WetBlanket

The thumb bar is like $5 on PLAT. I'd replace it.

I primarily do my fishing from the bank, going to spots on my mountain bike, and since the Megabass Triza line came out a few years ago, i am all about these 3-5pc rods now. I am indeed looking at the Legit Design ones as well. I got the 7' MH version of the Black Label, and considering its length and power, they're just 4.4oz, which is kinda very good for a multi piece rod. Will try this one out until the end of the season, and if i don't like it (which i doubt would happen), i might grab a Legit Design one.

Not hearing much about these models in NA, but they seem to be very popular in Japan because from what i hear, they're very universal rods that can cover a bunch of different presentations. Got a 5pc model a few days ago (still waiting for it to arrive), and was wondering if any of you have one, and how do they perform.

Always preferred the og steez and the og alphas for jerkbaits, and that for the longest time, but now i personally consider the aldebaran mgl to be the best for the job because of how the reel palms and how light it is. Of course a 21 zillion will be great, but between the two i'd go with the Alde.

If you send it in, it will be expensive to clean all your reels. Absolutely worth learning to do it yourself, it really is not complicated at all, especially older reels like the og steez, og alphas, og zillion, pixy, etc. Those reels were so simple and well built.

Issues with cheapo reels are not issues. They're features.

Just grab an OG Alphas, they usually come with 5.8 ratio and are excellent reels.

If you're thereeltest, casting distance is the only thing that matters on a fishing reel, yea😏

You do pay customs in Canada. Its better to use standard tracked shipping and not fedex/dhl/ups cuz they'll charge you way more.

Outcasting is not being a better reel. Daiwa has a ton of ultra long casting spools, and if your buddy is using the stock SV spools in his daiwas, of course it will lose in the casting distance. These spools were never designed for longest possible casting distance, but at the same time, Daiwa is the one brand that is not missing the ultra long casting spools eighter, you just need to know what they are, and if they're compatible with your reel. I don't use Lews reels, but i have used plenty of abus. Nothing comes close to daiwa/shimano. Of course, that's my opinion.

$200 is enough to get a zillion, which is amazing. You try a zillion, and doyo becomes a pepper grinder in comparison.

Nothing from Doyo comes close to shimano/daiwa. If the yen was high, the reason to get doyo is because they're cheaper, but now, there's no reason at all. If the capacity is an issue, that's a valid reason, but it being tiny doesn't mean that its a fragile reel for smaller lures.

Why bother with this when JDM Alphas is so cheap?

I have three. Easily one of the best fishing companies there is. I also have one of their swimbait rods, and its the absolute best big baits rod i've even held in my hands. S tier company, and i am glad all their stuff is still made in Japan.

Always 20lb Sufix 832 or Berkley X9. Cuts through wind much better than 30 or 40lb, so you cast further.

This magseal stuff is such a waste of space for freshwater.

Wouldn't mind Fenwick becoming a relevant brand. Haven't had a rod of theirs for about 15 years.

You want to replace bearings, but you don't know if the issue is a bearing? You kinda have to test all the bearings before replacing them. My best guess is that its the gear set that went geary, Tats aren't exactly known to have long lasting gear sets that stay smooth and silent.

ooooups, forget what i said then, i know nothing about spinning reels when it comes to best for the money. Personally cannot stand the Zodias line, and Levante break way too easily.

My answer to this is always the same. Use your setup the way you're most comfy with, and don't pay attention to how others use theirs.

Depends on the technique. And if you invest less on a reel, what exactly are your options? There's only the tatula and the slx, both of which are so far behind an alphas sv tw, that they shouldn't be compared. But lets say that you do get the $100 tat/slx instead, what kind of a big upgrade are you expecting to get from a fishing rod for that $150 you have left instead of the $100? All and all, for a reel and rod combo, you'd need about $350 to get something that is balanced, as in a good rod and a good reel. For $250 you have a choice of getting an okay reel (slx/tat) and a meh rod in the $150 range, or an amazing reel (alphas) and a meh rod in the $100 range. In this case i would go with an awesome reel, not like you're gonna get a great rod for $150.

Get the zillion, replace all bushings to quality bearings, and you will ask yourself what's the point of a steez.

For $250 i'd grab an Alphas SV TW from Japan ($150) and some $100 rod locally, there are a few decent options for the price.

Nope. Neither companies have issues with construction. The only issue i've even seen in the last few years is the curado's thumb bar falling apart while fishing. I don't own the reel so it didn't happen to me, but i've seen 5+ random youtube videos where this is happening.

Better take some pics when you retreive it😎It could be a Zebco or an Ultima