ska4fun

From left to right, some rods from brazilian market: 1- Rapala TS2 Spinning (30lb, H-power) 2- Shimano Compre (a 20lb rod underrated as a 15lb one, in the most shimanoish way. Actually the brand used the good reputation of the previous models, to sell a rod with cheaper carbon blank. 36ton to 24ton downgrade). The green old compres are the real deal. 3- Saint Datsun (10lb, ML-Power) - braziliam OEM brand 4- Maruri H y p e r i o n (8lb, UL-power)- brazilian OEM brand. Seems like the rod name trigger someone here since it's automatically censored. 5- Rapala Gold II (8lb, UL-power) In the past, I noted US brands were using cheaper carbon meshes, in their rods, even more so in the mid to high-end lines. The large diameter is a classic indicator of cheaper carbon mesh, in spite of the fiber density, or tonnage. I saw a Phenix Classic BFS rod and It has the same diameter as the first blue H-power rod in the picture, just above the foregrip. The same thing happens in the Dobyns Sierra Series, Shimano Expride... None of the rods pictured are trout ones, all classic bass rods.

Wow, I use 30lb to fish for Giant Araipamas. Isn't that diameter a strong overkill?

What kind of fish are aiming with froggin under a 65lb line?

The Phenix Classic BFS seems to have a very cheap carbon tissue.

But it matters. The finger test is useful to show where the mass center is in the reel-rod combo. The closest to the hand/fore grip, the better, for casting, specially when jerking and slashing. When the combo is heavier, way above the fore grip, the stress in the wrists more noticeable.

But you are right. They are discouraging diy service. MagSeal is ***, just magnetic grease hold by specific ferromagnetic plates in the reel internal parts. Magsealed bearing are a whole new situation.

Barely an upgrade. Try the Alphas CT SV, a multi-purpose, high-end reel.

For me, MagSeal is a downside, since the magnetic grease isn't easily accessible and daiwa wants to force users to send the reels to them.

Lub the knot.

No. But there are several wannabes trying to pose as BFS anglers using heavier gear. Actually is a current epidemic in angling scene, as for now.

Tatula SV 70 + custom shallow spool.

2021 Conquest 101. Since the new 101 size is the same as the one 51 one, I would customize it to BFS, since the ''New'' Conquest BFS is a joke.

Dragging is the act of pull a crank/jerkbait, using line tension, without cranking. Sudden death is a frenetic cranking, followed by a sudden stop.

Daiwa Fuego

The Curado Bantam 100, first gen. The design Shimano ''stole'' fom Lew Childre... For the time, they could be called low-profile.

Indeed. I'm wrong on my higher expectations, indeed.

Daiwa millionaire CT SV

Actually not if you knew about the ''sudden death'' and drag/drifting works for crankbaits.

It indicate the maximum resistance to before giving away line. Usually a reel must release line above 25% of the nominal line rate of the rod. A reel in a 20lb rod should release line above 5lb.

Line slack control is of uttermost importance, if you use topwater lures, like stickbaits, poppers twitchbaits, propellers and jerkbaits. And to avoid the fish getting into structures.

Better main gear, better drag, better control with a wider range of lure weights...

Way better reels: Tatula 200, 300 and 150...

The disadvantages of higher speed reels are way less important than the strong positive points: better line retrieval, without the need of frenetic control, better line slack control, quicker catching overall...

Quite normal. Baitcasting doesn't allow us to feel a tangible improvement in casting distance, under bearing upgrades, if the factory ones are decent. You see it marginal in pitching. Braking system is tuned to the factory bearing and its spool spinning capabilities. Bearings upgrades, even more so with hybrid/ceramic ones, will create overspinning and a equivalent overbraking, negating distance gains. For extreme distance casting, think of Daiwa 7HT and related stuff, the gains are solid, since the long trajectories and advanced braking systems, allow to braking adjustments in the air. A lot of people boasts about bearings upgrades, because a lot of companies are making money over it.

Your dominant hand always with the rod. Cranking requires way less precision.