bulldog1935

Before you run off, think about gear ratio. I find 90-mm Perfect for 7.1 gearing. On 8.5 gearing, I'll go up to 100 mm. On 6.3 gearing, I'm totally happy with 82-86 mm. If you go to too long handle on a lower-geared reel, you may not be able to keep up with charging fish.

most clutches have 2 detentes - that second click in wind is fully engaged. The winding sound you're describing is the clutch bar not releasing fully, while the pinion gear is engaging. @Gomez4455 editing in a ps here. by first removing the spool, the thumb clutch button is easy to remove by a single screw reached from the front. With that out of the way, you have clean access to the clutch bar tracks - check for debris, and lube there. Also makes them easy to swap out the thumb button...

You gotta hope after 17-1/2 years, the problem has been solved. But in 2006, Eagle Claw was the correct answer.

@Tackleholic https://www.geocities.ws/fisherdude2_99/early_narmco_conolon_rods.htm The Mitchell Museum used to have the most complete Conolon rod catalog collection, but that archive has disappeared. https://www.realsreels.com/RodsGarcia.html https://www.fishingtalks.com/garcia-rod-info-1975-17016.html The Royal Javelin fly I owned for awhile had original hang-tag price of $35 in 1955, which is over $400 in today's money. (NOS rod was a cheap ebay snag) https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2442&p=4445 https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=72881 https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1128

That Super Duty has their 6-pin centrifugal brake, which would be a very good choice for casting big swim baits. I fish two of the older model Super Duty G with mag brake, and it works great in 1/4- to 3/8-oz niche - I'm always amazed how far they will cast even 1/8 oz. My oldest has been fishing inshore (hard) for 7 years, and all it has needed was replacing the (cathodic-coated) magnets from salt exposure.

This one will fish 1/16 to 5/8 oz and turn any fish you tackle. https://jdmtackleheaven.com/products/abu-garcia-xrossfield-baitcasting-xrfc-662ml-bf

The main reason, also the reason for so many compact frames, they're aimed at stream trout, where upstream and across casts may require fast retrieve. Rod tip lift on these short rods also doesn't pick up a lot of line or gain a lot of lure speed. In my hill country limestone creeks, Ambassadeur 1500CI gearing is fine for me. I'm also happy with Ambassadeur gearing in my river kayak niche. In my shore casting salt finesse niche (tide passes), I prefer low-geared reel for lure presentation, also larger diameter spool for improved distance. This is 6.3-geared Steez w/ Roro-X spool, casting 2 g to 130' on 8' rod. Where I'm drift-fishing a salt kayak on windy flats with a 7' baitfinesse rod, higher 8.5-gear Silver Wolf works well for me.

I have '19 Vanquish and '19 Stradic - the differences w/ '23 are slightly longer spool pitch and the spindle to go with it. Stradic is forged aluminum body and composite rotor, built on Malaysia line. Vanquish is magnesium body, lightened composite rotor, titanium bail, more BB, and bench-built in Japan with parts matching for extra smoothness. You wouldn't notice the difference until you have them side-by-side, but then Vanquish low-inertia drive becomes apparent. The reel starts when you start, stops when you stop, and never pushes against your hand. Vanquish was designed to be the best finesse spinning reel ever, and Shimano succeeded.

That depends greatly on the line. Japan X-braid in PE#1 is the perfect diameter for most BFS applications. Most are 20- to 22-lb breaking strength. https://www.jpfishingtacklenews.com/japanese-line-size/ The rest of the world only talks in line diameters - pound-test doesn't even make sense in the US, where it's used exclusively.

Up front, don't fix what ain't broken - you like the visible blue line, it works for you, stick with it. As long as we're having true confessions. I am almost 100% threadline braid. I came from Stren on spinning tackle, then Big Game bulk spools. Since I'm mostly in the salt, switched to Seaguar bulk spools when they improved knot strength. I buy bulk YZH because it's inexpensive, and mostly use as disposable for initial setting of internal mag brakes on round reels. Where I go to mono, it's Maxima Ultragreen 10-lb down to 5-lb.

It has their top warranty - I would give them a call - wouldn't try to overthink it, tell them it broke when it shouldn't have. https://dobynsrods.com/warranty/

Hi @ButchA - my 1949 CAP (Carpano & Pons) wouldn't become Mitchell 304 for another 5 years. And yes, please show your 304. Here's my BR contribution to Old Stuff that @Eric 26 was fishing for

handle https://www.dadsoletackle.com/carbon-handle-cork-grips-90mm.html fittings https://www.dadsoletackle.com/abu-garcia-abu-garcia-ambassadeur-4500-5000-55.html https://www.dadsoletackle.com/abu-garcia-k11-abu-garcia-ambassadeur-chrome-handl.html https://www.dadsoletackle.com/abu-garcia-5182-abu-garcia-ambassadeur-4000-thru-6.html https://www.dadsoletackle.com/abu-garcia-95495-ambassadeur-4000-5000-6000-black.html https://www.dadsoletackle.com/abu-garcia-9627425230-ambassadeur-handle-nut-cover.html washer https://www.dadsoletackle.com/copy-of-5115-bin-7g-abu-garcia-ambassadeur-aluminu.html You can also search Abu p/n on Dad's Ole Tackle

Same handle configuration that is on every Ambassadeur Handle won't fall off if you have e-clip in place. There's a huge cache of Ambassadeur aftermarket handles out there, Kahara, Valleyhill (above, Haneda Craft), exotic - N/S Craft (below) - long list. Check Dad's Ole Tackle. Any 5x8-mm shaft-slot handle will fit, Doyo, Daiwa - every 8-mm handle nut fits. Knock your lights out.

you're kidding, right? @ButchA you have a great combo there. 7' TriSport was my first serious spinning rod, which I fished for bass, inshore and jetties all through high school. Adding details, my green Penn 716 is matched with 6-1/2' Fispo (Harnell blank); Hardy Exalta on Phillipson ES66; half-bail CAP (4th model) on 5' Cortland C2000; Mitchell 440 Ottomatic on Garcia Conolon, which was the legendary fast glass rod of the 70s.

make sure you buy only the reels that have no hype names dubbed on their technology and simple features. You won't be fishing much. Quite simply, Daiwa's Zero Adjust intentionally made the knob difficult to get to, next to impossible to bump and mis-adjust, and the name reiterates - Leave This Alone. The name is also accurate, it sets Zero position on the spool (and requires some dexterity when you want to do that). Hagane probably doesn't mean anything to the Japanese. But where Shimano uses it, it denotes this is forged metal, which makes it cleaner and stronger than die-cast metal, and stiffer than composite. hmmm

The owner of Bates @TXBass made an appearance on this forum, discussing his reels and answering questions. Maybe he'll return and answer the handle knob-swap question for @JN94

IPT is a BR can of worms over-thought to silliness on thread after thread.

clicking on the same link, 3 RH and 3 LH models are offered. Buy the hand you crank with - Right handle for right hand wind.

bling has its place replacing the clutch thumb-bar on Daiwa was motivated. easy on Shimano, Revo, Lew's - only requires removing the spool

The only time you should need to adjust them is when swapping spools. Since spool widths are never the same, you open zero adjust first thing, and re-set it last.

People have different ideas what counts as good tackle handling. A cover keeps dust off the reel when stored on a rod rack, and keeps the reel from getting marked when secured in a p/u bed (or on a kayak deck bungee on a trailer). For the day launch, the LP baitcasters on each side are not covered (they were for the drive down), but the round reel between them is covered, which protects all 3 reels from rubbing each other. Rod lockers on bass boats must be terror for hull slap. My Zillion SV TW is 2 years and 3 months old in this photo. this was the fall before - but not a mark anywhere on the reel here or since. my kayak cockpit always gets filled with soft stuff before I handle a big fish and set the rod down (drift sock comes in well before the fish gets to the boat). Wouldn't hesitate to buy another '21 Zillion, but since I didn't need a spool and handle, bought the '22 SLPW-Zillion w/ its few upgrades, instead.

@MN Fisher I shop amazon.jp frequently, and will purchase there when price + shipping is cheaper than buying/importing through US amazon prime (I have accounts on both). The product and shipping process is the same either way, just the cost varies. Amazon includes their own warehouse, and their arrangements with distributors. There are also individual sellers who can sell through amazon. Especially on Amazon.jp, you can identify the latter by exorbitant shipping cost. Amazon.jp fills so many orders to US, they fill a shipping container to their US Customs broker and ship the same day - all of this is legit. Many vendors that other BR members will look for, such as Gomexus, are also legit. Especially when the item you're looking at shows "Amazon Choice" you know it's coming from their warehouse and is legit. The people who are worried - just keeps stock available for the rest of us. Amazon - bought through Prime, because it saved me $20 over buying from amazon.jp - I went through checkout on both, and canceled the .jp order.

We need a report here from @Eric 26...