Delaware Valley Tackle

I wouldn't mind having a look at this reel. I've never heard of such a thing as braking going in and out. typically they work or they don't . Send it if you want.

Sounds about right give or take depending on condition.

Bite detection is no problem. You'll either feel the weight on the next pull or they'll rip it out of your hands. Line watching should go without saying.

I'd skip the spin cast and go for a spinning setup. They're not that hard to use and will remain useful as he grows.

Why do you credit the guides and not the blank?

3/4oz white w/ chartreuse Indiana blades one gold one chrome

I'm just the opposite. I'm a big believer in the K.I.S.S. philosophy. I like to keep up with what's going on and keep an open mind but I'm not quick to drink the kool aid. I favor tubes, dingers, grubs, flukes, craws and jigs in black, white, green pumpkin and watermelon. Cranks and jerks in shad, craw and bluegill patterns, and gold. PP braid on all but a couple reels. You get the idea. I have lots of rods and an eclectic assortment of reels but a lot of that is R & D etc.

I find myself gravitating more toward ML rods for everyday spinning. I have a Lite power XF blank waiting to be built as a Ned Rig Rod.

A setup similar to what you'd use for spinnerbaits is what I'd suggest. M or MH / fast.

I could see $100 for new in box but $60-$75 is average for a good used one.

I had a pair of rings on a carbon tube TN handle, no problems. I've seen some factory ones that were a little loose like Scott said.

Get a one inch cap and trim it short to slide just over the very butt. Or you can just hold the Rod and point it where you want

They are built on the same platform and share a good deal of parts and tooling. Pick the one with the feature / price combo that tickles your fancy.

I like the white finish but man you have keep stuff clean.

That's one one of the reasons I advised against diy on this specific model. That o ring is part of the two piece shaft that holds the side plate. Squeezing that assembly together enough to replace the c clip is a bear. I can't begin to explain how to accomplish it.

The OP and I have communicated via email but I'll add here as well. I agree that spool bearings won't do much for this reel unless the stock ones are bad. The Calais is a little more complicated to disassemble and not the best choice to learn on. I actually find very few gear sets that are truly worn out unless they've been neglected or something else gord wrong. It's impossible to say without seeing it.

37" is pretty fast. I wouldn't think it necessary for any moving bait.

Double check but I want to say the ipt is the same in spite of the ratio.

Except for the Ozmo. Worst bait ever. Send yours to me for proper disposal. ?

Yes the hears are interchangeable. And yes pinion and main are installed as a set. In general I discourage gear swaps to accomplish what is commercially available, but if want help with the swap let me know.

Goat Head spikes added to an old pair of hikers make nice wet wading shoes . Bare soles are too slippery in the rocks.

Guiding is hard work and there's significant overhead. Don't expect to fish much yourself on a guided trip. In NY you need a Captains lisence to have paid customers on board. This requires CPR along with passing a written competency test. Your state board of lisencing and DEC are a couple to check with.

6 of one half dozen of the other. The PQ is also on that platform and comes in 5.?:1 and 4.7:1. All the major players make a cranking reel.

Looks like the drag washer from under the main gear is missing. You can send me your buddy's reel when you're ready. I'll take care of it.

Don't over think it. Activating brakes in a symmetrical pattern maximizes effectiveness but failure to do so will harm anything. Experiment and most of all have fun.