FishTank

Picked up a batch of goodies today at Dicks and Gander Outdoors. With coupons and sales, I paid $55.

12lb mono. I have started using Sunline Super Natural as of late and it has been great.

If it sits on a shelf as a general rule of them and my personal taste, FC last about 5 years (maybe longer) and mono about 2-3 years. On a reel that is being used, I check it and if it is bad, brittle, or frayed, I change it.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did check them out and there was no grease at all but there was a good supply of oil. In any case, I cleaned it and re-oiled. I also decided to take the reel apart and do a partial break down and clean. I found that the tiny bit of grease that was on the main gear contained some type of grit or polymer (sort of like quantum hot sauce). I thought at first it was metal shavings. I removed it anyway and added reel butter grease. It seems much smoother but I need to get it on the water to tell for sure.

So I took it out to a local pond to test out and over all I liked but I am not blown away it. I may have over spooled it with 12lb Invizx by about 20 yards but here goes... Here are my pros and cons with this reel. Pros Cons Casts Great Removing Side Plate to Adjust Brakes Super Light Weight Inconsistent Breaking Quick Retrieve Breaks are hard to adjust Felt Good in Hand So light that it needs a light rod to balance well The Handle is Fantastic Needs light line (8-10lb would be best) Small but Powerful Needs to be oiled. Grinding was noticeable. Main gear needs grease. I caught 4 dinks and 1 that was about 2lbs. The reel did great on my G. Loomis 803C GLX but it was a royal pain to adjust the breaks. I set the breaks at 3 (settings are 0-6) and I was still getting an occasional backlash with a 5 inch senko and no wind. It definitely is great reel for money but I think I need to use it some more to better evaluate it. Also, a lighter rod (a medium and not a medium heavy) would be better. I can't say for sure just yet but the Medium Heavy rod I used seemed to cause the reel to start up to fast.

Finally picked it up today. I have to say, not bad for $100. I will take it out tonight and see how it feels. My first initial impression is that it reminds of the original Steeze I had but just not quite as smooth. which is not to say it's not smooth, just not as smooth. It definitely has a machined type feel to it though. It did come kind of bone dry. I put one drop of oil on the usual spots and it felt awesome.

I will be picking one up Friday. It may be a week before I can fish it but I will let you guys know how it goes.

I have a few lures that I have purchased over the years that I have never fished. They are either too special to me or they are just too darn expensive for me to even think about throwing out there just to see it get hung up or even jumped on by a fish. You guys have any that are kept tucked away on shelf? Here is one of mine.... I got it somewhere around 05-06. It was a total impulse buy.

A frog has worked the best for me. I like the whopper plopper but a frog has always brought in more fish.

I have been using the large BPS bag as well. I keep worms on one side and everything else on the other. It's worked great so far.

Has anybody had a chance to use one of these rods? I found a good deal on one and was thinking of picking one up (MH or M casting 7'). It looks like a well made rod based on the components but I have very little info on it.

Spro has been my favorite so far.

Nice. They have them at some great prices. If I needed one, I would jump on one as well.

Amazon has the Okuma Helios SX marked down to $81 in the 20 size. It weighs 6.2 oz (Shimano Sahara 1000 is 7.6 oz). I don't know much about the reel but what I could find seems pretty positive and fitting for your needs. Enjoy.

Shimano Chronarch 51e G Loomis 803c GLX Senkos, Fat Ikas, Zoom Lizards 12lb Invizx And my inflatable pontoon (goes any where)

Nice catch. I picked up two of them today, 110's in bone and loon. Will see how they do in about 5 hours.

I use to use a fly box, like this one, with my own custom foam but switched to a Flambeau box for convenience.

After reading all the posts here, I may be the minority. I have tried two Pflueger President reels a few years ago and both did not fare well. I returned one and gifted the other. But when I first got one, I had nothing but praise. The one I returned, I picked up a Shimano Symetre, that was 7 years ago I believe. I have had no issues and fish it pretty much exclusively on a inflatable pontoon boat. It gets soaked all the time. I lube and clean it once a year and that's it. I have been using the Ardent reel butter and oil. I also fish with 2 older Shimano Stradics on my little boat. I have been beating up both for years and they are still going. I have known more people that have good luck with President reels than bad, I just wasn't one of them.

Sounds like I will be picking one up by the end of the week. Just curious, is there a reel you would compare it to? I have fished a lot Shimano and Daiwa reels over the years and thought it would be cool to get a comparison idea of feel and such.

I have a chance to pick a new Okuma Helios Air for $100 and wanted to hear your guys' opinions on this reel. I read a couple of reviews and they all suggested re-lubing the reel before you use it. Anybody have any real world experience with it or an opinion?

Just in time for me to start plugging my Christmas gift idea to my wife.

I always use mono backing. I have one reel that I use braid on and the backing has been on there for 11 years.

I always have liked tungsten better for punching but I started loosing to many and went back to lead. They are just too expensive.

Man you guys are still cranking out some awesome stuff.

It's been awhile but Yo-Zuri minnows and Rapala Jerkbaits..... The big ones.