little giant

^^^^^ this. What PhishLI wrote. Make sure the pinion shaft is greased where it rotates on the plastic carrier.

I take care of all my reels, casting & spinning, fresh & salt. I have some reels 20+ years old and still use them. The innards of the baitcasters hasn't changed much over the years, the materials are better now. Have to wait and see about the durability of shimano's micro module. The ones I have are really smooth and quiet. I only use reel x grease and oil (Past10 years) no issues. Cal's on the drags.

I think a perfect, accurate cast is a form of art. The physics to do it is the science. Every backlash I've done in the past 50 years was a work of art!! 🎣

I have 2 of those reels, left hand. Doesn't look like a spring from that reel. There is only the 2 yoke springs and the clutch spring. If the reel works correctly, you're good!! Nice find! Mine are about 25 years old and are still use them. Great for crankbaits!

Chiming in as well. I do all the maintenance on my casting and spinning reels, both salt and fresh. After using a variety of different greases and oils, I now use Reel X grease and oil for all. Its synthetic and keeps them running smooth. Also use Cal's drag grease for the drags. Take pictures while taking apart and following the schematic when putting together. Lately, I open up new reels and found most to be lacking grease on the main gear no matter the brand.

Did you put back together correctly??

I'm a bank guy in Florida and matted vegetation and pads are the norm. I use an older Falcon cara heavy, 7'6" with a soft tip to walk the frog and big spooks. I use 50 lb J braid 8, never a leader, San Diego jam knot, never a failure! Now I use a zillion hd 8 speed, but used to use a tatula 103 8 speed and it served me well. (Still use it for other stuff, the jdm zillion spoiled me!!) You want an 8 speed to take up slack quick, the hit usually but not always come on the pause. The frogs are Spro, Berkley swamp lord, or the big one from gambler. I bend the hooks away from the body about 1/16". Learned this from Roland Martin video. He's a great Florida frog fisher!! I use to use 65 lb power pro and it worked well too. You will.have to do much practice for accuracy.

Thank you!! 😃

"The reel test" on yt got 165' zillion sv tw using a 6'6" rod. Just saying.....

I have been using quantum spinning reels for years. Never bought the cheap ones and had no issues with them. Bought. A 2500 and a 3000 smoke s3 inshore spinners and they're great for the money. Also have large size boca's and cabo's for the salt, great reels! (Up to 10,000 size!)

When sports authority was going out of business, I found 2 usa falcon 7' medium rods, 1 casting, 1 spinning for $27 each. Took to the checkout and she said they were priced wrong. Got them for $15 each!!!! And I'm a falcon guy....

I have both sv and non sv diawa. Alphas, tats, zillions. You might be overwhelming the sv brake at the beginning of the cast by using you wrist and trying to get distance. Try some sidearm casts. Probably have to do brake adjustments. I easily get 100' casts but I like moderate rods that load a lot and I use braid on all my baitcasters.....

Drag stack may have been assembled wrong, drag washers may need lubed?? I'm just guessing.....

Sounds like most of the ponds and small lakes here in south Florida, featureless except lots of vegetation. The bigger bass are there! For the most part, I found the big ones to be loners. I usually do some roll casts with weightless plastics 20 feet before I even get to the bank. Reeling very slow with twitches. You have to patient and quiet! Have you ever tried topwaters at night?? The big girls like the dark!!

I take apart and maintain all my reels, spinning and baitcasters. I'm used to working on precision things so for me , not an issue. That said, it can be quite stressful in the beginning, many small screws, etc. You must have the reel's schematic and take pictures every step of the way! You must invest in good precision tools! (Strip a tiny Philip's screw- you're doomed!!) Just my .02 cents!

Mahi, Cobia, Black Drum- Shimano twin power 5000 size. Check out Crowder E series rods or Bull Bay rods.

I'm not familiar with your areas.You don't say what size you want. My inshore spinning reels are 2500 daiwa ballistic, 3000 quantum smoke inshore and a penn slammer 3500. All great reels, well maintained and no issues. My son fishes the gulf off west coast of Florida . He uses shimano twin power and saragosa. He won't buy anything else! More $$ though.

I have a USA made WR1. 6'6" IM 6 graphite. Bought in the late 90's. Great t rig rod! I put a curado B5 on it for old time sake!

Florida guy here, Florida is the home of Gambler. Find the Gambler Duz It hook. Blade in the back and changeable. Built for their baits Pete

I have a TD Sol and TD Fuego. My first Diawa baitcasters. Both are great reels, light but strong! Fuego has Magnesium frame and the mag force Z brake. Still use them! Pete

Hmmm. Have to be more specific. Which river?? South, central and north Florida are very different.

I have shimano and daiwa baitcasters 20 to 25 years old. It's all about maintenance. Also have new models of both and learned to open them up and check the factory lube. Both brands were pretty dry so they got attention! As for the Fuego spinner, I have A 2500 that is great! I will say, I don't turn the handle to close the bail arm. Causes stress and wear to the internal parts.

This is a great thread! South Florida guy here. They jump, a lot! And I love it!! They're putting on a show of strength, fighting for they're life, really disappointed it wasn't real food!! Mostly bring them in, the ones I lose, I don't mind, It showed its skill, there's always next time! Pete

Pitzen, SD Jan, or fish n fool ( I think it's called, through eye twice and then a uni) all with 12 or 15 lb flouro leader. No breakage ever!