FishTank

I need to fix something from above.... I didn't return the Icon. I sold it to a member here but it was repaired by Quantum before it was sold. It was the PT version. It was purchased from a Quantum Authorized seller. And I also need to add that I have a Quantum Tour PT. It also has been great but has seen limited use. It has been sitting on a 7' St. Avid MH Fast that I use to test new reels, reels that I have repaired and sometimes new lures. When I spoke to the very nice lady from Quantum, whom has worked there for years (if you have called them you know who I am referring to) about my Vapor. I asked "how can I get three bad reels and 4 mismatched plates" and she said that they do not produce reels in house at all. They do however test samples and do make or suggest engineering changes. That info is relayed to a factory in China, which they have little contact with. My case was an ongoing problem with their factory and she apologized. Now, this may have changed since it was purchased by Rather Outdoors. I have not contacted them since my reel issue 3 years ago.

I had an Icon. I bought it clearanced out for $40. I returned it because it was made of plastic and felt like a coffee grinder. It was not up to my standards. Here is another one though..... The side brake plate on Vapor came like this (the pics below show two different parts they sent me). It sat about 1/8in above the frame of the reel. On the other side and I do not have a picture, you could fit a credit card between the gap in the handle plate and the frame. I contacted Quantum (Pure Fishing) and they sent me, over the course of months, 2 new reels and 4 of part number #VA423-02. The first one they shipped was for a right handed reel. In their part system both the right and left brake frame part have the same number. How's that for quality? So at one time I had 3 reels with problems (2 replacements and my original) and 4 side plates. I disassembled all of them and made one reel that was perfect and I still have it. It is actually one of the smoothest reels I own and I have had no issues since. Just in case, I do have a Smoke as well and it has been great minus some clicking noise.

I have had my own issue with a Shimano reel (Metanium) but I was sent a new one and it has been flawless. My first reel had a stripped level wind cap and piece of unfinished plastic on the cap itself that would cause monster backlashes.

It depends a couple of things but the short answer is you're probably fine. What size reel you are using makes a difference - most 2000 and 2500 (and a few 3000) size reels would be perfect for 6lb. What power is the rod? - a Medium fast might be ideal for 6lb but a Heavy probably not. What lures do you plan to fish? - baits around 3/8oz (maybe a fuzz heavier depending on the lure) would be ok but I wouldn't fish a 1/2oz jig on 6lb but 1/8oz with trailer would be great.

Here you go....

3in OSP Dolive Craw.

It's a cross carbon drag on all Curado Ks. That is all they have for a part. The knock offs sold on Amazon and Ali Express will have a wire felt. Below is the correct and only part Shimano has for this reel.

What he said. I have both the rod and the reel but currently I have the Bantam on a Loomis IMX 903 CBR for square bills and an old Shimano Calcutta TE 101GT on the same St. Croix rod.

Rods- If there is no limit...... Megabass Arms Super Leggera, any and all. They are a true work of art. They are not exactly practical but they are overkill to the extreme. Reels - A custom rebuilt Abu Garcia, a Megabass Monoblock, a Shimano Stella, and a the new Antares MD DC. Also, maybe a custom Steez from Japan. I am not sure who is still doing the custom paint and rebuilds but ZPI use to crank out some way over the top stuff.

Copoly is worse than FC on spinning gear to me. I have used 6lb Invizx and Tatsu with no issues. I also use to use Trilene 100% FC XL but the last two spools I bought were questionable in quality. They were bad enough that I might not use it again.

I have the Abu Garcia Winch and it is rated at 24lb of drag but it's kind of joke. I have smashed the drag down and it was no different than say my Calcuttas or 2012 Antares but its more than what you would get out of a Curado or any Daiwa that I have. I could also say the same with Lew's BB1 Pro I have. The drag was kind of hit and miss out of the box. I have since taken it apart and added a small amount of grease to one of the washers that was dry. It's smoother and less sporadic but it's not near its rated 20lbs of drag. Overall, I am pleased with both the Winch and the Lew's BB1 Pro but the drags on both seem to be not much different than anything else. With that said, I never would use all of the drag a reel has. No need to. I have never seen a fish run that the reels I have couldn't handle when the drag is set properly to the pound test of line I am using. As far as heavy cover goes, I do set the drag higher but again matched to the line I am using. If it's braid, I set it more to its mono equivalent in diameter. There are several videos with the Barbie challenge (see the one with the Sturgeon) but this one makes me laugh every time and shows me that drag ratings are overblown. She might have 4-6lb mono with about 6lbs of drag.

Fast for a heavy sinker. Xfast for 1/2oz or below.

I have used 832 off and on over the years and it frays more quickly than most lines but even frayed, it's still pretty good. Its not good around the sharp rocks I fish and it's almost unusable around wood. I do however like it for topwater and in heavy vegetation. I have since moved on to different lines.

Forget the knot..... that's a nice fish.

I use the San Diego jam knot for pretty much everything, including braid. No issues with it so far. It seems to work on any diameter and make of braid. I also use to glue my knots but stopped. It would always wear off after a few casts and glue wouldn't set on wet line. If the line was dry when glued, the glue would crack when you hooked into something.

From what I can dig up, the price is going up for all three models. Around $365 for the new version but in the past the price has been listed cheaper on most JDM sites after it came out. They show two release dates, right handed version in March and left hand in May.

Using Google translate.... Looks the same reel as the 2020 with a deep spool. So we now have a deep, shallow and regular spools available in the same reel. The last four are line capacities for the 100.

I had the 201A years ago. Fantastic reel. A guy offered me more than what I payed for it new so I sold it. I have always regretted it but I have two 2012s and the newer 70A. If you are looking for an updated version of the 100A, the 70A Antares is flawless. It can out cast any reel I have. It's buttery smooth in a way no other reel matches and it has power when you need it.

Looks awesome. https://fish.shimano.com/ja-JP/product/reel/baitlurecasting/a075f00002xcbu7qac.html

I never thought about it but you're right. Probably one the reasons I got suckered in to the HD version. Both are awesome though.

Our mail goes in spurts. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Our postman is old and has a few physical problems that slow him down. I asked him one day why he hasn't retired and he said the USPS has no plans of replacing him. I said, so if you do retire, what happens?..... We would get mail delivered as they could with substitute drivers. I have also visited our downtown hub in Indy a few times for work and it was a disaster. Mail machines that sort daily #10 envelopes had been removed for no reason. The mail was then stacked in trucks waiting for god knows how long. People moved to new jobs with no replacements (I was unable to renew my works PAF because of this). Businesses with no clerks assigned. Closing local post offices in smaller towns with no plan in place for PO Box pickup and distribution. I feel for the hard working people that do what they can to get us our mail.

I use the 3.5 with either 4/0 or 5/0 EWG. I fish them like a senko but on a free rig with an 1/8oz weight.

I have it and it is my go to for wacky rigged senkos, small swimbaits and tubes. I have a Shimano Vanquish 3000 on it with 16lb Sunline X-plasma and 8lb Seaguar Gold Label leader. I also have the 821 NRR and it is a much lighter rod. Great for Ned Rigs and light dropshot. As far as how it compares to the 843 Conquest, not totally sure but I would guess it would be faster and little stiffer over all.

What Tom said. 10lb or 12lb FC will sink a little faster than 15-20lb. In that deep of water, I'm usually in the 1/2-3/4oz range.

I am definitely a fan of this line. It's long lasting and the stretch is just right for crankbaits.