THE GRINDER EFFECT
Tips on using a grinder reel for gamefishing
[Originally published in the September 2023 issue of Ski-Boat magazine]
By Justin Paynter
THE new age of fishing is upon us, and the advancements we have at our fingertips every time we go fishing are unbelievable. Shore anglers have set the charge by changing from conventional reels to grinders. The new rods and reels made by Daiwa are hailed as the best we have ever seen and probably the best we will see for many years to come.
Of late, I have been fishing with a grinder for gamefish, and it has been very effective. The logic behind it is simple: a faster retrieval rate, a rod that has a lovely tip action for bait fishing, and a backbone when needed to apply pressure. It also just feels so much more comfortable in hand.
In my months of experimenting, I have found that you are able to land a fish a lot quicker with a grinder – and it has been more successful at getting the fish past the sharks. As we have sadly learned, 2023 has been a very taxing year for most anglers, and many strategies have been put to the test to try and get that trophy fish past the taxman.
These strategies include:
• Switching off the engines and GPS/finder unit and fighting the fish without chasing it down.
• Winding up all the lines and chasing the fish down, getting on top of it, then pumping and winding as quickly as possible to get the fish to the boat. If you pull the hooks, well, it’s better than getting taxed. This is the theory most ski-boaters are going with these days.
• When you get the feeling your fish is being chased, free spool it and let it go, then run up onto it and pump and wind.
These are all great theories that work some days and don’t work on others. I now believe a grinder is the way to go.
Here’s why:
First, conventional reels usually have a loud ratchet, and some anglers believe that a screaming reel calls the sharks to the boat. As a result, some guys up on the KZN North Coast fish with their ratchets off. On a grinder your ratchet isn’t as loud as those on a conventional reel is, and the reduced noise may not attract that unwanted taxman.
Second, if you are able to get on top of a fish with a grinder setup, you are really able to pump and wind as it’s a lot more comfortable in hand and your pulling power is far superior to when you’re using a normal trolling setup.
Third, when using a conventional reel if an angler is onto a fish and he gets the feeling it’s being chased, he hits free spool to let the fish go and inevitably his reel explodes in his hands with the biggest bird’s nest you have ever seen, and the anticipated snap of the line is heard soon afterwads. This isn’t the case when it comes to a grinder; you literally just flick the bail arm over and let the fish do its thing.
I asked some of the top anglers on kayaks, jet-skis and boats what they think about using grinders. Some of them are under the impression that it’s too direct, there’s not enough line capacity, and, well, that’s just not how you fish for pelagic fish. Then there are others who only fish with grinders as it’s a multifaceted reel that can be used for the majority of fishing facets, especially when you have limited space on certain fishing platforms.

After considering the feedback I received, I tried grinders myself to test out the various theories.
I prepared this setup the same way I would when fishing an IGFA rated competition, using a top shot. I loaded my reels with 30 lb J braid and added a top shot of 20m of either 12.5kg or 16kg (depending on your preference). This will elevate the directness (so-called, not enough stretch) when the fish is close.
Having tried it, I disagree with those who say it’s too direct. I have seen time and again how, when a fish is close to the boat, the angler tightens up and when the fish does take a last run or dart close to the boat, the angler either pulls the hooks, or the line or trace parts due to the amount of pressure on the line. What has worked for me is to back off on the drag. If need be, you can always thumb the spool or, if you’re using a grinder, you can lightly palm the spool, almost like a brake caliper on a car.
What setup should you use?
This question always sparks a lot of debate, although the debate is normally around how much money you have to spend or how you can hide a Saltiga box away from your wife.
I was blessed to fish with a few Saltigas when doing this article and while fishing in Egypt, and if I had the money, I would buy them. They have a super smooth drag, and you can literally feel the quality when retrieving a fish.
I suppose it’s like owning a GUCCI handbag for a woman. They all have the same function, but once you own one, well, there’s no going back.
If you’re like my mates on Fun-A-Galore, Vaai Dalla and Texan Girl, it’s like owning a GUCCI store. You climb on their boats and are handed either a Shimano Stella or Saltiga reel to catch bait. It’s what dreams are made of!
My current reels of choice are a BG 4500 and BG 5000, and they are bulletproof. For the amount of work those reels have endured, they are my definite go-to as well-priced reels that won’t give you a day’s hassle. Mine have been dunked, dropped, thrown out of T-Tops, and they are still as good as when I took them out of the box. However, maintenance on any reel is imperative to ensure its longevity and performance when it counts most.
The rod I have been using with these reels is the Poseidon Eclipse Boat Spin 7ft. It’s an awesome rod, with enough backbone to pull a variety of pelagic fish. The Saltist range of rods is also exceptional, and they are rods you will hand down to your children. The way this range of rods is being built these days and the technology used to ensure their durability is phenomenal.
You may well ask whether all this is just an ambassador pushing specific products he’s aligned with. I don’t believe so, but it’s up to you to decide. Many anglers already own Daiwa, Shimano and Penn setups. Next time you’re on the water, give it a try and let us know what you think.
Please don’t forget to follow me – aka Pink Pants – @jt_paynter