JustJames

I have tried Abu rod once, don’t remember now which one but pretty heavy and stiffer than it’s rated. In 100 price point, I’ll recommend Nanoace all the way, it is light enough, sensitivity is acceptable and pretty true to rated. Do you plan for M or ML? I have 7’ Medium and pretty good for finesse fishing from Ned rig to probably Senko. ML 1/16-1/4 is perfect for Ned or light dropshot or weightless worm but will feel over load with 1/4oz weight or more.

@Cattit is not about gear ratio that I am talking about but more for shallow spool that come with the EXD reel and which techniques suitable for lower gear ratio. You know nowadays ppl crazy about high speed gear 10x and 7.2x is slow for them.

Just like @jimmyjoementioned anything Finesse orientation should work just fine. Now the sky is a limit for you to try so many new things. Some of this lures/techniques can be used with any modern reel but with your shallow spool make it even effortless and more accuracy. Tip of my head. Small jerkbait like HJ08 or LC 50sp 65sp. 1/4oz pop-R 1/20oz Ned rig 1/8oz inline spinner. 1/16oz dropshot 4-6” worm weightless finesse/trick worm. 1/8oz small paddle tail swimbait (Keitech 2.8 fat or 3” shiner.

I don’t like placing my hook into a guide insert or on the hood of reel. If I have to I would use guide foot instead. I use that hook keeper on a lot of my rods that don’t come with one. Screw Lock you will have to use special bend hook (60 degree bend). Or you can use it for “nail weight” for Neko hook (add split shot) or just plain plastic keeper before rigging Texas rig style.

@bulldog1935Hopefully it will be many more years for me lol. Every time I do some service, something always drop on the floor. I have to call everyone to help me look for it. Talk about it I still couldn’t locate one of my Daiwa knob cap.

I don’t but if I can without any hassle why not? Where I fish I can step into water easily or on a dock with only 12” above water.

I also use Xuron split ring pliers from micro lure to #2 hyper wire and 2/0 inline hook and hardly had the same issue like yours. I think it is the way you do it instead of the tool itself.

I believe it is hex .09 or you can use Torx T2.

Just because one company is a sponsor doesn’t mean you have to brash other while promoting the other when they both might come from same Chinese Factory. I don’t know what reels he talks crap or not but I know what reels you are promoting. The sponsored is very important to our site, I respect that and don’t mind if mods post once in awhile regarding/ bias review their product in it own post and I’ll never respond.

I’m with @NHBullhere. I ordered some reels from Japan if the same reel is significantly cheaper but mostly for the needed specs that is not available in US market.

Might be but for sure not the same production line. Let look at the worst scenario, name brand let’s call it “Shimano” Cheap brand let’ call it “KastingKing” both come out from same factory. Do you really think they just slab KastingKing sticker on one reel then shimano so on and so forth. The factory or the line that assembly KastingKing might get a cheapest parts, test if it fit then put on assembly line. While Shimano also try to get the part as cheap as possible but also do more test for durable/longevity, tolerance before putting those parts into assembly line. Then might do more test again as A grade that will ship out to authorize dealer and B grade that floating around on eBay for cheaper price.

I use 30lb for most of medium-heavy fishing from Jig, Frog and topwater equally only one reel, the rest 10 I use mono/copolymer. This does not include shallow spool reel and spinning. I tried cheap 40lb braid once and I feel it bowl too much and effect both sensitive and bait movements.

At my local 4-500 acres lake, just a bass per trip, I’d call is success as bank fisher man. At some small community pond maybe 4-5 per trip.

the braid wrap around guide mostly first and second guide. Happen a lot when windy or reel in too fast.

I tried a few, original PP, super slick v1, j-braid x8 and Sufix 832 plus a few cheap brand. 832 is the best compromise of them all. J-braid is super soft super quiet but a lot of tip wrap, PP is not soft nor smooth and pretty loud. 832 is right in between.

I just use 1/2 pipe insulation, cut about 6-8” and zip tie to the rod. Yes it float, my first trip on kayak was flipped the yak and learned how to get in plus testing my setup with diy rod float.

Was it come in separate mail or on packing list? I never opened packing list when received the package. I plan to order another reel and rod from Japan and hope this doesn’t happen.

Awesome ? Trout is the one I wish I get to fish the most now. A lot of my setup are built for that purposes but I don’t want to fight the crowded when they stocking. I wish I could hike up Jenk Lake again for trout. Now you are having fun with Bass, and you know your reel is way capable of fighting ones. If you ever plan to fish for bass with regular bass lure, like Ned Rig, weightless worm or even 3/16oz jerkbait(finesse type) by all mean, do it. I suggest getting a new rod that rate for bass Light is good enough or any ML bass rod should work just fine. You will be amazed how effortless, accuracy and distance you would get with that reel. I once use UL (Ajing)for bass it was fun, the rod took all the beating since it is too soft, I had to let the drag loose so no damage to the rod. That not even a big bass only a 15” bass and my average catch way bigger than that. I use a few of mine modified shallow spool pair with Majorcraft Light/BFS rod for bass all the time fishing just regular bass lure, Ned Neko smaller fluke or even Dropshot. It a lot more backbone that trout rod and can handle bass very well.

@GTN @Dens228it is just my preference. I don’t even fish a lot of trebles hook when bank fish. I’m too old to take the risk nowadays and seen too many incidents. In other word I’m too lazy to bring the net with me lol. There are many ways to catch fish but I just prefer boring/safer way. I know, right? I didn’t even used any of the topwater or jerkbait at all last year.

Mostly 2-3 setup, one for finesse like, including fluke and one for heavy jig/bottom contact. It is also depends how long do I plan to be on water too. I don’t fish trebles hook on kayak so that eliminated one or two setups. I found that the more setup more unnecessarily time to prepare both gears and baits. I also fish a lot of shoreline where the stand up rods can get in the way of brushes and things. Each of my setup can fish a couple of techniques and I will only concentrate on those. I’ll learn the water and learn the fish to see what should I bring next time out. I think this is benefit of fishing smaller lake, I only fish a couple spot each time not the whole lake. My last trip, I have two setups end up only using one for those few hours, but I feel a lot fish roaming around 6-10’ FOW and about 10-15’ off the bank. My next trip I’ll include Fluke and 1/4oz jig.

Tatula hand down best bang for bucks for all the three you listed. I have used all my spinning reel (all plastic) with braid with no problem whatsoever. You can find Tatula 3000 size at around 160-170. Disadvantage on Tatula (for some) is not offer any protection, while Stradic/Vanford come with x protect. The Stradic FL in 2500-3000 size is almost 2oz heavier, but it might suit you since you are coming from BG. If Tatula ever offer low speed gear, I would buy a couple more.

Yes I have too many not as many as other, though. Do I still want more? Absolutely as many as my wife allow. I’m to the point that I only take two combo one for bass and one for crappie with a couple bags of plastic and hooks. I only fish a few hours but I can fish every day, so I concentrate on area and a couple techniques.

Look good come with pretty much everything as aldebaran BFS not just a cheap shallow spool slab on the reel. If it cheap enough I might get one myself or wait until it available in flemarket. The ideal is to use as Finesse Fishing for light weight lure and lighter line like 3/16oz jerkbait, weightless worm or even that popular Ned Rig. Doesn’t have to be true BFS with UL rod and 1/16oz lure just simple M or ML bass rod should do fine.

Most of Daiwas LT series should feel almost the same, I would say fluid smooth, with some hollow feel to it, while shimano are solid smooth but some would feel grinding. Don’t know about others. If you are not happy with Tatula forget about Fuego LT, or even Ballistic LT which is the same reel with Magseal. You might have to jump to Luvias LT with Zaion Rotor and MQ body. If you want a tank go with Daiwa BG. No matter what you get Daiwa LT or Vanford even Stradic FL, it would feel much better than your old Stradic CI4 F. My Stradic CI4 2500F come to the end it it’s life. It is still smooth but resistance on the handle kill it. I was also shopping for couple of new reels. The one that hit me the most is Stradic FL 2000 after handling the Vanford 2000 for awhile. In the meantime I already placed an order for Fuego LT 2000 just in case my wife doesn’t approve the budget.

SLX is fine for its price point, with Curado K, you’ll get better paint/color, xtra bearing, micro module gears minus 50 bucks. I like smaller reel and lighter weight reel, so I’ll go with SLX. The K though, should hold up in value, in case you wanna upgrade later.