Msl819

Nice… I wanted to grab one of those but didn’t. They are great reels. I have an unused pegboard in my storage room off the carport. I should do something like this.

I appreciate the offer but will gladly leave you the name you rightfully claimed first. All jokes aside… having large hands has mostly just proven hard to find gloves that fit well. If they don’t come in XXLs and up I don’t give a second look! They were great for palming a basketball back in the day, though. I started with palming the “old” Abu Garcia round reels so all modern low profile baitcasters are small by comparison. I also don’t usually fish for some many hours on end that the size or weight of a specific reel become a huge detraction.

I learned doing it this way but when using reels like Daiwa with the TWS it messes with line lay down so I don’t do it as much anymore.

Great and fair question. I have the 70 MGL and think it is a fantastic reel. My assumption is the the MGL spool will help with casting lighter JBs so that’s a plus and why I was comparing the two. I ask about the 150 MGL because it is new and maybe there is something with it or another reel that makes it a better/more versatile option than the 70. I have large hand (almost 11” from tip of pinky to tip of thumb)so palming reels of larger size is not a huge concern for me but I know it is for some and why they choose certain reels. Plus the MSRP on the 150 is $30 cheaper than the 70, not sure why, but that is something.

Thanks… good to know. I don’t spend much time searching out these types of sites. Are there concerns with counterfeits/blemished/etc reels from sites like Asian Portal?

Yeah… I have seen info on the metanium b I just have t seen the for $285ish. More like $420. I thought we may be talking about different reels.

Not sure I am familiar with this model of Metanium. Where can I get more info?

I have a 70 MGL as well and really, really like it. I have not had the 150 MGL in hand but hard to go wrong with Curados, IMO.

I am beginning to look for a dedicated jerkbait outift. I have a MF TFO Tactical Elite that needs a reel and was looking between these two. Which reel would you choose and why? Or would you look at something else like a Tatula SV? Or am I missing something else all together? Let’s call the budget ~$250.

If you want to let go of some of those LTB, let me know!

Tell me more about your reel. I looked online and there is surprising little info. I have a soft spot for these barrel type reels but have been low profile for a couple of decades now. What’s your plan for it? What do these tend to do well? What are you pairing it with?

Sounds like you live close to or in Natchitoches. I have fond memories of my years there as a student.

My wife is usually cool with it as well. She cannot understand why a rod/reel cost so much or is so much better than another, but she is usually ok with it. Especially if it is a rod or reel she can get me for a birthday or Christmas that she knows I will really enjoy. She isn’t a bad fishing partner either!

I am sure you have seen this but just in case you haven’t. I have a certate lt and I caught a 6 pounder a couple weeks ago. She made several hard runs and the drag was fantastic. I have it matched to a St Croix Legend Elite. It works great for me.

You have a wife who fishes with you and wants you to spend money on fishing gear. Sounds like life is good in your house. Those high end Zebco’s really are pretty versatile and well built. I have a buddy who has a couple for his kids and they have hauled in many impressive 5 plus pound bass. That and not spending his time digging out birds nest all day. ... seems like $150 well spent!

How’s you like the new Zillion? How does it compare to the previous model sv tw?

Did you do the upgrades on the zillions yourself or send them off? I have a couple Daiwa reels I’d like to have serviced and am curious about upgrading their bearings too.

I have the same stick you do and have added several more. I use the 7’5” H mostly for jigs. Man, I gotta get better fishing a jig!

Same here. Mine are on TFO tactical elites, both spinning and casting, no issues.

I think the drag stack comes with carbon washers in the 3000 (maybe 2500) and up in the Stradic FL, if that matters to you. I think I got mine for around $180 also, somewhere online.

I would second this. If I had to chose one it would probably be the Stradic FL. That said, I also tend to prefer to match brands of rods to reels when applicable. That’s all a matter or preference. Several online reviewers have called the new Stradic FL the best spinning reel up to the $300-400 range. All subjective, but a nice reel for sure.

Thanks for the replies. That is all good news for me. I prefer and need my tackle to be fairly versatile. Very seldom is my fishing environment conducive to having all my rods rigs with specific techniques. More times than not rods will pull double or triple duty on a given outing.

I should clarify. I have several TFO tactical elite rods with the MBR designation. These blanks are North Fork Composite blanks as I recall. I know there is historical cross over with Loomis but maybe not as direct today as it once was. For the record, I have been very happy with these TFO rods. I was just curious as to what the MBR designation is supposed to indicate and if there are certain techniques that these rods really favor and others that they simply were not designed for. If I am being totally honest, all of my equipment is much better than I am at catching fish. I am simply seeking to better understand what exactly I have, what it means, how it may impact future buying decisions, etc. I find most of us originally buy based off other people’s description and preference in the early stages of a hobby. As we gain more knowledge and personal experience we begin to narrow what we like and what works best for us and the places we fish. I am on more of an information hunt than anything else.

I know MBR is an abbreviation for Mag Bass Rod (at least that is what I have been told). What I am not sure about is what the pros and cons are for this particular design and techniques better suited and lesser suited for its design. Any help?

YouTube will be your friend. It also helps to take stuff off in order and place it down in that same order so as best you can, you just reverse the process when reassembling. If you watch enough reel break-down videos online you’ll start to pick up how folks do this.