little giant

@Andrés Milano Are you using a baitcaster now? If you are, please tell us what you're using.

reelschematics.com

Tighten the cast control and see if it slows the spool. You can remove the cast control cap and make sure the parts are in there.

Penn Battle IV DX is all brass gears. Penn Slammers are all.brass, DX is stainless. They're well built reels, a bit weighty.....

You made no mention- cast control adjustment??

I fish the salt sometimes but my son only fishes the Gulf or the Keys. Would a warm or hot water rinse be better to remove the salt??

Ok on the washer. Note that washer may be a shim for the line lay on the spool. You could try a bit of grease on the bottom of the spool tightener. The lockdown.

You say 3, I'm guessing 3 drag, 3 metal: The 1st, lowest washer should be drag, 2nd-metal, 3rd- drag, 4th-metal eared, 5th-drag, 6th-metal. The 6th could be bowed or bell washer. I agree with just a touch of drag grease, both sides of drag washers.

Note that ceramic bearings are a bit noisy as well. HPR Bearings is a great seller with good prices. (E bay)

Did you stack the washers in their proper order?? How many washers in the stack??

Check the outside edges of spool for debris or if their damaged.

Yes, pictures! I lay all the parts on a tray in rows as they are removed. Easier to put back, reverse the order. Case screws can be different sizes, so be aware. When removing any springy clips, I do it inside a zip loc bag, if it flies, it's in the bag. And use good, bright light!

All great recommendations here. To get to your price point, have a look at shimano Nasci. I have the 2000 size and it's a good reel with no issues. If you're constantly getting your reels soaked, save up more $$ and do get an inshore salt reel. They're built for getting wet. Lower priced ones would be Penn Battle 3 or 4, Quantum smoke inshore

You're not giving much info, getting wet how?? Normal kind of use, dunking in the creek?

Welcome to the forum! Spinning or casting??

No round reels for freshwater. Got rid of them long ago. I do use them in the salt, 1 old Penn, 2 Akios.

Devil's Horse, small Zara Spook, wake bait with pauses in cadence. Watch for gators, wait, I'm 2000.miles away lol

Great writing Katie!!

Falcon low rider

@Eric 26 I cast my bfs set ups the same as the regular ones. I have to spend time really fine tuning the brakes when changing bait weights on the bfs. I use ML rods, Curado bfs and Dream Tackle bfs reels.

Were they catching bass?? They could've been using live bait...... Always try weightless senko and light weight neds

Unfortunately I lost all the pics on my old computer. My best was in the late 90's. 12.5 lbs, 24". In June, way after the spawn, can guess she would have close to 15 prespawn. Here, it's all about bluegill and crappie. I've caught em with 2 or 3 bluegill tails sticking out of their gullet. Watched a underwater video that biologists did in central Florida. Bass ate 3 or 4 bluegill, 1 after another, baby ducks, baby gators, truly amazing !!

@FrnkNsteen Lov my TD Sol! I use a handle I bought on Amazon. The brand is Lixada. 100mm, carbon fiber. For me, its great. $20-$25. Comes with everything needed to attach.

@Banned User Have the same spooky fish along the shore here. I make my first few casts 20 feet away from water's edge always hoping for a monster. Usually catch something and by then they all scatter. Also use a spinning set up and close bail by hand, it's more quiet.

If you have another Diawa baitcaster, take off the knob and look inside. You'll see what you're missing .