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Yeah as far as I know, its a three stack, alternating with the metal washers. Its just jerky and not sure why...

Little lost hear and thought I would post and get some suggestions on possible fixes for a reel that I have. I can tear my baitcasters down and know them pretty well but just not sure what is the issue with the drag on this reel. It's a Okuma Stratus, DSG house brand, pretty dang close to a Okuma Avenger. It is a cheaper reel but I have had really good luck with them, comes with oil felt drag stack nothing fancy but I have swapped out to carbontex drag washers when the drag was not smooth. If I tighten the drag down it just doesnt want to release smoothly its more like jumpy and not consistent when coming off. Taken it apart multiple times and lightly greased the carbontex washers but not sure what else to try or look for, the reel is smooth when winding forward or backwards just the drag.. Thanks

St. Croix Real Holiday sale just kicked off, retired rods and lots of other stuff on sale - https://stcroixrodfactorystore.com/pages/2025-holiday-event

Fishusa todays sale Smithwick perfect 10 rogues 25% off today - https://www.fishusa.com/Smithwick-Perfect-10-Rogue/?utm_id=01K8TQPS247Y9JWHYZX71FTD3S&_kx=4nr42tQ0nZ0djQ9JdDHD9kwttJ7EaoKaQ9tu4NNYC3A.UL4Fw2

Yeah not the greatest price but if you need one its way better than what else is out there....

Shimano Curado mgl 150 left hand only, shipping only at Academy on clearance for $169.

Wasn't sure where to post so I thought this may be the best place, received an email from St. Croix today about Crazy Alberto" Knie and thought others might want to know about, here is the link to read about his health update and ways to help - https://mailchi.mp/stcroixrods.com/help-our-machinery-crazy-alberto?e=b6652923f0

Bummer about not being able to get out, hopefully that changes in the future!

The blade does not lay flat, its pretty much stuck in that position hence my concern. It may not be an issue at all but something I notice when looking at them.

Mine came in from BA custom baits, quality is there, I walked over to the lake to throw it and see the action...its much more muted than a bladed jig. I do not have a grass piece to compare it to but looking at the pictures it is different in many ways. The blade appears to be a normal vibrating blade and is set further back. The hook appears to be smaller. My one concern is over blade placement being close to the hook and interfering with hook ups. Quality components, hand tied skirt, bait keeper and solid hook and paint job. Will fish it some tomorrow and see if I get any takers but thought I would pass along.

Not sure, I do not have any but I have heard they are decent. Depends on what you are looking for, I was looking that the buy one get one but the only rods I would be interested in they are oos, go figure. I think if you need some MH fast rods then not sure you would find anything better in that price range, imho. I am looking for MH moderate rods and just harder to find..

Follow up, I probably need to start another thread on this subject but put on the kvd 1x,2x #4 and then tested in a bucket and it sank like a rock, lol. I know the water is warmer than I would be using and cooled the water down but not much difference. I then tried swapping them out with #6 kvd's and more of a slow sink, without any hooks she floats but probably going to stay with #6 until I can take it to the lake and play around with line and see what it does. My preference is suspend or very slow sink but will have to keep messing around with it. I do not see any cracks etc and its not filling with water so I do not believe that is an issue.

Ark rods and reel sales - https://arkrods.com/collections/sale?omnisendContactID=68c877bfe9c359a7e897dc40

Ended up ordering some from AE since it was just the cheapest way to get some. They are not offset like I wanted but will keep looking for a source with lower shipping, thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Yeah agree, they really start squeaking and have more vibration...there are lots of good ones out there, will have to see if they make a compact version. Looks like the Hawg Caller 1/8 is the same blade I am looking for that would be very similar but better made than the one I am throwing now...

Most blades are pretty inexpensive, just trying to find somewhere with cheaper shipping and smaller amounts. I do not need 50 blades, lol...and barlow at least when I was messing around had a minimum order of $15. Yeah I'm cheap, I have no issue with that and could care less what anyone thinks in that regard, doesn't bother me in the least. Again the strike king mini buzz has the same dang blade and is 3x more expensive so how much something cost doesn't necessarily mean better quality. Actually think the way the blade works is why it wears out the holes, I just need to find a source that has the same blades and I should be good.

Yeah i have some bigger ones but I wanted some compact models, the strike king mini uses the same blade and its $4 and would have the same issue. The issue is the blade is thin and what happens is widens the hole until it is open on one end. I think it has to do with the wire does not go through the center of the blade, just 2 holes parallel and it wears faster that way.The head and wire is stil good but these blades are toast after 5 hours of pretty much constant throwing. I just want to find some blades which I have on barlow but somewhere I can get a smaller amount Thanks for the suggestion will look on lure parts online.

I had been looking at that site but the minimum order size is higher than I want to spend, thanks though.

The Buzzbait bite has been pretty decent last couple of days and i have some more expensive baits and some smaller compact baits from walmart, used to be $1.00 but now they are $1.25. they are pretty small and compact, I think they are 1/8oz. I remove the skirt and add a small paddle tail and the bass have approved. My problem is after one day of throwing it I am wearing the blades out. I would like to just pick up some replacement blades but not sure what the size is and what to look for. I have attached some pictures showing the blad with a micrometer in mm since thats what I tend to do things in, lol. I believe its the same blade found in the steike king mini pro buzz bait. The one thing that I notice is the wire does not go through the center of the blade, the 2 tabs are on the same side. If anyone know which blade this is I would appreciate it so I can pick up some.

Tacklewarehouse has gambler lures in sale - Save 30% across the entire Gambler Lures lineup, including soft plastics, jigs, terminal tackle, and more. Sale ends October 22 at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET.

I wasnt able to get the boat out yesterday so i was walking the bank and found a rebel popr hanging from a tree so I retrieved that and then at another point looking down I see a jerkbait floating in the water willow....picked it up and it had no hooks but was a vision 110...was pretty gunky but cleaned up fine. I'm to cheap to buy megabass stuff so first vision 110 so thats pretty cool. Trying to figure out what the original hook weigh, I know @A-Jay puts KVD 1x, 2x strong #4 which i have 4 and 6 but seem to be to big but I have no wat to know what the original hooks weigh.

I figured for the price it was worth a shot...will follow up whenever I get them in ..

Being that I am cheap I saw this in another thread and have ordered a few, https://bacustombaits.bigcartel.com/product/bladed-grass-jig Not sure how long it will take to get them but interesting to find out how they fish.

There is a bait monkey support group thread....

Agree on the not to continue, part need this thread to remain open....although my wife would prefer it to not exist, lmao.