shackman

X2

Just like Phish said, it’s just the nature of the beast. I’ve got metanium’s that became geary just after a few outings so higher end reels become geary too. I do feel like higher speed reels seem to become geary faster, anyone else relate to that?

30-50# braid on most of my Shimano bait casters, 10# pound on my Stradic. with 10,12,15 and 20# big game tied with an fg knot for yrs now with very minimal failure. I highly recommend learning the fg knot if you’re going the braid to leader route. Tie it over and over and over till you master it. Now can tie it in 2-3 minutes in any kind of conditions but it was definitely a learning curve. It’s also easy to break off when hung by wrapping braid around some type of handle, I use a wooden dowel. Most of the time leader knot will remain intact and will break at bait knot. Well this is the method I personally prefer anyway, but to each their own.

I do service my own reels but have never had a need to go into these yet. The higher gear ratio Mets do seem to have a little bit of whine to them than the lower gear ratio ones but it’s a very faint whine and does not bother me as long as they perform well and I’ve never had a problem out of any of my micro module gear Shimano’s. Just a faint whine in a few but other than that, all is good

X2..I’ve got 4 of em. Light, smooth and casts light baits if needed. Been Fish’n em hard for 4 yrs now and I don’t think they can be beat!

X2, I’ve got 8 of them that’s still going

Abu definitely had some unique innovations back in that era. I remember the reel with the orbital gearing system and one of the XLT models that when you disengaged the clutch to make a cast, the line guide would stay stationary and you had to rotate the handle until each side of the line guide had to lock into place before line guide would move again. It was very interesting concept and it brings back a lot of memories.

Expride A 7’3” XH is all I use for frogging and I’ve had it doubled over many times in the slop. It’s one tough, light weight rod that you can frog fish all day long with minimal fatigue. Also use it with a heavy jig and swim baits. It’s a beast of a rod!

I don’t have any St Croix rods but have several Zodias, old style and new and I like them pretty well

Centrifugal brake Shimano's is all I use. Set em and forget em

I use 30/40 braid with 15# leader with fg knot on casting reels for tx rig and jig and have never had a problem. When I used to Ty the Alberto with leader, I always blew the connection knot and had to Ty new leader everytime. I can break off 2/3 times with the fg and always still have a leader to ty on and get back to Fish’n.

I also use an expride A 7’2” mh with braid to leader. 50lb pp super slick with a 6’ 15# CXX leader with no problems

For years a Uni knot with 5 wraps is all I Ty on all lines. Braid,fluro, mono..never had a knot fail and can Ty it in the dark.

Me either Catt. Too slick, can’t grip em. Any EVA rods I have gets heat shrink tubing over it.

I’d get the metanium mgl..smooth as silk, lightweight, very comfortable to palm and casts great. I’ve ordered 2 off of digitaka with no problems. Took about a week to receive them.