Tywithay

After I get done wading the river, I'll flush it with some fresh water, much like the salt guys do. It's just to get some of the loose debris off of it. If the internals are well-greased, most of the water will just bead off everything. If mine sits in the sand, or on the bottom of a river, I'll break it down and clean everything. Sand in the gears can wear the teeth and make it sloppy over time.

Is the brake race dry?

You can have 100 rods, as long as no more than two are in the water. Kansas has identical regulations.

The Metanium XG has a 96mm handle that feels great on the Curado 70. The tackletrap carries them.

I have both and prefer the MGL. I like the Hyper Mag a lot, but I feel like they concentrated too much on just making it super light, rather than on performance. The MGL feels smoother and casts with less effort. Unless you're putting it on some sub-3oz rod, trying to get as light as possible, I'd opt for the Chronarch.

What kind of reel?

Why does Daiwa insist on using a gallon of loctite on their knob screws? It's a pain...

6' Shimano Clarus UL. I have more expensive rods, but that one just feels perfect.

At least your monkey likes Fuegos. Mine got a brand new Steez A TW.

I'd email quantum, or just use a scale and measure them.

The Conquest are pretty much on par with the NRX, maybe even a little better overall. I certainly prefer the full handle and the guides. For the baits you're throwing, the 852 would be excellent. Or, snag a Conquest 842 from one of the places having a memorial sale and take some of the sting off. I think you'd be pleased with either.

If you buy the DX, you'll be wondering forever if the NRX would have been better. If you buy the NRX, you'll want another NRX.

You can buy knob bearings to replace to bushings. They're not expensive at all. I bought 50 on amazon for $15.

PMEMDAY It's only valid with certain sellers, but the Fuego is available. The one I used it's $69.95 with a free reel pouch, but the code knocks off 15%. Seller is triacetackle2016.

Fuego CT or Tatula CT. They're the best in that price range and I don't think anything else is really that close. You can get one for $59 with the ebay promo code right now.

I've always set up my MagZ reels to where the spool has a bit of wiggle. I like them to be as free as possible. I can't do that with a Shimano Svs infinity reel without issues. I think that's why I get an extra 10 yards or so with a Tatula over a Curado.

Is the inductor cup stuck? If it can't extend out, it won't reach the magnetic field.

Guide size doesn't matter nearly as much as guide height.

Rods aren't designed to bend in any direction. If you buy a blank, you can pretty much put the guides on whichever side you want and it'll work.

Have you opened the sideplate to make sure the centrifugal brakes are not all engaged? That would definitely choke a cast.

MagZ is one of the easiest braking systems to use, in my opinion. I think you'd be pleased.

I've used it a number of times. Adam is pretty fair in his appraisals. It's a decent deal, if you have several items. I wouldn't trade a single rod or reel, but if you can bunch 5 or 10 together, the shipping per item is nominal.

I'm not allowed to really talk about this rod, but I got it a couple weeks ago, and I have been loving it. It's a 6'6" ML/F with a Daiwa Luvias 2000H, spooled with 6lb Tatsu. I found the rod on sale for $129 and figured I would give it a try. I would be happy with it even if I paid the $175 retail, at this point. It balances right where the plastic meets the cork on the locking foregrip. It feels pretty much perfect in hand.

I've had zero issues using 8lb fluoro on my 2500 sized reels, which are roughly a 30/35 in Pflueger's lineup. For 1500/25 sized reels, I don't ever go anything higher than 6lb diameter, and typically use 4lb. The spool diameter is not really wide enough to handle much heavier line.

I've had my fair share of heartbreaks, but I've also been surprised more than once by how well a line held up. Just this past Saturday I caught a 27lb carp on 6lb Tatsu while I was crappie fishing. Took me over 30 minutes and I have no clue how it didn't wrap me around something, but it held strong. I don't use braid, so sometimes you just have to take a loss.