Mike-in-WV

I can't believe you are saying that Revo's and Curado B's have graphite frames. Both definitely have aluminum frames. Revo S is plastic. Had mine apart several times in the past two days just playing with it and getting to know it while tweaking things here and there. Also keep in mind that reelmechanic works on these reels all the time. That's what he does,Lol. If anyone knows his reels , he does! Mike

Some of you guys keep talking about this line and others that have some kind of memory problem and you look at it as a bad thing if it has coils in it as it comes off the spool. If it can be casted better then allot of lines, If it holds up well in the abrasion category, if the stretch is low and the strength is high how can this be a bad line? If so many people love it and find no problems with it then how is it a bad line ? What do you guys consider a good line and why ? Bet there are more opinions then you can shake a stick at when it comes to what is the best line out there today for our bait casting reels Mike

Sorry to say I can't tell you anything about there reels but if they are anything like there guns BUY IT!. I do own one of there bait casting rods and love it. Mike

Guess what! I did get to fish it today for a couple hours on the Elk River. Windy, cold and the river is running clean and green but really high. Never got one hit at all. Anyway, so far so good with the line. Not saying your wrong just saying that I have had no problems so far. Time will tell. Mike

Asked my wife to pick up a big spool of #17 Cajun Red Cast for me yesterday when she went to Walmart and she came home with Cajun Red Lightening. I figured I would give it a try anyway and to tell you the truth I can't find one thing wrong with it! Spooled it on my Revo S and tried it out in the yard last night and from the first cast to the last thing morning I have not had any problems at all. It cast great and acts pretty much the same as Cast. Why do some people say to stay away from Cajun Lightening is beyond me or maybe I'm missing something here. Mike

On my Silver Max I leave my magnetic brakes set at 8 out of a possible 22. Using a 0.45 oz. plastic casting plug I can cast a normal 43-45 yards without using my thumb except at the end of the cast. With my new Revo S Centrifugal brakes set with two weights out I can do exactly the same thing. Nothing amazing I just found it strange that one cost me $60.00 and the other cost me $104.00 and they both work equally as well when it comes to casting Keep in mind that Abu Garcia instructions call for the other brake (spool) setting to be so that if you just barley jerk or shake the tip of the rod the lure should drop no more than 10" each time. I have found that setting on Abu reels to work best for me. Two of my reels have #17 Cajun Red Cast and one has #14 test. Mike

That is a pretty strong statement. I trust you have the experience to back that statement up. : Saying that they are good as many does not seem like a strong statement to me being that there are some junk metal reels on the market today that are way over priced. My back up is that I started using Bait casting reels when I was about 12 and I'm 62 now. Also my wife worked for Pflugers when they were in Akron many years ago. It's true that I'm just getting back into it after a lay off from fishing for a few years and the reels have changed some and they still are. I am a recent owner of a Revo S ( Beautiful reel!)and several of my friends own the high end LP models and the older and newer round models they use for trolling. They both tried my reels several times and loved them and they could not get over the smoothness or the cast ability. The inside of these reels are all metal and brass gears including the pinion gear and the bearings and spools are second to none. Keep in mind that the Max reels made by Abu Garcia were meant to be an answer to the person who could not afford the high end reels and they never intended nor did they produce a junk reel as some of you may think, In fact, I really don't remember Abu ever turning out a junk reel. Just my opinion for what it's worth. Never said or meant to make anyone think I'm some kind of expert. Just a guy who is having fun with these reels and fishing again , Mike

The real truth can be seen just by walking around your house and your garage. Take a look at your truck or car inside and out PLASTIC! , Your computer, PLASTIC!, Your $2,000.00 plasma TV, PLASTIC! in the kitchen your wifes Microwave, PLASTIC, The handles on the pots and pans, PLASTIC!. I think you get what I'm saying here. Don't knock it just because it has plastic on it, so does most of your biggest investments. Some people feel it was all for the better, cheaper and lighter, Mike

Two of my Abu Garcisa Bait casting reels are plastic and they are as good as many metal reels out there today.Nothing "Clunky " about either of them,Lol. Love my Silver Max and it performs flawlessly and I can cast further with it then most can with any other LP reel. Yes they can and do brake and so does aluminum or pot metal if handle wrong or drooped on a rock like was mentioned above. Take a look at the inside of a Silver Max and I think you will be pleased with what you see. Mike

Thanks reelmechanic, what I was getting at about the brakes from one reel to another was even Abu Garcia has both in the Revo line. The SX has the Magnetic and the S has the Centrifugal. Just curious as to why some companies do that, Mike

It seems that some people prefer one over the other for one reason or another. I seem to lean to the Magnetic because it's faster and easier for me and seems to fine tune better than the Centrifugal but I am far from and expert on the subject and that's why I'm asking. Also would like to know why they don't just stick with one type instead of the two ? It can't be a cost thing because I have seen both systems on high dollar and low dollar reels. Maybe Reelmechanic can ad some insight to this subject, Mike

Muddy, When you figure out the rhyme and reasoning behind that one let me know, ;D Mike

Mike - If you ever start using braid, be sure and have something besides clippers to cut it. They just fray it and don't cut it clean at all. Sort of like a dog gnawing on a rawhide bone---you will get it cut eventually, but not real neat. Thanks for the heads up and I'll remember that. My wife gave me a neat little pair of fold-up scissors that are super sharp that I keep in my tacklebox. Mike

Leon, Sorry to hear about your problems with Cabelas but I can honestly say that in the many years I have dealt with them I have never had a bad experience. Always very kind and helpful staff and the two times I did return something it was handled free of shipping charges and nothing but apologies from the staff. I have heard other complaints lately and maybe there customer service is going down hill like so many others have. Sure hope not! Over the past couple of years I have heard only good things about there Fish Eagle rods but I'll let you know what I think when I get it. Thanks for heads up, Mike

Don't know much about braided line but I really like a good set of finger nail clippers for my line. Really clean cut and fast and easy. Mike

Just bought a new Bait casting rod from Cabelas Bargain Cave for $39.99, down from $79.99. Bought a 2 piece 6'- 6", M/H, 10-17, 1/4-3/4, 7" rear and 2" front. Should be a nice rod for walking and fishing from the banks of the Elk River. Any way they are really nice rods and you can't beat the price, Mike

Thank you and your explanation makes sense. I'm still in the learning process about how all these new reels Bait casting reels work. Nothing like the ones they had when I was a kid. I just assumed they they were all capable of manufacturing them with external adjustments for all the brakes. I'm betting that some day soon you will see that. Thanks again and sorry for all the questions, Mike

Magnetic vs. centrifugal... :-X OK, But why do they make it so you have to take the cover off to adjust it? That's what I'm asking. :-? Mike

I have two Abu Garcia reels and they both have the brake knobs to adjust the brakes and fine tune it. I really don't get the idea of making the new ones hard to get at or having to remove the side plate every time you want to fine tune it . Other reels do the same thing. It doesn't make any sense to me. Mike

Thanks again guys for the help. I'm not new to bait casting reels. I'm 62 in July and can't remember my first fishing day but I do know that all we had for reels back then were Fly reels or Bait Casters,Lol.The next best thing and sometimes the best thing all together was a cane pole. It's been a long time and the reels have changed a little to say the least but for me it is still kind of starting over.Did allot of Fly fishing over the years and many long days with my Mitchell 300 spinning reels. I'm still picking up little hints from you guys and suggestions that are really turning things for me and now I'm loving it. Can't hunt much anymore due to my health but fishing is a little easier and I guess it's still hunting when your after that record Bass or Muskie! Mike

Wow guy's! Great ideas and you may be right about me trying to hard . Time to get back to basics and enjoy it instead of being so intense. Shot longbow instinctively most of my life, took many Deer and Bear but never associated it as the same idea but I guess it really is. Now if the wind will just die down some around here it would be a perfect day, Mike

Well put NBR! Thank's for the input you guys, Mike

You guys have been a big help getting me started again on bait casting after many years of spinning and fly fishing but I'm still have one problem. My casting is great! Long distance more than most, not to many birds nest anymore and it all feels comfortable and natural. Why is it that my accuracy is so lousy!? It doesn't matter if I cast one handed or two, over head or sidearm I'm always either left, right , to far or to short buy a couple feet at 20 yards. I use a lid from a 5 gal. bucket for a target in the yard. Any suggestions would be appreciated, Thanks, Mike

Yep, I agree and maybe I should give it a little more time as well as two handed casting. Some of those guys make it look so easy it's unreal! Maybe If I did it for a living I could do that too. ;D

I'm sure you know a whole lot more about this stuff then I ever will but I still see alot of pros cast that way today. The thing I like about it is the way my thumb seems to automatically feather itself on the side of the spool. Mike