newapti5

Still, it would be interesting to see inside if they use any new braking mechanism. Just don't expect some physics-defying performance.

In my experience, unshielded spool bearings will bring some casting improvements, especially for light lures, light lines, finesse fishing, but the gain is not that significant in real fishing scenario. On the other hand, they will get dirty and noisy more quickly, requiring more frequent cleaning. So, whether the advantages offset the disadvantages, it's totally up to you.

My best guess is the same. If the spool wasn't installed correctly, it'll have a lot of tension, seriously hindering the rotation and casting.

My Legend Xtreme does have a noticeable difference from my Legend Elite or Legend X, so, my answer is, what price point? 😅

One day DC reels will outcast any experienced thumb, but until that day, I'll wait and see.

Yeah, I used to firmly believe that as well, but my Revo ALX kind of changed my mind. After several years of usage, it's still just as smooth as any other reels with dual-supported pinion gears. Now I tend to believe that good reel quality would compensate the lack of dual-supported pinion gears, and vice versa.

With $20 more, BPS Johnny Morris Signature reel is on sale as well. And if you want to trade in your old reels, it could be as low as $139. Aluminum frame and sideplates, various sizes, carbon drag, ... this thing is a loaded Doyo reel, except the brake design is a little old-fashioned. https://www.basspro.com/p/bass-pro-shops-johnny-morris-signature-series-baitcast-reel

I baby all my reels, new or old, cheap or expensive, trying to avoid any scratches or abuse. I don't even reel that hard so that the gears won't be worn out so soon. But they are not more valuable than my fishing experience. When I am too old to fish, I will still be able to buy new gears or antique gears to play with, but those memories will be priceless. So yeah, PB all the way of course.

Found an excellent condition Pixy PX68L from used JDM last month. Will pair it with a medium rod for spring jerkbait fishing. Also right after the new Antares came out, and right before the tariff went up, took the chance and grabbed a mint condition 19 Antares. Haven't configured out which rod to pair, probably my 7' Legend Elite MH. Finally got this new rod from Edge Rods two months ago, Delta 7' BFS rod. Seems to be a good pair with the Aldebaran BFS, but have to wait till open season to find out.

Yep, the new Alphas 800s has the right line capacity and castability. Or if you want to go old school, both the Pixy and 19 Alphas CT SV are perfect for your task as well.

Ah right, I almost forget about that, after dealing mostly old Daiwa reels recently.

Yup, Shimano drag stars are tricky like that. When being installed, they must be lined up perfectly.

Haven't tried a Revo 5 reel yet, but Revo 3 reels have the similar problem as well. It was not because of asymmetrical frames but due to the enormous size of the main gears. You could give the new Zenon a try. I really like that reel frame, and you can find the Zenon MG7 on JDM for a little over $100.

I might be the minority here but I actually quite enjoy using T3 platform reels. Yes they bruise easily, but I don't have any problem using them against feisty smallies or muskies.

T3 and its variations have the unique Magforce 3D design, which is in the sideplate. You can match it with any modern 34mm spool, including SV spools, and the result is a wide casting weight range. T3 1016 or the T3 SV can be found in JDM used market around $100-120. T3 mx would be even cheaper. They use the first generation of t-wing, so the t shape line guide doesn't flip up and down. It's the front "hood" that does the job. One thing worth noting is that the front hood, as well as the entire carbon body, is very prone to scratches and chips.

I really like the first generation Tatula platform. Fat? sure, but it's very sturdy and durable. All my OG Tatulas were sold, but I still have a Fuego that shares the same platform.

Although I don't use spinning reels much nowadays, I still have been heavily hinting to my wife, whose name is also Stella, that I need another Stella in my life at some point eventually. At least let me try it.

If you're not sure whether the disassembling and assembling were done correctly, send it to professionals like DVT here to make sure. If you're sure about that, it could be some debris got on the gear teeth while cleaning, or you use a new grease with low viscosity, or you used too little grease, or you used too much grease, or you cleaned the bearings and applied some light oil.

Is someone calling my avatar?

It's winter cleaning/organizing time again, and I just realize I have too many 34mm spools and reels. Some of them I didn't even get a chance to test last year. I need to thin the herd. So what are your favorite Daiwa reels that use 34mm spools, if limited to top 5?

For thicker lines, say 6+ lb test fluoro/mono, I always use FG knot. It's the strongest and thinnest. The extra few minutes spent is worthy of the assurance knowing it won't fail before others do. But for lighter lines, FG has an increased difficulty to tie and chance to fail, and the thickness of the knot doesn't matter that much given the thickness of the lines, so Albright it is.

I didn't like the shape of that Gomexus knob. I still don't, but after using one, I find it very comfortable and practical. And with careful comparison with stock Shimano knobs, I believe these cork knobs would dampen the vibration from the reel more effectively. Namely, the same reel will feel smoother when cranking.

My fishing buddy installs drag clickers on every reel he owns. It's one major factor he consider when buying a reel. I personally don't feel the need, especially those aftermarket ones - some of them can hinder the smoothness of the drag.

Oh man, I don't want to start another war arguing which braid is the best. Long story short, I personally like relatively hard braids with a smooth surface and good abrasion resistance. X9 has great abrasion resistance but its surface is not that smooth after soaking up some water. Ultracast has similar issue and it's a bit thick. Sufix 832, Smackdown, and Xplasma Asegai are among my favorites.

Used both and neither is my top choice, but if I had to, X9.