Steven Rea

I'm exchanging the rod I have tomorrow from the 2-10 oz range to a 1-6 oz range and hopefully I'll get some better results. I'm thinking the rod I have now is just too stiff for what I need it to do. I'm throwing baits from 2-4 oz, nothing higher.

The 400B or the 400D? I have a 300D that I use for frogs/swim jigs/crankbaits, and I LOVE it. I haven't owned a 400B, so I wouldn't know the difference between the two.

Also, have/do any of you guys own any Shimano Calcutta reels? What's your opinion on it versus a Cardiff?

One thing I am considering, the rod might be too stiff for what I'm trying to throw. I'm throwing swimbaits within the 2-4 oz range, and the rod I have is rated for baits within the 2-10 oz range. It loaded just fine when I had a few bell sinkers tied on (10 to be exact so it'd weigh 5 oz[sinkers are 1/2 oz each]). Could that be another possibility?

My dad is an oil salesman, so we have a bunch of expensive, top quality oil, grease, and lubricants in our garage. He's also an avid shooter, so he has plenty of Rem Oil laying around.

Do you use any special lube/grease for your reels?

I have 5 brakes off and 1 on with the spool tension knob set rather loose. I was getting the same casting distance with 3 off/3 on, as well.

I went out and threw a couple 1/2oz bell sinkers with everything, and I was still getting the same distance out of my cast. The rod was loading perfectly and had a lot of power behind the cast. My reel, on the other hand, was screaming rather loudly when casting. It almost sounds like the bearings aren't moving freely, or moving at all. I'm gonna take the reel apart again tonight and see what the issue is. I bought it NIB on eBay, so could it just sitting in the box with no prior use be a factor in why I'm not getting any casting distance?

That's another aspect I was considering. The rod is only $134.99 on ***, so cheaper rod means cheaper quality, right? It's not a G. Loomis Big Bait/Bounce Back rod, Lamiglass X-11, or a Daiwa DX Swimbait casting rod, but an Okuma Guide Select Series Big Bait casting rod. Has anyone else used this rod? Have you had the same issue with it?

I'm gonna try to throw a few different baits, and see how it goes.

Would a Boca Bearing upgrade do much of anything?

Matt Allen is using a Shimano Calcutta 400TE in that video. He's long bombing that bait, and I can't even cast half that distance... Is the Calcutta THAT much better than the Cardiff?

I'm trying to throw a 3 1/3oz bait. It's a Savage Gear Line Thru 3D Swimbait in the 8" slow sink model.

I've taken the entire reel apart, greased the gears and lubed all the ball bearings. I've been fishing since I was born basically (21 years young), and I like to think I know what I'm doing when it comes to cleaning reels. As far as the rod goes, I have it paired on an Okuma Guide Series Big Bait Rod (7'11 XH 15-40lb line 2-10oz lure weight). It's a $134.99 rod at Tackle Warehouse, and it seemed to be one of the best rods for big swimbait fishing while on a budget. I'm also using 20# Trilene Big Game monofilament line. My backyard is about 130ft from my patio to the end of my backyard (Municipal Airport is past my backyard, so there's a fence surrounding their property). I've been doing both lob and overhand casts, and I get about 20ft or more doing the overhand cast, but not with 3ft of line out. I normally just do 1ft or even 1.5ft of line out.

Just got my Shimano Cardiff 400A series reel in a few days ago, and needless to say I was shocked. First impression is that it's a bit heavy (I'm used to using a Shimano Core 50MG7 as my all around reel), but then again, it's the right size for chucking big swimbaits. The only thing I'm having a bit of trouble with is maximizing my casting distance with big swimbaits - an 8" Savage Gear 3D Line-Thru Trout and a 6" Spro BBZ1 Jr. Swimbait to be precise. My backyard is about an acre and a half in size, and I can barely throw these swimbaits 3/4 of the way across my yard. I've seen people on YouTube with the same reel being able to long bomb their baits with ease and they fly a country mile. Anyone have any suggestions? I currently have 3 brakes engaged and the other 3 disengaged, while the spool tension knob is loose enough so the spool has a little wiggle room if that helps any.