John G

To be totally honest, I can live with all bushings or a bushing/bearing combo more so that that crappy bearing and brass nut that acts like a bushing combo that Shimano used on the Scorpion XT1500 and I presume the Curado 200E7. The bearing in that handle assembly is useless IMHO! When they use that big brass nut as a bushing, adding a bearing is not possible so a new handle is needed. My 12Calcutta 100 came with 2 bushings in each knob and at least when they are new, they are smooth reeling. Not as smooth as bearings but they are not that bad.

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

I have an interest in the Megabass F2-60X Cliffhanger and over here, it's a $600.00 rod. I found it at JP Angler for less than $300.00 with very cheap shipping. After I started this Thread, I did a search and it seems that the shipping quote was more than likely an EMS quote and they don't ship rods. So now my rod would more than likely be over $400.00 plus penalties. That sucks IMHO!

I have never been penalized with import fees on any JDM Reel that I have purchased. Are rods any different because of the size?

It will either be the new Scorpion or another XT1000.

From my wife, son and relatives, I received, shirts, cash, candy and a couple of gift cards from Chic Filet and Steak N Shake and I gave them to my son.

Get a job young man!!! I couldn't imagine myself without a job and not spending every second that I am awake looking for a job!

Did you see the Shimano financial info that I posted in my earlier post?

I had that 6' GL3 rod but I sold it a while back on ebay. I sold it because I also have the IMX version. The Loomis 6 footers are great rods IMHO. I like using my CR723IMX for top water. It works really well with a full sized Spook. In fact, my first top water fish was caught using a CR723IMX.

Merry Christmas Mke!

Merry Christmas!

When is the last time that you saw a $12000.00 fishing reel? LOL

I have heard the same thing. Don't know if it's factually correct but there are a lot more people in this world that ride bikes than fish and Shimano makes a lot of different parts for bikes so I think that it's true. Check it out for yourself. Shimano makes a LOT of different bike parts. http://bike.shimano.com/ http://www.shimano.com/content/dam/corporate/Financial%20Information/Summary%20of%20Financial%20Results/Summary%20of%20Financial%20Results%20FY2014-Q3.pdf From the 3rd quarter of FY2014. Business Segment Overview ① Bicycle Components In Europe, despite a temporary decrease in retail sales owing to unsettled weather in August and September, sales have been buoyant since the winter, which was mild. In the U.S., which experienced an extremely harsh winter, despite a delay in the commencement of sales, retail sales have been generally brisk since spring and comparable to the level in a typical year. In Japan, despite a severe winter, retail sales of sports bicycles and mid-range and high-grade community bicycles have been robust, even after the consumption tax increase. Sales of community bicycles, however, have weakened somewhat. Sales of sports bicycles continued to grow in China, and sales growth in other emerging markets was also robust. Distributor and retailer inventories were relatively low or in an appropriate range in all regions. In these market conditions, against a backdrop of rising expectations in view of promising market trends looking forward, order-taking was brisk as Shimano products were relatively affordable because of the depreciation of the yen. Moreover, sales of new disk brakes for road bikes released in the third quarter, as well as new models released in the second quarter, including ALIVIO mountain bike components, Tourney TX entry-level mountain bike components, and 105 road bike components, were buoyant. Segment sales for the first nine months exceeded the figure for the same period of the previous year. As a result, sales from this segment increased 23.4% from the same period of the previous year to 196,437 million yen, and operating income increased 53.5% to 44,707 million yen. ② Fishing Tackle In the Japanese market, conditions in the retail market were challenging. Unsettled weather throughout the country, including heavy rainfall in July and a typhoon in August, caused flooding and other damage, and resulted in fewer fishing opportunities for anglers. In addition, rising prices, especially the hike in gasoline prices, encouraged frugality among consumers and consumption stalled. Settled weather in September brought about good catching at various locations. In these market conditions, Shimano exceeded the previous year’s sales result because new products, including NEW STELLA launched in March, met with a very positive reception in the market. Overseas, sales remained generally robust, benefiting from the weakening of the yen. In particular, retail sales in Europe and Oceania were brisk. Sales in Asia were also robust despite a slowdown in economic growth. As a result, sales from this segment increased 10.6% from the same period of the previous year to 44,287 million yen, and operating income increased 63.7% to 3,344 million yen.

It sounds cool!

I did too and I thought, who cares! It's not what Abu did waaaaaay back in the day. It's about what Shimano and Daiwa are doing today!

I have handled the new Curado at DSG. I do like the way it palms better than the 1500. If I can scrounge up enough money before the end of December, I might get the 6.3:1 from Japan Tackle while it's on sale.

I am debating getting the new Scorpion or the older XT1500. I regretfully sold my 1500's a while back and here I am either buying some more or the new Scorpion. They will be primarily used for inshore fishing.

Nice looking collection of Shimano's. Please tell me, if you were forced to sell one, and both reels were in perfect condition and assuming they are used for the same purpose, are you selling the Curado 200E or the new Curado?

Loomis MBR843IMX or NRX803C

Tips -By the best that you can afford. Sunline Sniper FC is a good reasonably priced FC. Before you make your first cast, tighten up your reel a little bit more than normal. FC does not have the same casting characteristics as mono or braid and on a loose reel, it uncoils on the spool like crazy. I think that my initial problems with FC was trying too light of a jig or bullet weight with FC. I went with a little bit heavier weights and it helped a lot. A lot of people reccomend KV Line and Lure Conditioner to help make FC more manageable.

I have.I have had 30# PP break a couple of times from shock when throwing a 3/4oz Zara Spook. All it takes is a hard enough cast where the lure comes to a stop in mid air and there goes your exspensive swimbait.

I saw this morning that they are out of righties. This guarantees that I will not be getting one.

Shorter rods are very capable of getting very respectable distance too. The shortest rod that I use on a regular basis is a 5'10" Loomis Smallmouth Topwater Rod and that rod will sling a Super Spook Jr a long ways with braid. IMHO, the line and lure are more important to distance than rod length.

There are some nice looking pairs in that Thread!

You can count me as one of the guys that prefer buying JDM reels. In some cases they are nicer and in some cases they are not. An example of where the USDM reel is nicer than than it's JDM counterpart is the Curado 200E vs the Scorpion XT1500. The Curado 200E has an aluminum drag star and the Scorpion's is made of graphite/plastic. I told you about the non warranty because it is something to consider. I don't consider it when buying a JDM Shimano because their reels are very reliable and if they do need a repair, it should not be much anyway.