Delaware Valley Tackle

The only difference between the SX ad STX are the features (brakes etc) There's no engineering difference between the two. Any brand can have a hiccup here or there, that's part of mass production (fwiw the lew's come out of the same factory). The STX is a quality reel worth deciding for yourself whether you like it. Don't get too hung up on internet reviews in general.

I've used those blanks. The finish is very good. Pack your wraps tightly to assure the look you want.

They still have an uphill climb perception wise, but Pinnacle has really stepped it up with their offerings. It's nice to see some new blood in the quality tackle market.

Yup, this is the cause for the "normal" back play. Flushing the AR bearing thoroughly may take more than one try especially after 3 years.

When I say "balance" in this context, I'm talking about evenly spaced around the spool. I agree that actual balance as in weight distribution is a non-factor in this situation.

It's not about reeling slower. The idea of a lower ratio/IPT reel for deep cranking is that there's a mechanical advantage that my reduce fatigue and/or make retrieving a high resistance bait all day more enjoyable.

If one tab provides the braking you need that's fine. If you activate 2 or more, best practice is to balance them out, but it's not catastrophic if you don't.

A google search for rod building supplies will give you several choices. Mudhole Tackle is one of the biggest. Guides aren't rated for lb test. The tube size in 64th" needs to fit the tip of the blank easily but without slop. I usually order one size on each side of what I think I need to compensate for manufacturing variance. The ring size should match the smallest running guide. A size up or down won't hurt anything, but there's no advantage either.

It's more about visibility than winning. Of course, winning boosts your profile. You have to demonstrate an ability to move product and sway opinion. The level to which can be effective there, will determine the level of help you receive from a sponsor

The reel will need to be completely stripped and deep cleaned, the sooner the better. Now that it's exposed to the air the corrosion will accelerate. Rinsing the heavy stuff off the outside won't hurt at this point.

Exactly. Developing as many ways as possible to deliver your bait accurately can only help you. Adjusting a cast style to specific situations is important too. You may not have room to perform a cast the "right" way , that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it.

The D series reels are super smooth and solidly built but were on the heavy side by current standards and no, they are not a finesse casting reel but are nice for more traditional (1/2 oz >) casting applications. As for price, I won't typically pay over 60% of retail for anything second hand.

I'm sorry I don't know for certain. my guess would be if it's right hand crank the nut on the opposite side wold be right hand thread and vice versa

Touche! ha ha

You look happy but the flamingo looks surprised if not scared.

Just looks like a bird to me.

I'm sorry but that chart begs all kinds of questions. Who's scores are these? What tests were performed? The myth of fluoro having less stretch has been debunked. It looks like a piece of marketing from a fluorocarbon line maker to me. There is no perfect choice, there will always be a one or more compromises when choosing line for an application. The OP was about ease and distance of casting. Braid is the clear winner there due simply to it's suppleness.

Look for something with a lure weight range where 1.3 oz falls around the middle regardless of what they label the power as. The terms MH, Hvy etc are subjective and don't tell you what really are asking.

Yes, and I should have clarified, I was talking comparing reel sizes about across brand lines.

Spool capacity is a function of width, arbor and diameter combined. The 100 vs 200 logic is somewhat flawed since there's no standard. It's the diameter of the full spool and ratio that determines IPT. Yes, IPT decreases as line peels off the spool, so a narrow, deep spool will have a little more variance than a wider spool of the same depth and diameter.

What is "bigger" size? 7'6" - 8' with a lure weight rating appropriate for the bait.

Generally speaking a softer line will cast and handle better. In this case that would be the braid. This is one reason I use it on spinning tackle.

Bearing count has zero affect on casting. Casting distance can not be compared between reels without using the same rod, line, bait and setup. Dual brakes are a personal preference. Neither reel is night and day better than the other but design wise I'd give the edge to the Curado due to the bearing supported pinion

The local river here is a canal system. When they open the locks for winter the water level drops dramatically. I'll take the kids out a few times on "treasure hunts" and they'll find all kinds of stuff, plus it's a good time to find and make note of structure and cover that is underwater during the season.

Have you ever gone on a group vacation? It's next to impossible to get 3-4 "friends" to agree on where to eat not to mention how to split up a pool of cash. You have money changing hands in the form of dues, and then the liability others have warned about. Then, to top it all off, there is the division of labor. In any club I've ever been associated with a small handful of members do all the heavy lifting while the rest just show up and enjoy the activities. I don't think half-measures will do anything for you. As Mr Myagi would say "Bass Club do, yes..... Bass Club do, no...... you Bass Club do, guess so" Either go all in and do it "right" or keep it real loose and casual.