Cody28

It's relatively new. Most it has been through was a 4 pounder in open water, so not the biggest test. I got a really good deal on it, so could probably make my money back IF I were to sell. I'd have to agree with this as well thinking back to some of my older graphite reels. With the Hypermag not being made of aluminum. This is another concern of mine.

Just curious how important and what affect a supported pinion gear has? I have been told it improves longevity from what I’ve seen online but it’s hard to find any information on what it actually does. Is it true that the Lew’s Hypermag and Pro TI both do not have a supported pinion? I currently have a Hypermag and after hearing this considered selling. Should I beware of the longevity of this reel? I know they’re not truly high end, but being the most expensive Lew’s reels I would expect they have something in place of this? Any help is appreciated.

The new line of St. Croix Bass X rods look promising. Got to handle one but wasn’t in the market to buy. Don’t get caught up in the extra heavy vs extra extra heavy. The extra heavy would be my glide bait rod and the 2 X would have to be one giant hook I would think. Not sure I’d have any use for that one.

It recently came to my attention that St. Croix seems to work with Daiwa at times. In their Legend Xtreme model they use some Daiwa components and when they have their customer appreciation sale you typically get a free Daiwa reel. Are they partners of some sort? I know St. Croix is strictly rods and Daiwa is more of a reel company than a rod company, but seems odd to me that they would work together. Any info on this? Got me wondering if St. Croix used Daiwa reels when designing their rods for balance and reel seat shape.

Mine is definitely not a click but how could I check to see if the roller bearing is the issue?

Recently just got a Vanford 2500HG on a crazy deal. Label was missmarked, so I do not want to return it. May be able to do an even exchange without the receipt thought. Have you ever had issues with your Shimanos that make that scuff sound. Mine is doing it as well. Kind of annoying. Did they ever have any issues with their reels? Mine is brand new and makes a scuffing noise as well.

I have a 7’3” MXF on the way and the handle had a lot to do with my choice to go Victory because I hold super high as well.

Yep it’s the newer model. I got into bass fishing fast and furious and got some reels through gifts, some on huge sales, etc. I wish I had money to throw around and just try things but I don’t. Whatever I end up getting with the little bit of play money I currently have I’ll have to use.

I appreciate the info. I have a few tournament pro LFS reels and really like them. Just thinking maybe I should branch out a bit after reading everyone’s posts. In your opinion what’s the best use of the SLX Mgl then if it’s not great at light baits but also not great for pitching/flipping/etc.?

I don’t believe they’re as different in application as you think. The MGL spool is made for pitching/flipping/target casting just as much as it is for light baits according to videos I’ve seen from Shimano reps.

I’m looking at a really good deal on both a Lews Pro SP and a Shimano SLX mgl 70 size. Any thoughts on these specifically?

Personally, I like skipping jigs with a stouter medium heavy rod with a soft tip to help with circle casts. This opens up a lot of options especially with St. Croix. If you're willing to go a little longer, the 7'3" MHF and HXF rods in the St. Croix Victory line are both super awesome rods. I have the MHF and it quickly has become my favorite rod. I've handled the HXF and its tip is super soft with a stout backbone, so it might be perfect for your needs. If height is an issue then I would stick with the dock sniper or even the 6'10" MH offered in Mojo. Ive never owned one but the Legend Tournament Series also offers a 6'8" MHF and 7'0" Heavy for just under $300. Side Note: There is a 7'1' MHF in the St. Croix Victory line, but I hear it is much lighter power than the 7'3" MH for some reason and is better off as a spinnerbait rod.

Just curious which brand you prefer out of the two? Also if I were to eventually taste the forbidden fruit are their any your recommend? Any mid priced ones you like? I totally understand that you get what you pay for. Im more curious about reels at equal price points. Would you still say theres an obvious difference if reels are at comparable prices?

I did some more digging on these braking systems and have to agree that they’re very very different.

That’s more so what I mean. I am looking at buying another Reel and not sure if I wanna stick with Lew’s or try a Shimano. I’m not gonna scrap or sell my current reels. I am self admittedly an odd ball about that sort of stuff and like to keep the feel of my gear somewhat consistent.

Quite the opposite. The St. Croix Victory line has too skinny of a handle/reel seat. Any "full bodied" baitcaster leaves a wide gap between the reel's side and the seat which is uncomfortable. Hard to explain without seeing it. I wish I didn't like the victory rods so much so this wouldn't be an issue. On my other rods I don't mind bigger reels, but I like to be able to switch them around.

That is one I have been looking at, but I believe it is the same frame as the 150 just smaller spool size within. Unless Im missing something it looks like you really can't get a true compact Shimano without spending a lot over 200. The Curado MGL 70 I hear has an actual smaller frame, but thats about all I know about it since its not in stock near me.

I have been a fan of Lew's since I began taking bass fishing seriously. It was the Lew's Tournament Pro LFS that blew my mind at the time and made me dive nose first into more Lew's reels. I quickly built an arsenal made up of about 8 St. Croix rods paired with Lew's reels. Now that I'm way down the Lew's rabbit hole I'm hesitant to switch over to Shimano because I do like them, but its hard not to buy into all of the internet hype built around the brand being so amazing. I hear about the longevity of Shimano reels (Not sure if this is valid for budget models) and how Lew's is just made in the same generic factory as most general brands. It makes me wonder if I should gradually switch over to Shimano or is it all hype? I have tried an SLX and it seemed super bulky to me compared to my Lew's stuff. I'm not buying super high end reels (usually ~200 and below) and most Shimano reels in this range seem bulky. Are there smaller frames that I just don't know of? Is it worth making the switch? Is Shimano really that much better than everyone else like some people make you believe? What are your thoughts? Side Note: This all sparked while looking into buying a Lew's Pro SP and seeing all the Shimano fans posting on reel threads. That being said if you recommend the Shimano reels are there any specific for skipping that you like? Ive been looking at the MGL spools for this.

No one uses heavy line for the weight/force of the fish. That is just nonsense. Thick line is used for added abrasion resistance, ability to pull through heavy grass, and numerous other reasons due to our green buddies hiding in the worst cover on the lake. When worried about the force produced by the fish it's usually a matter of adjusting drag not line diameter. Think steelhead fishing, very strong heavy fish and very light line.

Any update on your Pro SP? I can get one on sale for 150 right now.

I completely agree with this. I only tie a double uni knot and if done well have had zero issues. I have to break off due to a snag or whatever, the line typically breaks before the knot slips, so I trust it.

Im definitely pitching more so than flipping. I just get lazy with the wording between the two. Ironically I think the switch is more for pitching than flipping, but in either case I have a hard time seeing the value in it. This type of switch makes sense to me. I really don't understand the use of the ones that Lew's has.

I used to go big diameter too, but someone told me to try 6 lb. and its a game changer. You can pack it so much tighter that its a lot less likely to backlash. Bigger diameter leaves more room in the reel to have deeper layers overrun more superficial layers leading to the dreaded birds nest.

I enjoy using braid to leader in most circumstances. It gives a rod of any price point a bump up in sensitivity as long as you keep a relatively tight line. Suffix 832 in 30 lb. is the best for the money and this way you wont spend so much on having respool with expensive fluro every so often. I would use something like a 15 pound Seaguar Invisx as my leader material because its mid price, has good stretch to protect the braid, and will be thin enough with the 30 lb. braid to work with your eyes. Money spent up front, but will last a very long time. If you do wanna try straight fluro you cant go wrong with FC Sniper in 16 pounds. In this case, spool up the reel with cheap 6 pound mono backing first then only use half the spool of Sniper. This way you can get two spools out of it and you get all the same benefits. The 6lb. filler will never be used and thin mono can be packed really tight to avoid issues.

I guess what I don't understand is you'd have to keep the thumb bar down manually so you lose the ability to feather the spool to control distance or slow the spool to stop from backlashing when it hits the water. Is this correct? Seems more challenging than helpful.