FrnkNsteen

I've got various size Vanfords and Stradics. It might just be me, but I honestly don't see a WHOLE lot of difference in performance between the Stradics and Vanfords, other than the Vanfords are lighter. Both are smooth, awesome reels. From my perspective, the new Vanfords aren't enough of a change to warrant "Upgrading" from the previous Vanfords,... or a good Stradic. Not saying I wouldn't buy one if I needed another reel,... but not just to upgrade!

Wow,... I've got so many different brands and types of reels that I'm not going to try and break them down to a "favorite". But,.... I like a centrifugal brake system like Shimano offers as a rule for long open casting. If making shorter pitches and casts, a magnetic brake seems to work better because spool RPMs aren't really high enough for centrifugal brakes to do a lot. I think Daiwa does a nice job since their brakes are kind of a hybrid system that is magnetic, but their moving inductor system can also account for high spool speeds. Dual braking systems ( centrifugal AND magnetic) like on Abu Garcia, Lews, BPS and others offer the ability to adjust for different casting motions as well. Bottom line.... I can use any of them. Which works best is opinion, and typically depends on how you want to use the reel.

I think they do that so the same spool can be used on RH and LH reels

I agree,.... I always set mine just enough to eliminate side to side play. Is it not tightening up enough to do the slow fall method of adjustment? In the past, I have cut a small piece of clear packaging material off a box or something and put that inside the cap. Since then I have just gotten used to running with just enough to eliminate side play and no actual tension I say go with what it gives you, turn on more brakes and fish it that way.

I have to agree with a couple responses earlier in this old thread. The only time rod length is a challenge if your shorter is when using downward motion to work the bait causing the tip of the rod to slap the water. I prefer a shorter rod with a short handle for those techniques. Doesn't really matter for other techniques. Walking the dog on a frog from shore might be easier with a shorter rod and a softer tip might help, even if it's fairly fast.

So are you saying they are Smooooooth!! LOL!! 🤣🤣 Wow!! A Tatula Elite even casts farther than a Daiwa?? I would have never believed that! 😂 (Just giving you some grief! 😁😁)

Well, I would hope not! As long as people are being civil, what's wrong with voicing different opinions? And who doesn't have a soft spot for a Steve Erkle reference?!? 😁

Is that because the Cara punches above its price point, or the GLX punches below its price point? Reason I ask is I have been considering trying a Cara due to a lot of positive feedback I have seen.

I will say that the newer Daiwa I have are noticeably smoother than they have been in the past. I hadn't really thought about why, but my Zillion SV, Alphas 800,... Even my Tatula SV70 and new Tatula 100 seem smoother as a rule than my older models (Tat CT Type R's, Tat 100, Tat SV, older TD reels). Can I say that they are smoother than newer Shimanos? I don't know that I could make that general of a statement, but I will say the difference isn't as big as it used to be. My recent newer Shimano models are limited to SLX, SLX MGL, various Curado MGL (151 & 71) and Bantam MGL.

I have an Alphas that is on a Loomis GLX MBR783c that I currently have a Sieberts Mini Swimjig setup on. I really like the Alphas 800 and on that GLX I picked up when they were clearing out the old models,... It really makes a nice balanced setup!!

Might be a silly question, but.... Where is the fraying of the line? If it's in various spots up the length of a cast worth of line, in my opinion , it may very likely be a bad guide. I personally have never had an instance to link a frayed line to a line guide on the levelwind If it's only near the lure, it could just be from abrasion around structure. Assume it isn't, but had to ask.

I've got my E7 on a Megabass Levante Diablo Spec R as a spinnerbaits setup. Performs well and looks nice with the dark greens

I have a couple of those in a couple different generations. Always thought they were pretty nice rods for the money!

I tell my wife the same thing. She says something is on sale there. I tell her to look around,... EVERYTHING is ALWAYS on sale!

I have one of those 6' M Fenwick Venture rods! I have a Shimano SLX on it. It's my main Spook rod. The shorter length and nice short handle make it a breeze for walking the dog!!

Personally, I don't think you are comparing apples to apples. I think the SLX XT with it's external brake adjustment aligns more with the Tatula CT. When comparing the SLX to something, I usually go to the Fuego. As it were though, whether or not to jump to a CT over the SLX A,.... It depends how you plan to use it. Cast and reel, SLX. Pitching and wanting better cast control,... Tatula CT

I use mainly Seaguar,... Occasionally Sun line if I see a good sale

I never us braid for spinnerbaits or buzzbaits. I can't honestly say why, but I always use mono. Usually somewhere around 15-17lb. I like the bigger mono for the extra lift a bigger line gives to keep it up in the water column, especially for Buzzbaits or if trying to slowly work a spinner around timber or laydowns

That's a good idea. I would think I could take it out and see if the vibration goes away.

I personally don't think line stretch is normally a big issue, but I DO believe it has an impact and needs to be considered. A certain amount of stretch CAN be a good thing, like with treble hooked baits as a bit of a shock absorber. The only time I ever really found it to be a concern is on LONG casts with 10lb or lighter line on something like a top water popper or inline spinner. You can cast those things a mile on a spinning setup. I've had instances of smallie fishing and getting a bite out at the end of a cast. You set the hook and you can feel the stretch like a rubber band. It bothered me enough that I started playing with braid and fire line for better hooksets, but then you have to worry about line fouling in the hooks. I use Fire line on the inline spinners now because it holds up pretty good against the northerns and gives nice hooksets. On poppers I bumped up in line size and went to a little stiffer line like Suffix Tritanium.

@PBBrandon.... It is consistent through the rotation and only while reeling. It is smooth on the cast, so I am assuming it is coming from the main shaft or maybe the pinion or a connecting drive gear for the level-wind and not the spool because these have a floating spool and it is smooth.

Since these reels are so old, I don't think the gear sets are available anymore,..... But fortunately, I happened to have bought a couple sets of the 7spd upgrade gear sets that Tackle Trap was selling for LH TDZ reels, and they happen to also fit these TD Fuegos. I had been holding off on installing them because my other LH TD reels are all so smooth, but this one MAY be the candidate to try one of them out. After thinking about how the gears are arranged in these reels, the drive gear for the level-wind sits right below the main gear and connects with the level-wind gear. Maybe those are a little sloppy and are contacting the main gear when held at certain angles. I will swap one of those gear sets in this week and see what it does.

Thanks @bulldog1935.... I actually haven't isolated the issue to the the level-wind. I was just thinking it is something that MAY be affected by position.... You make a good point though.... I hadn't checked to see if the noise changes with handle facing up or down.... Just checked it.... Definitely noisier with handle facing down. Quiet when handle facing up!

No.... That would be blasphemy wouldn't it. Though it WAS on a Lews rod!! 😂 Noticed the change due to position with the reel in my hand, not on a rod

Hi Everyone, I've got a weird issue I have never noticed before on any other reels.... I recently bought a nice clean old LH Daiwa TD Fuego. When it arrived, it had a bit of a vibration when reeling so I tore it down and cleaned everything, lubed it up and reassembled. It still has the noise/vibration when reeling, however, the weird part is for some reason it flipped over in my hand while I was reeling it and I noticed the noise/vibration went away. I flipped it back over and it came back. I tried it over and over and confirmed if the reel is upside down in my hand so I am looking at the reel seat, the vibration is not there. For the life of me I can't think of anything inside the reel that could cause a vibration AND be affected by gravity, meaning affected by the reel being right side up or upside down. Maybe something to in the level-wind?? Thoughts anyone?!?!