Capt.Bob

I am not brand loyal, I am loyal to the brand that offers the most and takes care of their customers the best. After nearly 50 years trying and using everything out there and working with most Customer Service Dept, of most,,,,,,,there are a few I would never buy again!! Most have been great and if they offered anything special I would try it in an instant. I don't buy anything anymore just because the price is cheaper. The product has to be better, my 3 sons are raised and have been gone for some time now and it's time to smell the roses. There are Exceptions,,,,, St. Croix would be the only rod company I would turn to for a few reasons,,,,no one offers more variety for any situation, if I wanted a rod they don't make, I assure you they a have a blank to cover that, and I have a very good custom builder that makes owning the best available very inexpensive, then there is their CS,,,,,,none better anywhere,,,,,,plus no one offers more options to upgrade or replace there older models, and I have used most everything out their and found nothing more durable with close to the same sensitivity!!! Reels for almost 25 I have found no one offering more for close to the same money than Shimano, a little over 2 years ago, I found what,,,,I feel was more reel for less money after trying a couple new low profile baitcasters, when it comes to spinning gear, many seem close when new but 4 or 5 years down the road, the difference is obvious, if that changes I will, but right now there are none.

I had one, it's gone, made of the same material as the Avid, W/ different components, 5 year warranty, and Mexican Labor,,,,I'll gladly give 30 bucks more for an Avid, better components,,,,,,,,,,lifetime warranty,,,,,,,,MADE IN THE USA!!!! JMP

Free spinning spools are simply a useless example of casting efficiency!!! PERIOD!! I have heard others claim ceramic is possibly a saltwater situation advantage, and only because of corrosion. I disagree If you run it dry it is more likely to have issues with corrosion, and if oiled,,,,,,well SS with the same abec rating of the same quality, properly lubed, is just as good. Excellent information, these are reel world facts!!! I have Used many different bearings from multiple suppliers and the Orange Seal is the LEAST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! Most expensive and unless you run them noisy and dry, they are no better than a properly lubed abec 7 SS from Boca or other top manufacturer, Boca's abec "5 or 7" is a great bearing for casting reels, and they make an excellent bearing and none back their product better. I suggest The SS abec 7 SS for the best possible setups with noise and smooth effortless speed. The difference in an abac 5 and abec 7 is very very minimal if noticeable to most in a baitcasting reel! When I tune reels for customers, I suggest a good abec 7 stainles bearing, best bang for the buck, quiet, smooth, and capable of any rpm's a fishing reel can obtain during a cast. If you buy a quality abec 5 most won't notice a difference in it when properly lubed (for your climate!!) over an abec 7, and if using the 7 without proper lube the 5 will outperform it. I try and discourage my customers from using the Orange Seal ceramic's, as they are usually no better than the 7's if lubed, and most dont like the noise when ran dry!!! With that said, anyone who is not a EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED,,,, and,,,, a near PERFECT CASTER,,,,, will usually loose casting distance and increase birds nest's!! Most will benefit from what the Pro's above have recommended, Clean, Flush,,,,, PROPER LUBE, and reinstall!!! once you have mastered casting without backlashing your reel, and can do this without using brake's,,,,, then upgrading might pay off. But usually if you can't control the reel without brakes and get reasonably as good a distance as with breaks and backlashing, higher grade bearings and supertuning will cause most to do as said above,,,,,,,turn on more breaks to control what your thumb should be controling, and actually either loosing distance and getting frustrated trying to control the spool,,,,or spending more time removing backlashes!! Clean and proper lube you factory bearings first, then when you have become extremely efficient, spend a few buck's on upgrades and see the small benefit in distance and big benefit in effortless accuracy!!! my .02!!

X2 on Calcutta, 400B for about the same money. I have used them for Pike and Muskie and they are more than you need for these species!

Right at 3 bills,,,,,St. Croix 6' Avid with Stradic 1000FJ but this is my Crappie rig would work for small Smallies, Lake Erie will make you broken hearted with that setup 90% of the time. 6 and 7 pounders are in need of a little stouter rod,,,,I like a Light action. Go with a St. Croix Premier and a Shimano Sedona and your at about half that price,,,,,,,,and very very good setup for around $150.00 or less, and hard to beat, but I would up the action to Light for Smallies!

Finesse Medium,,,,,,, heavier c rigg MH, but finesse means light rigs usually to weightless, for me that's Medium to Medium Light, if only one rod for all light finesse presentations,,,,,,,,Medium.

Yep like others said, you wont get a solid pick over the other, the Lew's is my choice because of more features, better drag, not only centrifugal, but mag braking also, and a smoother reel with smaller profile for palming. Both will give you good service.

Ya,,,, reality is kinda scarey aint it!

I have used braid on every reel I own for decades, I have never had a worn guide or eye on any rod or reel, maybe if your using it on super cheap equipment that could happen, but I doubt it as that kind of equipment usualy is broken or has failures before anything can wear out. Just my own personal experience with braid.

Thinking like this is exactly what I was referring to, in such a short time they all have it figured out,,,,,, I've figured a little of that out in my nearly 59 years myself.

I do find it sad that feeling imports from anywhere are so acceptable these days, sadly they are becoming preferred, I just don't get it???

Unfortunately even if you spend the money for the splice at that part of the blank, it's going to change the tips action enough it will be a different rod, If you want to salvage the rod splicing or shortening are both viable options, but it will not be the same action it was, the shorten route is what I would do, A couple bucks for a new tip and see if it will work for ya. Good Luck

x2 on the line roller bearing, this is the most used and abused bearing on the spinning reels. I would venture to say the reason it has such a high failure rate, is very few ever service it, and the amount of pressure put on it with it's "necessarily" small size. This tiny bearing by itself takes the approximate same pressure the much larger spool bearings do on retrieval, and at a much higher rpm when bringing in line, I have no idea how you would compare the pressure when retrieving a large fish but I can be safe in saying a great deal more than the spool bearings on the baitcast reels most are are familiar with, regardless of the type of line being used.

xxxxxx no doubt MH/F

The centrifugal is more aggressive, but I like dual, I use the mag for wind, if you have a good brake whether Mag or Centrifugal, it will do a good job. I like the most choice when I can have it.

th your either not throwing it hard enough, or throwing the wrong side at it, the handles have to hit it, the palming plate wont stick no matter how hard you throw it!! JFYI

The other thing I see Lew's needs, is to recognize lefty's more,,,,with every model they own. I love their small size, but that is something else that separates any reel from being for everyone, how any equipment feels in your hand is big, and one thing I noticed about their BB1, by getting the line guide out away from the spool farther and reducing line friction at pay out, the stretched frame would not feel as nice to me working a Carolina rig, as my Team Gold, or TP, but I do like it for constant retrieve with cranks and spinnerbaits, they made great headway offering different frame reels this past year with the BB1 and Super Duty, it will apeal to some that don't care for the feel of the smaller framed reels, I was expecting opening up more options for lefties this year,,,,, hopefully they will include reels for more users next year???? time will tell.

OOPS! there goes another one,,,, Only LEWSer, is you if your still paying double for the quality you get with the Lew's,,,,more and more are finding out the Lew's delivers the performance and quality that others charge twice as much for.,,,,,been there done that!! over 90% of those who have tried one after using any of the big names reels agree, they offer a reel for every budget, and a reel to compare with anything the competition offers, but charge less than 1/2 for the same quality. Hard to find anything better than a Team Gold or Pro Gold for bass applications, and I have been there, you won't regret it.

WHAT, this has to be the biggest typing error I have ever witnessed!!!! There are advantages to both types of reels, to say one has no advantage over the other would show a lack of knowledge on the subject as both have huge advantages for different applications, and most Pro's are well aware of them. I personally would never be without both. I as others with experience with both have said, prefer spinning tackle for finesse fishing when very light slow presentations that require the utmost sensitivity are being used. I think it is easier and more natural for that type of fishing. I also prefer spinning for most fishing targeting small trout, panfish, perch, and when fishing for bait, creek Chub's, and small fish, it's a lot more fun than seining them, I am talking 3" to 10" minnows, do that with a baitcaster and see how much advantage there is over a spinning reel. Like others I also think there is an advantage to using baitcast equipment, like anytime I am throwing and working crannkbaits, for me it is much more comfortable and eaier to change speeds and retrieve these harder dragging lures on the baitcasting reel. I also like them for heavier jig's and plastic's in heavy cover, and when fishing live bait on weighted bottom rig's, these are usually times when we encounter a lot more drag and hangup's and require a lot more heavy pulling and the use of the heavier lines, it is easier for me to use the baitcaster in these situations, I also prefer them for throwing the heavier lures, anything over 1 oz. continuous I feel more comfort in using baitact equipment over spinning. It is obvious that one could use either type for any of those application's, but there are advantages to being efficient with both. Most farmers know they could plant a 100 acre field with a garden tractor, or mow the lawn with their farm tractor, but all of them I have ever seen know the advantages of using both types of tractors and own both and take advantage of the convenience of each! I would like to point out the HUGE difference in a baitcast reel available in 1950,,, and one available today,,,,,there is a huge difference has no valid comparison to today's reel's Snook, and if I had to use what they called a baitcaster back then I would use nothing but spinning also, today they can outcast a spinning reel in many situations, and they found a way to make them payout line and revolve the spool without the handles turning. If you haven't tried one in the last half century, you would be amazed at what baitcasting reels have evolved into, if you try one of today's, you may even want one or two to go with all that spinning gear!!!!! many are even smoother than spinning reels!!

You can set your mag anywhere you want and it won't affect your fall, the fall is set with the tension knob under the drag star the cap at the end of the spool axle. the mag is set to stop most backlashes at the mid part of your cast, and if you have centrifugal this is used to aid the start of the cast, and the thumb is what makes it all work right!!!! You should checkout the third thread down on this forum, "How To Set UP A Baitcaster"

Ya but now he's got a good reel to put on his,, for about 60 bucks more, hell of a deal!!!

This is exactly what 90% of all complaints about fishing equipment is all about!!! You nailed it, so many think experience skill and knowledge, come from buying more expensive equipment, or watching more TV!!!! That is the case with many today, and it usually does no good to tell them because they seen IKE, or KV, or who knows who do it, so they tell you your an idiot for telling them something,,,,,,,,,the new millennium!!! what happened to been there done that!! or oh sh!* that was my fault???

The older I get the more it matters! These eye's aint what they used to be!! I tie the same thing on the other end regardless of color,,,,,,a leader!

we all been there or someday will,,,,,,just have the Schematic under your pillow!!

it's about,,,,,well I won't even go there this thread is hilarious,,,,wasn't designed to be a 199 dollar reel,,,,the Impala wasn't designed to be a 5000 dollar car let alone 30,000 dollars, maybe they should downgrade it to Vega quality but still call it an Impala,,,,hell it's still a Chevy,