newapti5

An all carbon reel weighs at 7.2oz. Hmm, it must have a BIG brass main gear. Personally I'd rather it uses a heavier aluminum frame; I don't mind BC reels around 8oz. I wonder how much the spool weighs? Been there, done that, completely agree.

I like to look at the positive side of things: You're focusing much more on catching fish than others, who got distracted by how shiny their new toys are.

To me, the fish stay in the currents are "opportunists." I don't catch a lot of them, but the few I caught are all big ones. Yet still, statistically speaking, I caught more big ones from deep calm pools than from current.

Once you open up a TD-Z platform reel, you'll see why they're so tough - they're built to last. For example, the two little pillars for pinion yoke support are riveted to the frame, not like the removeable counter part of new reels.

Sure no problem, as long as the drag is set properly. Just don't expect to winch them back with brute force, or boat flip them. This was caught today with a ML rod and a 1/4oz popper.

I got the same deal, but for a 6'10 ML. It's my favorite jerkbait rod. It's listed as 1/8 ~ 1/2oz, but it can handle 1/2oz or a bit over jerkbaits easily. Abu's rods tend to be stiffer than the listed.

Yep, same here. I don't get some of the bank anglers, who just toss the rod and reel aside like garbage whenever they catch a fish. It's good to treat each fish like the last fish you'll catch, but I think they take it too literally.

This one:

I do that all the time. So far, I don't see any problems.

No sure which Gomexus knobs you're referring to, but EVA and similar materials knobs tend to dampen the vibration from the reel. Good for geary old reels, but not great if you want to feel the bites through the knobs. Try some hardwood knobs; you'll feel all the vibrations, good or bad.

I usually set my drag at 2~3lbs, but besides all the measuring methods mentioned, I tend to let the fish tell me if my drag is set properly, because people catch different sizes of fish. Anglers of southern states may catch 5+lbs largemouth all the time, but I catch mostly 2~3lbs smallmouth, occasionally 4~5 lbs. So after I set the drag, if I lose fish during the fight, the drag may be too loose; if I constantly tear a hole on their lips, or the drag doesn't move at all during the fight, the drag may be too tight. After a while, I could tell whether my drag is set properly just by pulling the line. And if I need extra drag force to set the hook, I just press down on the spool with the thumb a bit during hookset. That could provide the needed force to hookset, and avoid damaging the gears with high drag setting. After that, I just let the smooth drag do its work. In this way, I don't lose much fish, and I don't have to fumble with the drag star all the time.

This would be my guess as well. But still, if it's a new reel, it's less trouble to get an exchange than to get down to that tiny part and try to fix it.

I have a fixed-inductor deeper AMO spool, which has a bit smaller line capacity than the original Zillion SV Boost spool. It's not for BFS, but cast 1/4~1/2oz lures pretty well. Its inductor is totally fixed, no positions to adjust.

Just a side note, I believe this Ray's spool is a fixed-inductor type spool as well, not the SV type as the honey comb version. The inductor does have 4 fixed positions to choose from, though.

It's a new reel, so send it back for an exchange. No need to guess it or fix it yourself. Less headache, more time for fishing.

It makes a good back scratcher. Soft touch.

Wow, this is a GREAT price! I was gonna recommend Dobyns, but this is a no-brainer.

Anyone knows where I can find some fair price Bass Patrol football jigs? All the usual sites jacked up the price to $3 a piece, including TW. Thanks!

Besided TRD, there're so many different Z-man finesse baits, at least 5,6 of them are as effective, if not better. But... I probably said too much. Yeah, keep using the TRD.

Besides what mentioned above, you might see a slight decrease of long cast distance. The less line on the spool, the smaller the "actual" spool diameter is, which means less line payouts per turn when you cast. So, depending on how you cast, there may be less backlashes, but at the cost of max distance.

Here Daiwa is making the level wind faster, yet on the new Stella FK, Shimano is slowing the spool oscillation down with their "INFINITY LOOP." Both are for small diameter lines. Interesting.

Yep, don't let Daiwa reels' slow free spin fool you.

Ah yes, that little but smart detail. It makes my work much easier. I used to have to try several times to find washers with the right thickness.

I think it has similar purpose as Shimano's "Silent Tune," no? I like small details like this, as well as that little piece of "grease blocker" on top of the spool bearing. I wish all my reels have that.

Yes, my Alphas SV aka SV105 is crazy smooth, before they invented those Hyper label, that's why I think tolerance and craftsmanship play a pivotal part in Zillion's smoothness.