Delaware Valley Tackle

They're made in the same factory with many of the same parts. Same basic platform. Weight difference is .2 oz negligible. Both have centrifugal brakes, maybe different versions but they'll act similarly. The .2 difference in ratio is minimal. I wouldn't expect ipt to differ much. My point was that you shouldn't expect much difference in performance or durability. Both good reels.

The lews bb1 and winch are the same reel for all practical purposes. I have a winch and like it. Choose the one you can get the best deal on.

Braid and spin casters don't play well together. I like the spinning tackle suggestion but your insistent on spin casting 15# XL treated with kvd will handle decently.

Only 10mm but that's 12%

For $60 it's worth a shot if you have $60 to gamble with. At retail there are too many other tried and true reels to pick from.

Sounds like power and action are the issue more than the length. The 6' Rod will be accurate with a slight decrease in max distance. A fair trade in my book for this application. A med or mh XF depending on cover should work. Ideally a popping type action which is fast but soft .

I concur. Should be an easy fix.

Shimano makes lots of reel models. I don't understand the desire to judge the whole line on the Curado. The Curado B was a workhorse reel never intended to be the standard bearer of refinement. The E to G was an attempt to get back to that. People came unhinged after being spoiled in a sense by the E so out comes the redesigned I. To get maintain the workhorse price point and deliver some level of refinement something has to give. Labor savings looks like one and certain materials. On the material side, there have been lots if refinements over the years in plastics, graphite and others. Metal parts and heavy hardware give an air of quality but are overkill in some ways. As a tech, dealing with light and soft hardware is a pain though.

The flex hose and foot pedal look awesome but near 3 Benjamins. Whew

The graphite of a reel seat is fairly easy to tool. A Dremel tool is fine for rough shaping just go easy . Follow up with gradual sanding.

why would you think a company's QC standards would change by geography ? In today's global economy (of which I'm no fan) off shore facilities are SOP for most companies. Pay it no mind.

That's likely to improve with the first deep cleaning.

It's normal. Won't hurt a thing.

There is no load on the reel during casting. There's no problem there. If your spinner has Colorado blades the extra drag thru the water may feel like you're working hard. My bigger concern would be the Rod. Overloading a Rod with moving baits can also make the retrieve feel labored. I think you can get by but not ideal.

Despite the lower ratio hearing your reel likely has a higher IPT than low profile reels of similar ratio. Give it a go and see what happens.

You don't need expensive reels of either type. Spinning reels don't depend on mechanics for casting, but bails, oscillation, rotor balance, AR, weight, smoothness and long term durability are all areas of difference in low and higher end reels.

Could be, but even if so that by itself doesn't really mean much of anything.

What was that writer referring to ?

It's just a marketing term they choose to use. I assume the HM is a high modulus reference. Graphite modulus , scrim, resin , mandrels, diameters, wall thickness all are factors that make a blank what it is and I'm probably forgetting something . Look for feedback from someone that uses that Rod.

If you can return it go ahead. If you'd like to send it in I'll look into it.

PVC is the way to go no question. FedEx doesn't have a convenient local drop off so I use Priority Mail for under 8' and UPS if it's over. I've had taped ends cut open so I'm using caps more.

You can get by with just one or the other but personally mastering different tackle types opens options and enhances the overall experience. If / when you give casting another shot post and you'll get lots of tips for success

Sorry misprint. I would NOT be afraid to try one based on the ones I've had. Sorry for the miscommunication.

High modulus rods are not "weak and fragile" as some would have you believe. They are just less tolerant of abuse and mishandling. Pick the Rod that looks and feels the best to you.

Senkos and flukes are far from "weightless " even eithout lead. They are well within bait casting parameters but IMO small hair jigs , trick worms, skipping and drop shot are all more easily fished on spinning tackle.