saltiga s extreme vs. dorado

[stella fella]

Hey guys, I'm chasing a new setup for hunting kings on surface, just wondering if there is a substantial enough difference in performance between the saltiga dorado and s extreme to warrant the extra cost of the dorado? I also noticed that zenaq have a couple of rods around the same price as the dorado, any info on them would be great. I'll mostly be chasing them in shallow water around some ugly territory and some of the fish tend to get rather large so a heavier model will be needed.

Cheers,
Nick

[LI2099]

I remember asking about this earlier the month. Someone here mentioned that the S Extreme is a stiffer rod than the Dorado. The price difference is around $50.

[freshjacker]

Hi Nick, I have probably the three rods you may be looking at, the Saltiga S-Extreme 76Game 3DX model matched with a 4500 Maverick. Great for casting stickbaits, and small poppers. I don't get the chance to use it much for kingies up here, but has copped a flogging from Gt's up to around 35kg max, and things like stickbaiting sweeties and small trout and the like. I Previously had the red model, the K Guides on the 3DX are a massive improvement on this rods as the first stripper guide was a bit of an issue on the old model as for wind knots, excess line twist. I have caught one kingie on it to 17kg and it gave me hell in shallow water. If you are likely to be fishing heavy structure and fish too lets say, 15kg, would be capable on this rod.
I also have the Dorado MO83S-F 8'3", matched with a 2012 saltiga 4500, Better rod for casting lures a good distance, similar to the 76game but is definitely a faster action rod. Maybe does not have as much stopping power through the butt section but would highly recommend this rod if you could dedicate it to surface stickbaiting.
I also have just recently purchased a S-Extreme 76GT, 3DX model, basically to replace my old Murra Murra that has seen the wrong edge of the electric motor as a result of a rampaging trout. Yet again big improvement with K Guides, matched with a dogfight ,can stop just about anything up to, between the 40-50kg (Gt's). Have not used this rod yet but the the old Murra Murra speaks volumes of confidence for this rod.
Value for money, they all great mid range gear, hope that will help a little if that's the size your looking at, think i was in the same boat as you when i started buying a similar outfit, but at end of the day i always try and stretched the budget to what I just can't afford and hope that your happy with you thoughts and theories as to why you bought it, hey you never have an issue reselling this kind of gear it you think there is something better on offer.

[stella fella]

Originally Posted by LI2099

I remember asking about this earlier the month. Someone here mentioned that the S Extreme is a stiffer rod than the Dorado. The price difference is around $50.

Could you send me a link to the thread mate?

Originally Posted by freshjacker

Hi Nick, I have probably the three rods you may be looking at, the Saltiga S-Extreme 76Game 3DX model matched with a 4500 Maverick. Great for casting stickbaits, and small poppers. I don't get the chance to use it much for kingies up here, but has copped a flogging from Gt's up to around 35kg max, and things like stickbaiting sweeties and small trout and the like. I Previously had the red model, the K Guides on the 3DX are a massive improvement on this rods as the first stripper guide was a bit of an issue on the old model as for wind knots, excess line twist. I have caught one kingie on it to 17kg and it gave me hell in shallow water. If you are likely to be fishing heavy structure and fish too lets say, 15kg, would be capable on this rod.
I also have the Dorado MO83S-F 8'3", matched with a 2012 saltiga 4500, Better rod for casting lures a good distance, similar to the 76game but is definitely a faster action rod. Maybe does not have as much stopping power through the butt section but would highly recommend this rod if you could dedicate it to surface stickbaiting.
I also have just recently purchased a S-Extreme 76GT, 3DX model, basically to replace my old Murra Murra that has seen the wrong edge of the electric motor as a result of a rampaging trout. Yet again big improvement with K Guides, matched with a dogfight ,can stop just about anything up to, between the 40-50kg (Gt's). Have not used this rod yet but the the old Murra Murra speaks volumes of confidence for this rod.
Value for money, they all great mid range gear, hope that will help a little if that's the size your looking at, think i was in the same boat as you when i started buying a similar outfit, but at end of the day i always try and stretched the budget to what I just can't afford and hope that your happy with you thoughts and theories as to why you bought it, hey you never have an issue reselling this kind of gear it you think there is something better on offer.

Cheers mate that's a lot of help! I was looking at the 76 game and the 80TN s-extremes at my local yesterday and I like the feel of them, especially the 76 game, but I think I'd be a bit under gunned with it. Do you think it's worth the extra money to get a dorado model rather than an s extreme?

[freshjacker]

Looked at the 80TN when i picked up my 76GT, Nice rod would fit up nice with a 5000 saltiga. There is not much differences cosmetically between the S-Extremes and Dorados other than the reel seats, but the blanks are of a higher quality on the Dorados. More a crisper feel, the Dorado BG 86 would be around that mark of the 80 Tn, however the BG 86 is more of a popper rod I think, where as the 80 Tn is a designated stickbait rod, nice soft parabolic rod. If you think you will use more Stickbaits/sliders then i would go with the 80Tn for sure, which I think would be ideal if you need to chase the 20kg plus kingies. (would be my pick)
If poppers are the way you want to go target them, then go the Dorado BG 86.
Keep in mind the casting weights are very important in these rods and struggle too cast outside the ratings.

[funfisher]

I run a 7.8 ft zenaq fokeeto twitch and its a beautiful stick to use for mid sized stickbaits. Also worth checking out are the FCL labo Range. Fish head tackle have a massive range and post for next to nothing.

[-mYrZ-]

thanks freshjacker that info helped me out big time

[LI2099]

Originally Posted by stella fella

Could you send me a link to the thread mate?

There you go mate:
http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46517

[stella fella]

Cheers mate!

[Lukem]

Hi Guys,
Stumbled on this post when I was doing a google search on Saltiga game76. I am myself looking to buy either s-extreme 76 game or 80TN, still unsure which one to choose. I am looking to pair it with my 2010 Saltiga 4500 and chase kingies with top water lures (mainly stickbaits) at Portland VIC. Fishing there is mainly shalow water (7-15 meters over reef) so I am not sure which rod to pick. On one hand I like the idea of the lighter rod (76 game) with its 15-90 gram lure rating as I could also use it for casting bigger soft plastics to school bluefin tuna (10-20 kgs), on the other hand I think i might need the extra pulling power of 80TN when it comes to fighting those pesky kings in shallow water over reef? The other thing is I can't seem to find anyone here in Melbourne that stocks these rods so I will have to order it in, and can't just pick it up and see which one feels nicer. I am a little concerned that 80TN might be just to big and heavy for 4500 Saltiga? Any advice guys?

Cheers

Luke