SloatsburgPete

jumpstart here.........5 years later. I have been fishing Central Park regularly for the past 8 years from 59th to 110th and everything in between. I've noticed in the past several years a serious decline of fish in all lakes. When I started it was common to catch bass on every outing, and a few spots I knew, a few fish a time at the same place within minutes of each other. Now, years later and a much better fisherman I can fish the park for 1/2 a day with only a few bites. I'm sure there are many reasons, all small, heavily pressured ponds, at the Meer, heavy construction and a lot of meat fisherman (people keeping fish to eat). At the Pond - which used to be great, the water level has been much lower than it had been for years, and not much life in the water there. Van Cortland Lake in the Bronx - similar situation to Central Park, I might have to bite the bullet and head to Prospect Park.

I thought the drag on my Lew's Tournament MG was slipping too (all mono line), then the handle turns but disengaged from the spindle, and the drag seems locked in place - after 1 year plus of light use. I bought that MB as an upgrade to my cheap Abu Pro Max which is 1/2 as much, 2x as old w/ 5x the casts, no issues. 1st and last Lew's for me, I need something more reliable.

NavyVet - I'll share any flak you get over Lew's. A few years ago I bought an Abu Pro Max - great, "inexpensive" reel, I still use it. I thought I'd "upgrade" and bought a Lew's Tournament MB - about 2x the cost of the Lew's. I didn't expect 2x the reel, but the Lew's was not much of an upgrade at all, and stopped working within a year of moderate use (spindle disengaged from the handle). So I'm done with Lew's for now - will give Daiwa and Shimano a try next.