Goose52

I think if it was the pinion gear...you'd feel the rough spot x times per handle revolution (x= 5.4, 6.4, 7.1). Since many of us are feeliing the roughness exactly once per handle revolution, it seems that the problem would be on the drive gear or another component on the crankshaft. I will eventually make the time to pop the hood on my rough one to see what I can see...

I have two of the JCLs - one has the rough spot (you feel it when putting some pressure on the spool) - the other reel does not. Barroncooper - good report - thanks. Did you by chance take a magnifying glass and check out the teeth on the drive gear for burrs or other problems with components on the drive shaft that would cause that roughness once per revolution? I had noticed those little phillips screws holding the palm side bearing as well. Looks like I need to invest in a high-quality phillips driver small enough to handle those little buggers...

I'm with you brother. It's not trivial to me - the hook keeper is one of the things that I look at first. Many rods are so close in performance nowadays that these types of features become even more important when considering purchases. The T-rig-type hook keeper should be on all new rods - it's a no brainer since it's so much more versitile than the "u"-type keeper. I was going to start a thread myself to vent about a certain hook keeper design and never got to it. I'll have to type something up here soon....

Not a lot of light-power factory BC rods out there. The only one that I personally own is a Phenix Recon PHX-C682 rated at 1/16 to 3/8 lure weight, 4-10lb line. The rod itself weighs 3.5oz, is 6'8", and retails for about $160. Phenix also offers a 7'1" light-power rod (PHX-C712) - same lure and line specs as the 6'8" rod - $170.

Light in weight? Or light power? And in either case, what length?

Yeah - ya got nothin' to lose - just sign up! AND, since this year there are separate categories for SMB, LMB, and Spotted, some of us won't even have to complete with Dwight...

To reserve a place at the table, I guess I'll say I'm in. However, the last couple years I've caught my biggest bass of the year in the winter...before the start of the contest...

I have transitioned over to using YZ Ultrasoft on nearly all my combos - both spinning and baitcast. I do run braid on a couple rigs and flouro on a couple rigs. Reasons were as stated above - good abrasion resistance, great strength-to-diameter, good enough on other line characteristics, and very cost effective. I mostly use 6lb on spinning and 10 pound on baitcast but also use 8lb as well. I've used the 6lb on spinning spool diameters as small as a Pflueger 25-size. I don't use any line conditioner on the US. I'm obviously committed to YZ as shown in the photo. Can't beat getting a 1lb spool of YZ-US (say - 5,800 yards of 10lb) for $25 plus shipping - about what some folks pay for 150 to 300 yards of flouro or braid...

Windy here too - 20mph with gusts past 25. Temp 37 degrees. Good news is no tornados today. Caught two little bass (15" and 10") from the bank this morning.

I don't throw light baits (<1/4oz) with either reel so I can't say if the CL is better. For a theoretical comparison, I do have the weight of the CL spool on file (18.3grams) but don't have the weight of either type of PQ spool (7.1/6.4 and 5.2/4.7) on file so can't look at that either. I would think that the CL spool probably is lighter than the PQ and theoretically the CL could be better with lighter baits. For 1/4oz or heavier - I think either would do.

Essentially the same performance. The CL is nearly 2 ounces lighter than the PQ. Some can detect a different "feel" to the CL due to the lighter weight and the duralumin main gear compared to the brass main gear in the PQ. I have 6 PQs and 2 CLs. If I was to start over today, I'd probably have 6 CLs and 2 PQs (in 4.7 and 5.2 ratios).

I got my two JM-CLs in the mail yesterday. One of them has the same thing - a rough spot every rotation. I'll have to make some time to "pop the hood" and check it out. Dry spot on maingear? Burrs on that spot on the maingear? Other? One year warranty but I hate having to mail stuff back...

I have the Phenix Recon PHX-C682 6'8" light-power BC rod (one power under yours) and it fishes a little bit stiffer than I was expecting for a light-power. If your Recon ML fishes as a true ML or a bit stiffer, you are probably OK for the 4" stickworms...but it's not going to work well for 1/2oz spinnerbaits (most of which actually weigh closer to 3/4oz). 1/8, 3/16, and maybe 1/4oz spinnerbaits go better with an ML IMO. An ML is a good tool to have in the arsenal but if you were looking for a more general purpose rod, an M or MH might be better.

I've got two 6.4 ratio reels inbound. One will go on a jig rod with 15lb flouro; the other is a spare for right now until I think of something to do with it. If I wasn't running the durability test on one of my 6.4 ratio PQs, the 2nd JM-CL would probably take it's place on my lipless crank rod with 10lb YZ. Perhaps the 2nd reel will replace a CL (first model) that's on my worm rod and if so it would have 12lb flouro. Have to think about it since right now, i have more reels than rods.

Thanks for posting - great video! What was interesting to me was Gary's opinion on what a rod warranty should be - one year and if you want, optional "insurance" for an additional fee. He was not in favor of the unconditional replacement warranty like that for the current Loomis rods. We had a recent thread on rod warrantys and I think Gary's opinion ties in well with what was discussed in that thread.

When fishing from the bank I usually have from 3 to 5 rods in the car. When I get to a lake, I pick two rods that are best for that water to take with me. One is in my hand, the other rod is carried with the handle stuck in my belt behind my back - tip vertical/angled to the left a bit (I'm right handed)...and always being aware of any overhead branches, etc. A homeowner on one of my lakes gave me the handle of "Chief Two Poles" since he never saw me fishing with a single rod...

I could have passed on the external adjustment for the centrifugals and would have preferred that they retained the DBS system of the earlier reels (RC, PL,PQ, CL). I can live with 2 but as with you, I occasionally only use 1 brake with some baits.

The lockwork is a bit different from the PQ and earlier CL and many parts will probably not interchange with the earlier models. On the "plastic" parts (are they really nylon or whatever?) it's interesting that some of them (like the pinion yoke) have been lightened by sorta honeycombing them - as compared to the solid parts on the PQ and earlier CL. Even on a part that light they were going for the weight savings. On the screws going into plastic - not good...but at least repairable if you strip them out.

Taking a better look at the photo - it looks like the JM-CL still has a thin bridge between the feet. But, like you say, lack of a bridge is probably not a big deal - it works for Daiwa!

Thanks for posting - I hadn't seen the reel from the bottom and didn't know about that split reel foot. I have two of these inbound - should have them in a day or two.

For those that haven't see one - here's the Mitchell 314 - from the 1964 Fisherman's Digest...

You bet - the 408/Conolon for me back then would be like a Shimano/Loomis combo today. I saved all my pennies for quite a while to get the Garcia combo and took great care of it. I had another spinning combo, and a spincast combo, that I used the most - the Garcia combo was the "princess" combo...

I still have one Mitchell 408 and one Conolon rod that I bought about 1966 or so. I fish them once or twice a year for fun but they go back on the rack after that. The 408 reel still fishes fine with my only complaints being the lack of a convenient manual close on the bail, and the clicking from the AR pawl and associated back-play that goes with it. The Conolon rod, a 6'6" light power, is just hopeless by modern standards...

But, but, but..............those aren't Daiwas! Who are you and what did you do with the real John Francho !

In addition to a potential issue with the knot for a leader, the micros will probably ice-up faster than regular guides if you fish in sub-freezing temps.