TorqueConverter

Jeff H, is it confirmed or just suspected that the current ZX it is not magforce z. That spool sure looks like it could be.

They're Daiwa designs. Could you do me a favor and remove the non handle side plate and pull on the metal cylinder (inductor) on the side of the spool. Is it fixed to the spool or does it pull out then pop back in spring loaded? I'm trying to determine if these reel are magforce or magforce z.

I believe those are Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), meaning that they are/were products specifically tailored for the Japanese market, because they have large mouth bass too, as well the the world record. I don't believe they are Japanese built, but rather Korean built and marketed towards the Japanese market. Generally speaking the Japanese favor, light weight and low capacity, easily spun spools on their baitcasters to fit their finessful approach to bass fishing. This might pain some people's buttox, but you're better off with a Shimano or Daiwa than any of those.

Everybody is going to draw their own meaning from that definition, but what I take home from it is importance. It's one thing to be the most expensive or most prestigious but the most important is the clincher for me when naming something a flagship. For example BPS may have more prestigious reels than the Pro Qualifier but it is their flagship, IMO, because of the importance of the reel. It's a back to back volume seller, a sale leader at the $99 price point and what could be, if they played their cards correctly, which they don't, a bridge into higher end BPS reels to establish a following. Admittedly you can replace the words "flagship" with "workhorse" and the argument is unchanged. This thread is dumb and so am I for postan in it.

If you are looking for a contemporary round, made in Sweden reel, look at the Abu Morrum. I hear it's not too big to use as a low profile bass reel. What you described with your firearms sounds a lot like "super tuning" a fishing reel. The Japanese reels such as Daiwa and Shimano respond well to super tuning and have an abundance of factory and aftermarket JDM parts available to hot rod your reel. Until some Steve Jobs like savior steps up in America, your best option for a low profile bass type reel is with a Japanese reel from Shimano or Daiwa because, quite frankly, the only other options are generic OEM Korean reels, AKA the Hyundai/Kia of reels.

They are Korean reels badged as Pflugers. They not just made there, but the patents, design and everything else is Korean. If you could scrape up the cash for a minimum order you too could have your own line of Korean OEM reels badged as John Smiths. They're still good reels but they are competing against other Korean reels, often from the same OEM, such as Lews, Abu and BPS. I'd rather have the Lews branded ones myself. Pics are Korean Doyo reels

Lots of reasons. 4 carrier braid such as regular Power Pro that has been the gold standard of braid for a number of years has dig in problems below #50. IMO a lot of guys out there tie knots with braid that are prone to becoming untied when the spool suddenly stops resulting in what is called "mysterious break offs". The conclusion that the consensus have drawn is that braid breaks easily when spool stoppage occurs and increasing braid to higher pound test solves this problem. IMO it's a bit more than a coincidence that these higher pound tests have greater knot strength. An 8 carrier #30 is going to out preform #60 in every way except that it will fail sooner than #60 due to the smaller diameter and break strength being more adversely affected by abrasion, although you shouldn't be expecting the two lines to fail at the same criteria no more than I would expect a #10 and #20 mono to behave the same. IMO start with an 8 carrier #30 and go up from there if the stuff is becoming adversely affected by abrasion and wear more quickly than you like. If you want to cut to the chase, then #40 is a nice compromise

Are American brand reels that are actually badge engineered Korean reels ok? I'm guessing not, so a made in Japan Shimano is and easy answer. You really aught to take a look at the *** reels. While they are manufactured in Korea, they are proprietary *** designs and NOT some badge engineered Korean OEM product. I wish they were American made, but they are a breath of fresh air and a step in the right direction IMO. My next reel will be a *** ***.

I think he has a difference in opinion as to what "flagship" means. I almost want to agree with him because I do believe that a product must also sell well, in addition to other things, to be considered a flagship, but he hasn't exactly laid out a well presented argument as to what his definition of flagship is and why he feels that the reels in question are flagship in this Quantum thread.

Powell Diesel Glass. Don't worry about the MH power rating or fastness in its action because it's made from fiberglass and this apparently endows the blank with some sort of crankbait magic.

I forgot in all the silliness, that I own a few Quantums. I've got a 1st gen Accurist, some sort of weird blue Code KVD reel and a current gen Accurist PT. They haven't been bad reels to me and I actually like the Accurist PT a little more than my BPS Pro Qualifier. It looks a lot better sitting on a Veritas too. Quantum reels in the $99 - $120 range are definitely worth a look. Why aren't they more popular? Any post on "best $100 reel" is blanked with BPS PQ recommendations. This has a tendency to push a lot of people over to the PQ and then this generates additional blanket responses for future "best $100 reel" threads. Once hegemony begins it's hard for outsiders to break in. It doesn't help that Quantum is constantly changing their reels, sometimes just for the sake of changing. Really, how many Accurists have their been in the past 7 years?

Flagship is a tricky subject. If there is such things as Halo reels then the Steez would be Daiwa's Halo reel for example, and "Flagship" would be reserved for reels that are the most well rounded, including MSRP. "Halo" as I've seen it used in the automotive industry, is reserved for high end products that are sold at a loss to convey a image about the brand name. The Lexus LSF is sold at a loss to pimp an image of Lexus cars as being sporty and hip at millennials, for example. My point in the mindless rant, if I have one, is that halo reels don't exist and flagship is probably best reserved for a companies higher end reels. In any case, the KVD reels are no flagship and are a modern product built to cash in on KVD's household name status. I guess historically the Energy would be their flagship in the past with the Exo/Smoke being their flagship reels today.

There is only one right answer. BPS Cranking Stick on sale for $60. They're not on sale right now, so you will have to do wait until they go on sale or fork out the extra $20 to get one sooner, rather than later.

I hope they call it A Rod Named Slickback because then it truly would be pimpcraptastic

These baits are "bait bonanza"models, as in value versions, of Pradco stuff. I've used the BB Super Spot and Wiggle O. They're alright, but inferior to their regular counterparts with the Super Spot having a different shape, sound, tighter wiggle and brittle plastic. The BB Super Spot is a fish catcher, so I guess it's the best $1.97 normal retail lipless around.

What is happening is that they appear to be on some sort of a "sale". Strange.

The Extreme is a nice rod, but they're tip heavy. I'd take a look at the Powell Diesel rods or even the white micro guide Bionic Blades too.

Material: Fiberglass Power: MH Action: Fast to extra fast Ratio: 6X:1 Line: #30 braid

I would save my money and look for something else. I already have a PQ and I don't want another one. Not because I think it's a bad reel, but because there are a lot of reels to be had for a little more, such as the Tatula that I have more interest in. I purchased my PQ at the BPS spring classic this year. I can't imagine older models being any better unless they were Korean built Doyos in stead of a Chinese built Doyo we see today.

Braid for everything all day every day until the end of days.

I think Wall Booger is spot on although he rants on about the Zillion as if it has some relevance to a PQ review. The PQ is an old dog but it's also not a flash in the pan. The fair rating is appropriate IMO.

Only one way to find out. It a super smooth 8 carrier so maybe it won't be as bad?

You may already know this, but the reel has dual braking. There is a 6 pin centrifugal brake accessible by removing the non-handle side plate. It off by default and can be engaged by turning the dial so that the red dot indicator is above one of the 6 numbers with the chosen number indicating the quantity of centrifugal brakes engaged. 4 is a good place to start and you should definitely not need to tighten the CC knob all the way.

The right cast will make or break your ability to skip. I've had some awesome casts that sent the bait skipping for miles and barely required me to touch the spool and other casts that were.... nightmares. If it helps I use a 4 centrifugal brakes and a high mag brakes setting with low spool tension. It's the same settings I use when target casting, beating the bank. I really think you should crank up your breaking and mechanical tension on the reel just to get some time in skipping even if the distance is short. One you figure out the casting technique then you should back off on the brakes and tension.

Fluorocarbon line pulling your crankbait down and making it dive deeper than rated because the line sinks, is a myth until proven otherwise. Invisible pulls baits down like lead core burns knots The stuff is magic!