I'm guessing it was a couple of years ago, I saw spinning reels that had oversize or "mag" spools. I saw some pros using them and then they kind of disappeared. The theory behind them, from what I gathered, was less line memory and no need for backing using braid.

Anyone have any info on this? Kind of curious.

All of the "large arbor" spools are basically the same idea.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.protackleoutfitters.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/a/r/arbor_sp.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.protackleoutfitters.com/fishing-reels/pflueger-arbor-series-7430x-spinning-reel.html&usg=__ON0ITVwwNojTALoDrrIwvcASS_Q=&h=300&w=300&sz=14&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=6R8gHV8s_SNqDM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnew%2Bpflueger%2Barbor%2Bspinning%2Breels%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reelreporter.com/freshwater-reels/bass-pro-shops/images/Bass-Pro-Shops-Pro-Qualifier.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reelreporter.com/freshwater-reels/bass-pro-shops/bass-pro-shops-pro-qualifier-spinning-reel.php&usg=__x2HNtaNBtMstGhC_Nr4tuUs64TQ=&h=250&w=250&sz=11&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7FHM9h_Qum-EGM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbass%2Bpro%2Bpro%2Bqualifier%2Bspinning%2Breel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1

bear7625, the "no need for backing using braid" does not apply to any reel. No matter what reel you use, if you don't use some anti-slip material ( tape or mono backing) on the spoor arbor, you will get ghost drag.

The larger spool diameter reduces the line coil size but does not reduce any memory that the line may have.

bear7625, the "no need for backing using braid" does not apply to any reel. No matter what reel you use, if you don't use some anti-slip material ( tape or mono backing) on the spoor arbor, you will get ghost drag.

The larger spool diameter reduces the line coil size but does not reduce any memory that the line may have.

Actually the Pflueger Arbor shown in one of the links above has little rubber "nubs" inset in the spool that are supposed to keep braid from spinning without using backing.

My new Soron has a spool for braid that has 2 rubber "o"rings. Haven't had a chance to try it yet.

I was just curious about the reasoning behind the oversize spools and why they kind of died out?

Did they die out?  I bought 2 US Reel 240 SXs this winter.  What provoked me to do this was the two that I bought last year, they worked good - no issues.  Nobody told me they were dead though.  Bummer.

Did they die out?

Hardly.  They just released a new baitcaster.  My buddy has one, and he loves it.

http://www.usreel.com/

I'm not sure if the newest Johnny Morris model falls into the category of "oversized" spools, but I have one and I really can't tell much of a difference between it and my reels with the smaller diameter spools. I like it though...

I think most of the upper lines of BPS spinning reels as well as the new Pflueger Arbor are using oversized spools now, plus all of the US Reels use it too.

I thought it was a fairly new thing in spinning gear instead of being dead, but I really hope it's just a passing fad.  Personally I think they are ugly. Might be more of what my wife says about me, that I "can't stand change" but I probably won't use one until it's the only thing available anymore. For my next spinning reel I'm either going Abu Garcia Soron STX, or Daiwa of some type, or maybe........just maybe.........a Quantum or Pinnacle reel (still looking around at all of my options). But whatever it is, it won't have that mag spool design on it.