Delaware Valley Tackle

Welcome! Erie is worth the wait. Some BIG smallmouths there.

It depends on what you're trying to accomplish. My usual recommendation is to flush stock bearings and oil them with 1 small drop of light oil. If bearings need replacing anyway, upgrading can be done for the same or less than what OEM charges. Boca's Ceramic Lightning ABEC 5's are reasonably priced and about as fast as you'll need. The Orange Seal ABEC 7s can be run open for ultimate free spool but this is more an enthusiasts situation. I'm a Boca dealer and extend a 10% discount to members here. I deal with Boca based on their quality, support and name recognition. The market is flooded with cheap bearings but they come and go, have no support, and at times are counterfeit.

Yup, modifying the viscosity (thickness) and amount of oil in the spool bearings is one of the ways we fine tune reels. Very slight changes make a noticeable difference.

All of the reels you have listed are built on the same platform using the same tooling. Pick one with the features that are most important to you and shop for a deal.

Congrats on a nice win. Fish the reel as is and have it pro serviced over the off season.

In fly fishing, you cast the line rather than the lure so don't scrimp on the line. A 9' 5wt is a good all around started fly rod. If you will target bass specifically a 7 or 8wt might be better. All the reel does is hold the line so don't go overboard there. It's a good idea to talk to a fly shop staffer and consider a casting lesson or two.

That is the Yoke. A common mistake. To remember in the future, the beveled side goes down.

Getting the hang of the Walk-the-dog retrieve takes some practice and is a necessity for those to work. The Rage Toad, Pop-R and Jitterbug are hard to work wrong. Also, resist the urge to set the hook on a blowup. Wait until you feel the fish, then set the hook. Early, late and overcast days are prime for topwater action but it can last all day.

And they're not good for you either. Probably not as much of a concern doing one here or there but I'm constantly exposed to these things and need to take precautions.

Yup, they come off just hard enough to make you second guess yourself. R.M.'s suggestion is right on.

The down side of the urethane is it's hard to store. If air is left in the container as you use product the moisture causes the remainder to set up.

"Whippy" in my mind's eye is a slow action low resonance rod. A fast or XF high modulus graphite rod with a ML description probably won't be described as whippy at all. 3/4 football heads vertically jigged with a rod like this I can see, but casting or dragging bottom....?

The jig/plastics rod will do a good job on the spinner baits. A top water rod should have a softer tip (not to be confused with slower action) imo.

Stripped to the frame, degreased, scrubbed, rinsed, inspected for wear, bearings flushed, everything properly lubed and reassembled. I offer this service for $22 and extend a discount of 10% to members here.

There are many, many threads that will be revealed through a search. As close as you'll come to a consensus between myself and other reel techs. is to soak them in Perfect Solution (similar to Simple Green & available at Lowes) and rinse with hot water. Repeat as necessary until solvent stays clear. Dry thoroughly, apply 1 small drop of light oil to races.

I find each reel (or anything mechanical for that matter) will have its own personality. I suggest fishing a new reel hard right out of the box to rule out any issues covered by warranty. At the end of the season have a deep cleaning performed and service annually or as use conditions dictate.

Boat launch mishaps rival skateboards as far as epic fail videos on You Tube go.

So what if he does? If most people had any clue of how many hours it takes to get 24 minutes of useable film they'd be the humbled ones. A friend of mine runs a small production company and filming isn't cheap or easy. It just makes good business sense to film in a location that minimizes time, interruptions etc. Most of the theories apply to waters of any size. Personally, I like Bill and his show for the most part.

Welcome! I'm also in CNY, Mohawk Valley specifically.

Welcome. You have a great water in the Delaware River. Lots of good small waters too. I lived in Pike County PA and fished in Sussex County NJ.

Welcome to the boards. You have lots of good water out there and a number of forum members nearby. Enjoy and stay safe.

Looks like the love child of a double fluke rig and an A-rig. Swimming in open water should be OK.

I fish these like a Senko where I want just a little more weight. Cast, let fall on semi-slack line, let it soak a bit, small drag if no bite, reel in and recast. They are also good pitched into holes in the weeds when you want a little slower fall than a jig or t-rig. The weight and profile make a them skip a long way as well.

It's new enough, return it.

No. The line rating just shows you line capacity at that diameter.