STH No product

Review Date
September 21, 2003

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: Catch Cormier(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year

Price Paid:  $69.00 at Cabelas

Favorite City:
Baton Rouge

Favorite State:
LA

Summary:
I own several STH reels purchased over the years, including the Cabelas Hemingways made by STH. The older models were a work of art and have stood the test of many trips to either streams or salt. After Cortland bought out STH, the quality went flushing down the toilet. The concept of a cassette reel has many advantages. It's so easy to replace a floating line with a sinking line or vice versa, at a fraction of the cost of a spare spool. However, if the reel itself suffers from poor fittings, corrosion, and pieces falling off, then the whole concept ain't worth cow chips. I bought the MR-POP a few years ago after it won some "Best of Show" award. Note to self: ignore award claims, come straight to outdoorreview.com. Initially it was advertised as a reel for fresh or light saltwater. Well, the drag works great for reds, snook and even small tarpon. But the finish is almost completely gone. I've got other diecast reels (SA S2L and Orvis Battenkill) that have been totally abused in salt and sand, and yet the finish remains intact. This is still a good reel for freshwater, but not the quality that made STH famous.

Strengths:
Disc drag is smooth and quiet, capable of handling somewhat large fish on light tippet. Cassettes cheaper than spools.

Weaknesses:
Finish, quality control.

Customer Service:
Fair.

Similar Products Used:
Orvis, Sci Anglers, Teton, Cabelas, Ross, Bauer, Aurora, Lamson, Redington.

Review Date
October 31, 2002

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: moscadero(Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year

Price Paid:  $69.00 at Cabelas

Body of Water:
S Platte

Summary:
Almost immediately the reel's seat snapped in half. A while later the knob's faux wood covering came off. The cassettes don't seem to fit correctly causing wobble as you reel in. The drag settings are either too tight or too loose with no way to find that happy medium.

Strengths:
Multiple line capabilities for the price

Weaknesses:
Poor craftmanship.

Similar Products Used:
Cortland Crown II(also crappy)

Review Date
November 23, 2001

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: mars(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Key Largo, FL

Price Paid:  $0.00 at World Wide Sportsman

Body of Water:
Fl. Bay

Favorite City:
Islamorada

Favorite State:
FL.

Summary:
(STH Salt Cassette 4)... I purchased this reel about two years ago, with the intention of a inexpensive tarpon reel. This spring I hooked and lost a large tarpon, the cassette cracked, backing wrapped around the center pin & everything jammed. Lost the fish, flyline, and broke a Sage RPLX rod! When I contacted STH, they said this reel is not recomended for tarpon, recommended a more expensive model, and offered to send a lousy replacement cassette. So, I am still waiting to hear from STH what a saltwater reel with the capacity for up to 13w line is "recommended" for. Do you know of anyone who fishes redfish with 12/13w gear????

Strengths:
Inexpensive, handsome reel....
Best paperweight I own.

Weaknesses:
Reel is not recommended for the fish it is made to catch (sounds crazy, but it's true-ask STH)

Customer Service:
Well, they supplied me with a new $2-3 cassette. Still waiting to find out what this reel is to be used for......

Similar Products Used:
B. Pate, Tibor, Redington, Penn

Review Date
February 20, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year , from Seattle

Price Paid:  $180.00

Body of Water:
Puget Sound & Lakes

Summary:
This is a very good all-around reel for trout fishing, particularly for lakes. The cassette format makes it feasible to have a lot of lines along. It's durable, too. I dropped it from about 5 feet up, it landed on the rim and bounced vertically from the bottom of the boat, and it wasn't damaged at all. I have a Saltwater version where I thought some of the gear teeth had a few problems with them; I called Cortland (STH), and they sent me TWO gears within one week of my call, at no charge. To the extent I am in Seattle, and they are in New York, I think that's pretty darn good service.

Strengths:
Cassettes are inexpensive and convenient
Smooth Drag
Looks nice (I have the machined CR-POP gold reel)

Weaknesses:
None really. The reel is just fine with a little care. The only possible design weakness is that the reel employs only one anti-reverse pin; I think a better design would be to have two in case one gets stuck. However, I haven't had any problems with it. Just a thought . . .

Customer Service:
Excellent

Similar Products Used:
Ross
Islander
Lamson
Sage
Redington

Review Date
November 29, 2000

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from DUNN,NC

Price Paid:  $70.00 at HILLS

Summary:
SERVED THE PURPOSE FOR A CHEAPER REEL FOR PANFISH AND TROUT.WANT TO TRY OUT REEL ON SMALLMOUTH TO SEE WHAT IT WILL DO.

Strengths:
GOOD REEL FOR THE MONEY.LIKE THE CASSETTES.FINISH ISN'T BAD.

Weaknesses:
LITTLE HEAVY FOR THE SIZE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHERS

Similar Products Used:
TIOGA,ROSS COLORADO.