I've had this Shimano Calcutta 51 for years and have used it a few times. Fun little baitcast reel, just that it only reels in 16" of line. Good for crankbaits and stick worms.

 

Only thing I changed out is the stock 70mm handle for a longer 84mm Shimano Calcutta handle. Reeling feels much more fluid with a longer handle on a small reel.

 

I just wish I could find a shallow spool for this reel and make it a BFS. I have 30/8lb PP braid spooled and thinking of going with 20/6 PP braid and filling it with more mono backing and see if it will cast lighter lures.

 

Yeah I got one, simply love it for flipping-n-pitching t-rigs & jigs. If it's windy out the slow gear ratio can make you work a little harder.

 

If I remember correctly @Delaware Valley Tackle said the gears could be changed. 

 

To me, low gears and short handles work perfectly together. 

An e-friend on another forum put a long double handle on a low-geared spinning reel and discovered he couldn't keep up with charging fish - just a consideration. 

 

19 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

To me, low gears and short handles work perfectly together. 

An e-friend on another forum put a long double handle on a low-geared spinning reel and discovered he couldn't keep up with charging fish - just a consideration. 

 

I have the same experience.  Slower gears with a shorter handle means your hand travels a shorter distance to bring in line.  With a longer handle, your hand is making bigger circles to bring that line in.  Personally, I feel that retrieve rate should play a major role in handle selection when one wants to upgrade.