Delaware Valley Tackle

Mick, the idea is make the reel as efficient as possible making casting easier and thus more accurate. The difference you notice depends on what you're starting with. The reels you use may not even be something that would benefit from Super Tunning at all.

The idea is to just polish up the surfaces, not to alter the shape at all. You should always use a trusted source for all your reel service. As far as a reel becoming hard to handle, fine tuning can be done with various oil viscosities.

Ya it sounds like the AR clutch needs cleaning. If the reel is two years old and never been apart it would probably benefit from a full service ($16.20 for forum members) which includes servicing the AR.

I like a short rod and short handle for tip down twitchin'. Tou don't need the extra casting distance for shallow cranks to achieve their optimal depth so a shorter rod should be fine there to.

Welcome Tate! For your first post, please consider sharing how you got a 19yr old on his own! ;D I've got a 21yr old that just came back home.

The older Chronarch is probably a more refined reel than the new reels in that price range. I just wanted to give you something to compare to. If you go with the Chronarch, I'll go through it for you.

I can see flouro needing a little more braking and thumb since it is stiffer than mono so a lure of the same weight may not pull the line as easily. KVD Line & Lure and making sure the line is not spooled loosely couple other things that may help. I've gone to braid w/backing on pretty much everything with an appropriate leader where conditions dictate.

My line spools are mounted on a mandrel with spinning line coming off the bottom of ythe spool and baitcasting line coming off the top. Just pay attention when spooling line. If it's not going on properly the coils will be apparent and you can adjust accordingly.

$100 is about the going rate for that reel. They were a nice reel new still fishable if in decent shape. There are a number of choices though for new reels at that price point. Citica and BPS Pro Qualifier for starters.

x2 on the Avid. Makes a great drop-shot rod as well.

I've heard the numbers run that concluded that every man, woman and child on earth could be put in 2000 square ft homes for every 4 people and the houses would cover an area equal in size to the state of Texas. Leaving the rest of the planet for food, water, .... Granted a substantial amount of that area is either water or desert but I think the point is still valid.

The ends of the shaft are polished carefully to give them a glass like finish without altering their convex shape. The shaft and pinion are just tight enough to avoid sloppiness. The contact is minimal but it does exist. Polishing these contact points allows the most free spin possible, again without altering the actual shape.

I'm not a fan of the lube port. The best way to lube something is to disassemble, clean and relube. I think Jfrancho's point can apply to baitcasters to some degree as well. Although to a large extent they share basic engineering, there are plenty of "Gotch ya's" that are unique to certain models and brands.

You're absolutely right. Super Tuning should NEVER include altering the part of the spool shaft that rides in a bearing. We polish the spool shaft ends and the section that spins inside the pinion gear. Also polished are the pinion gear itself, spool tention shims, cetrifugal brake drum and metal drag washers.

Kits are handy for first time builders. You can call Mudhole and speak with Bob McKamey to talk about the blank and what you want it to do. It's not the same as handling it but next best thing. No need to invest in a motorized drier. You can always do that down the road if you continue building. The MHX blanks are among my favorites and the recommended applications and specs are pretty close to reality.

The washers are added to the spool shaft to make the line wind on evenly. The reel should not need lubing prior to use. There is a lube port that should be identified in the paper work. I strongly recommend having the reel torn down, cleaned and lubed at least annually rather than rely on the lube port.

Personally, I don't own a reel with a flipping switch. They are a personal preference, certainly not mandatory. What I refer to as flipping, I do with a fixed length of line and the clutch engaged. Pitching requires some free spool.

I don't see water causing a drag to not work properly. I'll be happy to take a look at it if you'd like. Mike

These reels are too often overlooked IMO. My deep crank-bait setup is a 7'6" Lami Custom with a 4600 c3.

Decline in what aspect? A little TLC might make it good as new again if not better.

If worse comes to worse, you can put a new tip top on and never miss the inch that's missing. There are multiple good reasons to support local businesses and I often spend a little more than I have to in doing so. However, it's not always critical that a retailer have a brick & mortar store to be trustworthy.

Something else to consider, a less than full spool doesn't cast as well. If you are needing to re-tie that often you may want to consider different line/leader combinations. This would give you more fishing time as well.

The Revo and Pflueger are both Pure Fishing products and share many of the same parts and engineering. The only difference would be model features. As far as drags are concerned, 10 lbs is plenty for bass fishing. A smooth, adjustable drag is what I'd look at in comparing reels. The drags function is protect the line rod and reel from the stresses encountered fighting fish. It also helps in "playing" the fish. This is more of a factor with larger, harder running species than bass.

I work at being able to skip with a variety of rigs, but if I know I want to specifically present the bait that way I opt for spinning tackle just because it's easier. A fast action accelerates the bait better to get it moving across the water.

I feel a little faster reel to take up line quickly helps in heavy cover. This puts the rod to work which is your main fish fighting tool. If you have the drag on lock-down and are using the reel like a winch to horse 5lbs of pulling fish along with untold lbs of vegetation, you're looking to break something regardless of ratio. There's no reason to be afraid to fish a 6.4:1 reel here however. Don't make a mtn. out of a mole hill.