redmeansdistortion

A lot of low end reels are actually feathers because they use composite or graphite frames, nice try though lol. Maybe you should take this up with the engineers at Shimano and tell them about the perceived shortcomings in their design. They'd be delighted to further their credentials.

You must be new at fishing lol, the Bantam doesn't weigh a ton. It weighs 7.6-7.9 oz depending on gear ratio, which for all intents and purposes, is pretty dang light. Let's not split hairs here because it is counterproductive. The Bantam is definitely the competing model to the Zillion. Oh yeah, it too is made in Japan.

Very nice rod. I have that and the 65ML, and while not technically a BFS rod, it is quite comfy at 3g (rated 5-14g) and I usually defer to it over the 68L/BF. The backbone is much better and you really don't give up too much at the bottom end. I fish a lot of soft swim baits and even running a 1/16 jig with a 2.8" Fat Swing Impact, it's still near 6g which is within the rated range of the 65ML.

@bulldog1935can do a great job explaining this one. He runs a lot of NLW (non level wind) reels. I'll admit, he makes it look easy, but I'm still intimidated.

I have more rods. I don't match a rod to a reel and leave it be, I have a rod for every niche I fish and choose which reel will make the best combo for the given environment. I can take one reel and fish for stream trout on a 5'1"L, put it on a 7'4" M and go for big browns, or on a 6'5" ML and throw small cranks and soft plastic for bass. My quiver runs deep. I'm a bank/wade fisherman so I'm often carrying just one combo with me. I value mobility and take just what I need.

Trout rods for BFS reels come in all shapes and sizes from XUL all the way to MH. Then there are lengths, from 3'8" all the way to 8' and some change. With bass rods, most are chosen according to technique. Trout rods are different, they're chosen according to the environment. Whether the target species are resident trout or larger migratory fish, there is a rod for it. One of my most favorite rods is a Smith Troutin'Spin 7'4" 4-10lb 5-16g. It's so light and crisp feeling and does a knockout job of keeping fish pinned.

I'm unfamiliar with the Kern, but from the sound of it, it isn't your average stream. There is more open space, so this should dictate the length and power of the rod. Trout rods are now starting to come in what is known as L+, which is a light power tip with the backbone of a medium light. They're capable of wide weight ranges and take some cues from some saltwater rods. Major Craft Finetail Glass now comes in a 6'3" L+ 2-14g and 3-8lb. That would be a good match for your intended river. Your ideal weight range will be about 5-10g, run some #1.2 and a 6lb US/8lb JP leader and you'll be doing great 👍 I have a Palms Egeria EFVC-53L+ 3-10lb 3-18g, I got it for bushwhacking big browns, and it works nicely. These are fish of 20" or more, and it keeps them under control just fine.

What kind of environment are you fishing? Skinny streams and creeks? More wide open rivers? What species and size of fish?

Just showed up an hour ago. The spool should be here next month.

I don't think there's an end to that hole. There's just so much out there because those companies have been largely using the same designs and refining them for decades, so the parts bin is deep. Very deep.

I can vouch for Super Lube, it's great stuff. Their oils are also very good. I keep three grades of grease; NLGI 0, NLGI 1, and NLGI 2. I don't use the 2 on most casting/spinning reels, but on bigger trolling reels because it stays put and those charters are running hard 6-8 months per year. NLGI 0 gets used on clutch cams, pinion yoke pins, and other sliding areas. The gears and drag stack get NLGI 1. I also keep a few different oils; ISO 10, 22, 68, 100, and 220. While all of that isn't needed, I can tailor the exact feel anybody is looking for just by the grades of lubricants used. I also use TSI 321 but mix it with medical grade isopropyl and make a bearing dip for spool bearings. Being that it's a thin film lubricant, even a single drop is too much. This is the stuff NASA uses on the hard drive platters of space bound instruments. Use it very sparingly for best results.

There's no doubt. I've never caught one that big, but the state record for Michigan is 6lb 7oz and 22". I couldn't even begin to imagine that fight. To me, white bass fight just as hard, or even harder than similar sized smallies. I've had white bass straighten hooks on me before, never had a smallmouth do it, and I live right by some of the best waters for big smallies.

You still have to clean ceramic hybrids. They also use stainless steel cages and raceways which should be lubricated regardless. They can be run dry, but at the expense of lifespan.

A good way to see if a solvent leaves residue, put a drop on a pan and wait for it to evaporate. I use stainless steel dental tool trays to place my clean and dirty parts. Leaving a bearing to dry, after cleaned with acetone, always leaves a haze behind. That is residue and it's most likely still on the balls, raceways, or cages. Doing the same with denatured alcohol leaves virtually nothing behind.

I use a jitterbug, seems to do pretty decent.

They're pretty on top of things here. I've even been approached in the middle of nowhere. Last time I was trout fishing in the Jordan River Valley in northern Michigan, a CO came up and questioned me and my friend. We were certain that we were the only people out there. Super cool lady and she even told us some nice honey holes. We sat and talked for a good hour or so and had a great conversation.

We have a 25 fish limit. During April the piers and boardwalks are shoulder to shoulder for walleye in the Detroit River, and during May and early June it's the same for white bass. Conservation officers are out in full force checking limits and licenses. https://youtu.be/NOZZm1VmNOI?si=rHXkJgElsLvxCFiS. Much of that segment was filmed down the street from me.

I wouldn't worry about aluminum since it's the drive gear. If the pinion were aluminum, then I would worry since the pinion takes most of the abuse.

They also eat terrestrial vertebrates. Mousing is a popular method to fish them at night where I am. Guys will swing a deer hair mouse on a stout fly rod with a heavy leader. Mice, voles, and shrews are eaten by trout when they try to cross a stream at night. I don't swing flies, so I use wake baits for the same purpose. If you do this, make sure you're very familiar with the river you're fishing. No fun stepping into a deep hole in the dark. I wear a red headlamp and go at it.

Yep, and trout patterns work best for jerks baits. I catch most of my fish on rainbow, brown, smolt, and parr patterns.

The magnets are 11 and 12. The inner magnet is located in the center of 11 and 12 is the outer ring magnet.

Today I was able to partake in the massive Detroit River white bass run. During May and early June, they migrate from Lake Erie to the Detroit River and St Clair River to spawn and when the bite is hot, it's red hot. I was fishing off the docks behind my wife's grandmother's house and landed over 60 fish in about 3 hours. I started with Easy Shiners and the bite was sporadic, then switched to a gold 1/4 oz Little Cleo and man, one after another like clockwork. Many times I had a fish on as soon as my lure hit the water. Here's a few of the fish I got. They fight great on light tackle.

Ronald McDonald would be envious.

And with exceptionally filthy bearings, a layer of sludge will settle to the bottom of the jar.

I use jerk baits in the 40-70mm range most of the time, and at night I'll use wake baits of a similar size for big brown trout. You'd be surprised, trout don't require super tiny stuff. Jerk baits typically attract more big fish as they have a much higher fish content to their diet than the smaller ones.