k3bass

You beat me to it. Lol

So if the handle spins when you disengage the spool how do you get it engaged?

35 size is perfect especially if your using it for an all around setup. More cranking power and better casting distance with the larger diameter spool compared to the 30 size.

So did you get it? Was the bail the same?

The question is WHY are you using a leader in the first place.

I have quite a few pfluegers (2 supremes) and never had that problem. Sounds like maybe that little screw in the end of the spool shaft that holds it to the oscillation slider came loose.

If smallmouth are busting the surface and won't touch anything I'm throwing on top I'll tie on a slow falling jig-n-pig usually with a double tail grub. Let it fall down below the commotion and pop it a few times. This usually catches bigger fish for me than a topwater when they're chasing bait fish to the surface.

I think my biggest problem with it is that I have to wear it over my left shoulder and it's backwards. I can't stand it on my right shoulder. Orvis should make a left and right version.

I've never bought a rod from amazon but they really do a terrible job packaging stuff. I won't buy anything from amazon that I'm worried about getting damaged. They just stick stuff in an empty box and ship it, no bubble wrap or anything.

I have mixed feelings about mine. It has a good amount of storage, but it's not the most comfortable pack I've used. One thing I will say is that is is very high quality! The zippers easily open with one hand which I really like. I bought mine used cheap but I wouldn't feel bad about paying full price for one. It will last many years.

Looks to me like you're the one with the disrespectful attitude. From many of the old threads I've been reading it's not the first time. When you dont agree with someone or something that's posted you get snarky and lock the thread. Maybe it's time to put your big boy pants on.

Just because someone has years of experience doing something doesn't make everything they do or say right.

I agree. With the shields on you'll never really know if you got all the gunk out of the bearing or not, no matter how many time you soak them. I usually replace my shielded spool bearings with non shielded bearings.

I actually use a few daiwa tournament ss1300's with the bail cut off Lol. I've had the Lexa and have many fjs. The fj is a better reel and I'm definitely not a shimano fan. If you put some grease between the bail and the rotor and around the pin that attaches it to the rotor the rattling will go away.

They're going to send you a new reel next day without returning the old one?? Maybe I should start shopping on amazon more often!!

You have to remove the first two exposed screws and slide the chrome cap piece straight out the rear of the body then you will be able to get to the other screw. I think maybe there's another little screw on the bottom of the chrome cap you have to take off first to.

That's been my experience also with every shimano I've had since the e series came out. My old calais and curado d's are still smooth.

Yes! I used those bags for years, but now I can't find anymore of them. They are the PERFECT size! I always replaced the strap with a better one, but the bags would wear out in a year. I think I went through 3 or 4 of those bass master bags before I bought my orvis sling pack, still prefer those bags. I don't know why someone doesn't make a decent non fly fishing comfortable tackle bag for wading.

The rod and reel depends on the conditions. If the water is muddy I'll use a casting rod because I'm most likely going to be fishing spinnerbaits, jigs, and crankbaits. I use a spinning rod most other times. I have 2 spinning set ups for wading. A 7' medium avid with a Diawa ss1300 and 15 pound power pro (No leader!). My other is a 7'6" medium light avid with 8lb power pro that I mainly use for fishing cold water with small jigs. I use an orvis sling pack filed with way more stuff than I need at any given time. Numerous pairs and brands of waders that all leak.

The fj has a completely different bail design. The bail mounts on the INSIDE of the rotor. The hinged part that connects to the rotor is aluminum. This hinged aluminum piece has side to side play it's not necessarily "loose". All my fj's were like this new out of the box, and they all work fine. The screw comes through the outside of the rotor and screws into a pin that goes through the bail.It's actually a great bail design in my opinion, I've never had a problem with any of mine.

So which stradic models are you talking about?

Hahaha geez... so since your rarenium ci4+ that has a totally different bail and rotor design isn't loose than I must be wrong huh? The bail on the fj connects on the inside of the rotor. The hinged part of the bail opposite of the line roller side definitely DOES fit loose on these reels.Tola, I can assure you that what you're describing is normal on a 2500 and 3000 stradic fj. If you have any stores near you that carry these reels check one before you send yours back.

Worn gears. Replace the gear set and the problem will be fixed. Once gears start making noise like that no amount or type of grease will fix it.

Whats funny? They are all like that. Go look at a stradic fj in the store and I guarantee the bail is loose where it attaches to the rotor. Nothing wrong with the reel. All mine are loose just like Tola is describing, they even make the same rattling noise. Every fj I've seen is like that. And when I say loose it's not necessarily "loose" as in it's coming apart, it's just designed with a lot of play so the bail opens and closes easily.

Yes this is normal!! They are all like that.