Tywithay

I've upgraded all of mine as well. Have three with Abec7s and one with Abec5s. Added knob bearings to them as well. They're fantastic reels out of the box, but for $20-$25, a set of bearings sure makes them even that much better. Great tutorial video, should be very helpful.

I prefer the CI4+ over the Revo Premier, personally. They're both equally smooth, but I think the CI4+ palms a little nicer and casts better. It can especially cast lighter weights better. I think a lot of it is due to the SVS Infinity casting system, it's one of the best I've come across thus far, only rivaled by the Mag3d and DC. The IVCB on the new Premier just isn't up to the same standards for me. I didn't care for it on the MGX and it's no better on the Premier. The Gen2 Premier was a better reel than the Gen3, in my opinion; the CI4+ is a better reel than both of those. The tolerances of the CI4+ feel tighter than the Premier as well, probably has something to do with being made in Japan.

I have just seen the one instance of grooving on the Tatula and I don't trust its legitimacy, to be honest. The pictures didn't look like grooving from line to me. I have 4 Tatula's with various types of line and have not had a single issue with any of them.

The taper on the Premiers seems more precise to me, especially in the longer, heavier action rods. For instance, a 7'6" Heavy Mojo looks like a tree trunk compared to a similar Premier.

Have one that's 7' and another that's 7'1". I have used a 7'6" in the past, but I feel like I have more control of the rod with a shorter one.

Bought a Tatula the day they came out...now I have 4 (2 100H, 100p, and a R100H). That should tell you what you need to know.

Pflueger President 6920 and Shimano 500s are the smallest I've seen.

If you prefer a split grip, but like the USA-made Premier, Cabelas has split grip Premiers exclusively.

I have some through the holes and others that are not, makes no difference.

You have to disassemble the frame. You cannot anodize all of the internal parts, so you remove them prior to anodizing.

I don't think that's too out of line. A lot of Quantum, Pflueger, Lews, Shimano, etc. are all priced $40-$50 below retail on Ebay. I don't know if the Tatula has a good resale or not, because very few people sell them after they get their hands on them.

Straight fluoro for me. I like having the slack line sensitivity, if needed.

I personally prefer mono for everything you mentioned, except for the jigs. Those other baits I have found that the stretch of mono helps the fish get an extra bit of time to inhale the bait, without ripping it from their mouth.

It's on the underside, towards the front of the reel.

They may not necessarily hurt your line, but they aren't good for it. Anytime you're applying friction to your line, you're doing slight damage; especially with lines like fluorocarbon, which has poor abrasion resistance when dry. As far as the hardness list above, I also saw Mattman say he once took a file to a SiC guide and couldn't even scratch it. It's some tough stuff.

They claim it's for weight savings, and no insert to fall out or crack. In reality, they're just being cheap. They're the same guides used on $40 Berkley rods and really have no business on a $100+ rod. Recoils aren't much better, but do have some better properties. They're essentially indestructible, plus they're titanium. Definitely an upgrade over insertless stainless steel, though not as good as a quality ceramic.

The new Tatula rod is one of the best I've used, for the price. I wasn't at all impressed by the Fenwick Elite Tech. I ended up returning mine shortly after buying it. I would look for a used Stradic FJ in excellent condition, they go for $100-$110 all the time. I would not ever recommend the Lews spinning reels, they didn't feel good to me at all.

They're not good on your line, in my opinion. Also very noisy if you ever choose to use braid.

I don't drink, don't smoke, don't hunt, or collect anything. I choose to spend my money on fishing. If someone thinks that's dumb...I don't give two squirts of duck dung. I get more excitement feeling the bite on my $575 rod than I did getting lucky with an ugly stik.

It's a saltwater rod, but it's very similar to the Premier rods, with more corrosion resistant guides. It's not overly sensitive for bottom contact, but could be used for that, frogs, or big moving baits.

$179.99 is the word on the street.

I use 12lb shooter for its lack of stretch and abrasion resistance. If you're using a glass or moderate rod, mono gets a bit too stretchy for me and it's hard to get a solid hookset. Braid and mono also float so they kind of drag on the lure.

The new Conquest has a much lower capacity than the JDM Calcutta 100. It may have the reel foot more recessed.

The Calcutta D is nearly $400, the DC is $529, pretty decent progression in price ranges. I can't see the need for another $450, or $500 Calcutta.

The Scorpion and the Chronarch CI4+ show a Yumeya symbol as well. Hoping they'll be producing aftermarket parts for those reels in the future.