poisonokie

What rod are you mounting this on again? Tatulas are on the heavy/large frame side, but they are built to last. If your rod is tip heavy, it will balance better. That's why it pairs well with the tatula rods. They are a bit tip heavy, but are very light overall, so if you go that route you wind up with a setup of equal weight. Also, the reel seat is more low profile, if that makes sense, so combined with the larger frame of the reel it makes for a comparable feel to other setups with lower profile reels with less substantial reel seats. ie a tatula will feel a bit bigger and potentially more cumbersome on an ACS reel seat than it will on a tatula/zillion/some gan craft type seats.

Well, while flipping that way you run into the issue of the handle, knob, and drag star snagging your line unless you pay complete attention to the way your left hand is holding the line, which is really a challenge when you get a bite, plus I think it detracts from your ability to pay attention to the business end of the line. That's why I don't really flip. I feel like I can get the Jo done with short pitches just fine, and if I really felt I needed to flip, I'd get a dedicated RH reel. As far as general pitching and casting is concerned, you have to change your grip either way. That's not why I reel left handed, though. The reel is just more comfortable in my right and I can steer fish around easier that way.

Oh, and then there's the clicking tension knob, but I wouldn't say that improves refinement necessarily due to the slight lack of adjustment precision.

I was referring to the SS. But that's okay, this is constructive. If there is in fact a bearing in each ss knob, where are the other two missing from? I get where they are located in a maxed out reel. I'm guessing one is under the spool tension knob. More important to me, though, is that the Ss and steez 6.3 share an aluminum gear. I had already mentioned the extra weight in the longer handle, knobs (~1/5 oz together), and the bearings, but I figured the steez sv might have brass gears in both models and that the 8.1 was heavier just because the gear was bigger. So there's yet another similarity. If the other missing bearing is on the pinion or drive shaft, that would explain the less geary feel of the ss, so swap that bushing out and boom, you get the feel back. It's the same reel. Just detuned. I've seen them go for $350 which puts in at just over $100 more than what an ss goes for, and maybe that's worth it to some for not having to tear down the reel, add bearings, and buy a longer handle if that suits their fancy, but they're stuck with those knobs unless they buy those

Lol, time to stop and grease those gears in your head. There must be smoke pouring out your ears. You are way overcomplicating this.

don't worry about the bearing count. The only places the tatula is missing bearings is on the wormshaft and one in each of the knobs. I say go with the tatula, because casting is very easy and it's harder to backlash, both due to the t line guide and the magforce z braking system, which is completely externally adjustable with no centrifugal pins to mess with.

Right, and it's pretty early for someone to have even purchased a steez sv, much less torn it down. I was just hoping someone had. If it has a multi washer drag stack like you proposed, I could see that adding to the cost, and I suppose a brass drive gear may as well, despite the added weight, as would four more bearings, even though that's miniscule. I just wish someone could tell me if there are 2 or 0 knob bearings. Even tackletour says it has no knob bearings and that it has one per knob in the same review, which obviously isn't possible unless Daiwa accidentally sent them a quantum mechanical model. Thanks for being the voice of reason among all the rabble, hogsticker.

*really, not realm

I cast two handed, so it's easy to make the small transition to retrieval mode because my left hand is holding the rod butt. My right never realm leaves the reel. And if you happen to be using a t3 you can easily reengage the reel in one fluid motion.

Braid is always a good idea, but if you neglect to tie on a couple feet of mono leader you'll have to untangle your line from your hooks after every other cast.

That's just due to the aluminum drive gear. Also, I think you're still taking about a steez ex, a $600 reel, vs a steez sv, a $400 reel.

That's a good idea for stowing those treble hooks. Guess I'll have to pocket a bunch of twist ties next time I'm in the produce section.

Those galantrels look awesome for sure. I'm thinking my flip stick will be perfect for one of those bad boys. It's getting to be that time of year, too. Hmmmm... You guys need to stop poking my bait monkey. It's becoming a 500# gorilla.

*to do is. Tondonis sounds like a game of thrones character.

Lol, I'm serious. You shouldn't really try to set the hook with trebles, anyway, but even if you start reeling or sweeping the rod to the side when the fish blows up on it all you'll manage tondonis pull the bait away.

Be patient, grasshopper.

Yup, that's my favorite hook keeper. I think they should just stop wrapping keepers on all rods because if they are ahead of the reel, your line gets caught in it. EZ keepers can be placed between the split grips so they're completely out of the way.

Yeah, I'm really curious about those nanoace rods. Probably comparable to a tatula for a little less, maybe a little heavier. There are two tatula spinning reels that are really light, xf action rods built just for dropshotting. One is 6'3" the other is 6'11". They are probably your best bet, but you won't likely find either shipped for $100.

They should've called it the Madam President

The hole is there because you have to push the rod through the tape, duh.

The ex is similar, but not identical like the sv. I'm not comparing it to the ex. Also, you placed "because they look the same" in quotes as if I said that. For the record, I did not.

Nice avatar, lol. That's brutal.

Not at all. As far as I'm concerned, you're doing it the only way that makes any sense at all. Except for flipping. If you're truly flipping, the handle, knobs, and dragstar can tangle up your line unless you hold the rod with your left. That's why I don't really flip and when I talk about it, I really mean short pitches with heavy baits. Welcome to the most expensive and time consuming hobby on the planet, by the way!

my point is that the steez sv is a poor comparison to a steez ex. As the vue said, its just the "type r" version of the SS. The Steez SV, like the SS, doesn't come with a cover or oil, and has the exact same frame shape and materials (Mg frame + Zaion sideplates)

Yeah, maybe, because the SS has a 4kg drag and the steez has 6kg or 13.2#. Then again, a t3 is rated at 13.2# and has a single disc. Either way, the steez may have a smoother drag. I hear the SS is pretty smooth, though.