole squid downtide in the hope of a lunker cod.
I set the mag brake on the CTM to full-on for safety and blasted a lug-and-squid cocktail uptide hard, but I could feel there was too much braking on the reel. The mags were backed off halfway; this should still be safe as you also have the centrifugal brakes to control the spool revs. The rod with the CS lobbed a whole squid 30 yards downtide with no problems, and the combination of levelwind and centrifugal braking helps avoid overruns.
The retrieve on both reels is smooth and powerful with the levelwind on the CS version keeping the line lay perfect. With less mags on the CTM, my next cast uptide went further, the spool quietly purring even at high revs.
Despite being one of those days when you couldn’t buy a bite, I did get a good feel for both reels. They’re solidly built, very smooth in operation and, with a rinse under the tap, still look as good as new. The reels’ build quality and price should make them very popular.
INFORMATION
757CTM
Braking: Magnetic and centrifugal
Bearings: Three plus one anti-reverse bearing
Gear ratio: 4.3:1
Spool capacity: 320 yards of 20lb mono
RRP: Promo price £104.99
757CS
Braking: Centrifugal
Bearings: Three plus one anti-reverse bearing
Gear ratio: 4.3:1
Spool capacity: 320 yards of 20lb mono
RRP: Promo price £99.99
TSF RATINGS
Appearance: ★★★★★★★★★★
Casting: ★★★★★★★★★★
Fishing: ★★★★★★★★★★
Value for money: ★★★★★★★★★★
Contact: Akios on 0161 355 1975
E-mail:
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Website: www.akiosfishingtackle.com
