Bigbox99

I think its just a lighter spool version with some different color finishes. They've done this before with the SV Light Limited. Why it's on the US market I have no idea. These are usually JDM only and limited production. Maybe they feel like they need a flagship BFS reel for the US market?

I've brought a spool of big game in once to run ethernet once. It worked.

Spool tension on a big bait reel sounds crazy to me. I couldn't imagine the kind of tension required to get a slow drop with a bait weighing multiple ounces. I'm not familiar with that Toro but does it not have sufficient braking to forgo spool tension?

Braking systems are different. You'd need a spool designed to fit into the curado 70i/k or Scorpion 70. Off the top of my head I am not aware of Yumeya spools or Aliexpress spools for this platform. I think the Curado 70 MGL may be the lightest spool for this platform out there.

It's in a forum ad for leader line.

Yeah, definitely looks like a MH in a non bass line. I have a MH musky rod that is rated for multiple ounces on the top end. That loomis naming convention is also consistent with their other musky rods. I don't know if it is an earlier or later model than the ones in the link. These say "muskie: on them. https://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast2008gloomis.html

Split grips look cook. Your hands don't go on that part of the grip anyways so it's a nice touch to expose the blank and apply color winding checks, thread work and branding or all the above. Full grips can look nice too as long as there is some effort put in such as an hour glass shaped full grip, taper, or some sort of detailing to breakup the expanse of handle. The uniform cylinder handle that just abruptly ends looks a little low effort or old fashioned to me. Even a lightning rod can manage a subtle hourglass shape on the handle and it's a $40 rod. A full grip is not an excuse to be boring. This rod is another full cork grip that I think looks nice. It has a little shaping on the handle and big dual color winding check between the grip and EVA buttcap.

What seemed good? You can buy every handle on that site for less.on either Amazon or Aliexpress. Maybe even 50% less. This should be the good news.

These are just aliexpress handles.

I guess I'm glad I got these a few years back from a local tackle store. Didn't know they killed off the bait. I got them just to have them since I remember them being a big deal as a kid but never really used them.

I don't know if they are under $50 anymore but my favorite Walmart cheap rods are: Lews HP 6'10" M in spinning for finesse Berkley 7' MH Lightning Rod for heavier moving baits Lews HP 7 MH for jigs, frogs, big worms and Texas rigs Not at Walmart but the Lews Laser SG1 7'4H" can be under $50 sometimes. It's great for 1-3 oz big baits. For aluminum frame reels $50 or under I like the Piscifun Alloy M, Seasir Megacuda/Leydun G6, Seasir Salaminus and Johncoo Ares.

The old smooth looking handle side plates are aluminum and the newer ones with the groove detailing are Zaion plastic. Daiwa did this on a few reels when they were pushing Zaion. The Alphas got it with the Alphas SV and I belive all subsequent 1st gen Alphas and did the OG Steez with the SS SVs, LTD, USDM Steez SV and the Tatula Zillions.

I've never had any sort of failure from plastic side plates but I've heard of it. The AR bearing can crack the side plate and spin in the housing. The few instances of this I have heard were from Curado 200Ks and a Tatula SV with locked down drags, braid and home run swings on the hook sets. I like having the aluminum side plate because I fell like it is a higher end treatment vs plastic and is just a nice to have for the money. Also, akshually the OG Alphas had both aluminum handle side plate and Zaion plastic side plates. The older reels had aluminum side plates and the newer 15 Alphas SV ect use Daiwa fancy plastic. I own both and honestly can't tell a difference.

Every reel I own, from Daiwas, to Shimanos to weird chinease reels you've never heard of is setup with the spool tension to just remove side to side play and this is also how they came out of the box. All 30 something of my reels are zero adjust set from the factory. I'm a believer that you should do what you want with your reels but the "right" way according to Shimano Japanese instructions is to just eliminate side to side play. The US instructions will tell you that you can use spool tension if you want. Who is right? Probably Shimano Japan but you do what you are accustomed to.

That's been my experience as well. The reels were all honestly described or were better than described. Usually the reels have been flawless and even came with after market parts like spools and/or color parts. I'll get a reel that is graded B or "good" and it will look brand new except in one tiny scuff in the clear coat that you have to turn the reel just right to see in strong lighting and a price that makes me feel like I am stealing the reel. This is in stark contrast to my Ebay experiences of blurry images of "excellent condition" reels with numerous small defects in the paint with a price just below already inflated US retail.