FishTank

A buddy a mine has an E making a noise like that. I think its the ARB bearing (part #60) but I could be wrong. For the money, the bearings for this reel should be the same as the E and would be cheap on Shimano's website. The spool bearings is where I would start though. Sometimes, even when they have been cleaned and re-lubed, they can still be bad. Another thing, I have seen to make an odd noise like that and its extremely rare, is either the pinion is worn on the inside or the spool shaft is dinged up. You will hear it on the cast but not feel it on the retrieve. As stated above from Tom, DVT is the man and may have better insight.

If you're talking about my old Calais, it was heavy like a tank. But if you fished a round reel, it has the same heavy weight feeling. It was smooth like no other in its day and way ahead of its time. Compared to todays reels, once Shimano went to the micro gears, it kind of changed things at all levels for Shimano as far as smoothness goes. If I had to compare it to a modern day reel, the closest to the same feeling is the Shimano Calcutta Conquest. The new Antares (Calais) is in a league all it's own, especially the 70.

For some, the Calais is a special reel (DC and regular). I have mentioned this before but I had a Calais 201A and sold it for the same price I paid for it after owning it for two years. Some reels just hold their value. I still find it strange.

Topwater and heavy jigs.

Lucky Craft Flat Mini MR in Chartreuse Shad but lately Megabass Deep X-100 in Pro Blue.

For me it's two breaks on and the dial set at 2 or 3 for stuff 3/8oz to 1/2oz on a 7' M Fast rod. It may differ depending on the rod or the lure. I would find a starting point that works for you and go from there. One thing I found with this reel is that, depending how much use it gets, it needs the brake ring oiled often. I take a q-tip and put one drop of oil on it and rub it around the ring. For whatever reason, the brakes seem to function better when this is kept lightly oiled. I found this on all of the Shimano reels with the same brake system.

I primarily use FC for just about everything and I am not a fan of braid. Braid does have it's place but I use it for topwater and in thick vegetation only. I find it to be unmanageable compared to FC. I know this sound strange to some. But with braid, it constantly digs into the spool for me. If I am monitoring it on every cast, it's OK but I don't want it to be something I am always having to deal with. It just takes away from my fishing fun. As far as FC goes, I was out today and I caught 6 good size ones on 12lb Tatsu using a G. Loomis 783GLX paired with an Antares and I was using a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait. I had zero issues. It was windy, cold and I had a blast with this set up. Also, you shouldn't have to use line conditioner with Tatsu. It's pretty limp and tends to stay that way under just about any condition. This line tends to last longer than most for me as well. For example, I had two set ups where this line was on there for 4 years and both were fished heavily. The only reason I changed it was the spool was starting to get lower than I like.

I have the 844C IMX, 844C GLX and 783C GLX. The GLX's are a little softer and more sensitive but the IMX is also pretty good. Out of the 3 the 783 GLX is my favorite. I find it to be more versatile and it fishes more like a Medium rod than a MH. I use the 783 for just about anything but it's my favorite rod for jerkbaits and the 844's for topwater, bigger jigs, and 1/4 oz t-rigged plastic. Also, I would pay attention to the lure rating and not the noted rod power. And I would rethink the 20lb braid on a bait caster. 40lb or 50lb would be choice.

Senkos, Jerkbaits, and Whopper Plopper.

To me, this is two separate rods but if I had a choice as to which rod would maybe do both.... St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast. I like to use X-Fast rods for jigs and Moderate rods for cranks.

I would say about $75-$100. I had 5 of them and sold them all for more than I paid for them. The guy I fish with has 4 of the CU-200. Some are in better condition than others but they still cast well and catch fish. I have tried to get him to upgrade and he thinks new reel don't palm as well nor do they cast the way he likes.

I noticed something thing like this on my K and it would occur after when the reel got wet from either a heavy rain or from using braided line. Somehow a few drops were making there way into the reel and causing the drag to be less effective. The reel would dry out and be fine. I also stopped using braid on this reel just to see and it did make a difference.

Marketing hype with fishing equipment.... are you kidding me? It's all marketing with extra hype and we probably all fall victim for it to a certain extent. I know I get excited to try out new fishing gear and it's only second to actually catching fish> keeps the bait monkey in check. As far as rod length and gear ratios go. I don't get caught up in it. I fish what feels good to me. I think longer rods are fun to fish because they bring unique challenges when setting the hook. Ever caught a tarpon on a 9' 10 power fly rod? It's nirvana. Most of my rods are 7' and my favorite is 6'6''. In reels as a general rule though, I like 5.x:1 reels for cranks, 6.x:1 for soft plastic, and 7.x:1 reels for topwater and jerkbaits. I think the days of torque issues and gear ratios with reels is just about over.

I recently picked up the 7'4" Mod MH Curado and I like it so far. It is nice rod for the money and if you can get one at $100 it's a steal. I think the rod you are looking at is made for some big cranks and light swimbaits. Also, I don't think these rods are glass. They are a carbon blend. In any case, they are a quality rod. If you are looking at the $200 range on rods though, I would look at the St. Croix Legend Glass. To me, it's the best crankbait rod I have ever used. Just fits the purpose perfectly.

The few reels I have sold over the years that have given the best return have been Shimano and Daiwa. I can recall selling my Calais 201A at pretty the same price I paid for it and my Shimano Curado B's and BSF's I sold on eBay for $30-$50 more than I paid for them. Another example, but I have yet to sell it, is my Chronarch 51e. I paid around $100 for it on sale at Gander Mountain and have had offers of $175 and $200. As far as other brands go, I see new Abu Garcia, Lew's and Quantum reels often discounted so much that getting a good return selling as used would be tough. Doesn't mean that they don't make a good reel, it's just hard to pull the trigger on reel that is new and full price.

For crankbaits I have tried multiple reels to find the perfect one that casts longer than anything else and works best for 3/8oz and 1/2oz baits. For the most part most of my reels cast pretty much the same but I have come down to one conclusion on distance..... The Antares 19 paired with either a G. Loomis IMX 903C or a St. Croix Legend Glass Med. 7'2'' cast longer than anything I have ever fished. With 12lb Invizx or 13lb Sunline Defier, I can empty the spool. Does it make the best crankbait reel>maybe but I have chosen to use this reel for soft plastic and lighter soft plastic swimbaits. My reels of choice for crankbaits right now are the Antares 12, Bantam, Calcutta 251, the Abu Garcia Winch and occasionally the Curado DC. Which of these cast the furthest depends on the bait, the rod and the conditions.

I like to keep my softrplastic in their original bags. For years I used a BPS XL worm bag but I have since started using a deep Plano box for Senkos/worms and a Flambeau Outdoors 4510 for everything else. The Flambeau has divider sections, which I glued in place, that can keep things in order. I like it so far.

I generally fish a LC Pointer just about every time I am out and I have had this happen on a few. One was on a 128 Ghost Minnow and I could see on the bait that the back stop where the ball travels to the back of the tail had broken. One way to test this is to shake a new one and shake an old one. The broken one will sound different> sort of a plastic rattle.

T-Rigged Senko with an 1/8oz or 3/16oz bullet weight. Or.... A Megabass Dark Sleeper in any bright color. This bait has been killer for me. I caught 6 yesterday on it when the bite was slow for everybody. The guy I fish with caught 1 on a crankbait and zero on his favorite jig. It seems to produce when other lures won't.

I use the Arc'teryx Beta AR or SL jacket. These things are pretty much bomb proof. I don't have the Simms listed below but my fishing buddy does. He lives in them on the water. I am not a huge fan of bibs. I like the option to be able to easily put rain gear on and off as the weather changes. So for pants I use REI's Gore Tex Rain pants as a cheaper but very effective option. To me the jacket is the key and... Gore-Tex 3-layer for cold heavy rains. Pac-Lite is great but the 3-layer is better in wind. The down side is less breathability and it feels crunchy. https://www.backcountry.com/simms-prodry-gore-tex-bib-pant-mens?CMP_SKU=SMM005I&MER=0406&skid=SMM005I-GUN-XXL&mr:trackingCode=A0135DE9-47C9-E711-8102-005056944E17&mr:referralID=NA https://www.backcountry.com/arc-teryx-beta-sl-hybrid-jacket-mens?skid=ARC00X6-BUS-S&ti=U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHM6YXJjdGVyeXggamFja2V0czoxOjEyOmFyY3Rlcnl4IGphY2tldHM=

I too am a big Shimano fan but if I was looking for function over form, the Steez gets my vote. I have several Shimano reels but I have to confess I do not own a Metanium. I do have the Steez SV TWS and I would recommend this reel all day long. It's truly fantastic and it may be the best reel I have ever fished (still debating between this reel and the Antares 19 though). My only complaint is that it sort of flexes under load. I know some will say "Nope" but it does if the fish is big enough. I have not found a thing this reel can't handle except lures over 3/4oz but that may be because of the rod I use with it. It's not completely a finesse reel but it does cast light lures extremely well. The one thing on this reel that out shines all the rest, despite it being super smooth and light weight, is the breaking system. I don't think I have ever had a backlash.

When I fish from my kayak, I like to use a one of two rods when I am flipping jigs..... St. Croix Avid MH Fast or a G. Loomis 844C. I also like to roll cast lighter jigs with a G. Loomis 803C GLX 6'8'' X-Fast. I have tried longer rods but they seemed awkward.

G. Loomis IMX 844C and a Shimano Curado with 40 or 50lb braid.

That is very well done. I have looked at other work like this over the years and I have to say it is one of the best I have seen. A true talent.