Show off your Stuff

[bulldog1935]

@redmeansdistortion Good to know. 

There's a big difference in the tolerance and fit of high-torque and run-of-the-mill Allen (hex) bits. 

And part of it, you need a dedicated tool with a fixed handle, because gunsmithing bit + handle won't fit inside a handle knob.  If you go to a place like McMaster, the quality Allen tools are sold as High Torque.  The fit is so tight you have to align them very straight just insert into the socket. 

Back to that fit, if you try cheap tools on solid hex sockets, especially alloy screws, you'll end up rounding out the hex socket. 

[redmeansdistortion]

I like BFS a little too much.

 

[mrpao]

It's never enough.

You need to double that number.

[redmeansdistortion]

2 hours ago, mrpao said:

It's never enough.

You need to double that number.

I'm actually in the process of a 2500C IAR scratch build.  I scored some new old stock side plates the other day, going to go with the Avail offset frame, aluminum palm plate and brake plate, 2540R spool, the works.  If the exchange rate weren't so good right now, I wouldn't be doing it, but compared to prices a year ago I'll end up spending about $300 less when all is said and done.

[Cbump]

3 new rods and a new reel. I cheated on Daiwa with the reel. 
 

Tatula Elite Brent Ehrler 7’ MMHF paired with a Zillion I already owned. 
 

Rebellion 7’3” MHF paired with a Tat SV Limited I already owned. 

 

Tatula Elite Randy Howell 7’3”Dropshot/Shakey/Underspin rod paired with a new JDM Stradic. 

All ordered online. 

Not quite sure on the Rebellion. I prefer powerful but skinny rods. This thing is massive. Broomstick massive. 
 

 

[thunderblack]

The stradic on a tatula will not catch fish. The two brands actually deter fish when used on the same combo. It will also rain every time you fish and there will always be a banana in your boat

[Cbump]

Lmao. It took a lot for me to put It on there for real. I didn’t want to spend more than about $150 so really It came down to Tatula or Stradic. I didn’t like that the Tatula was made in China or that It was black and going on this particular rod. 
Got the Tat Elite rod in though and it’s made in China lol ??‍♂️
So whatever lol
 

 

 

 

I do have a pretty sweet H2O tac 40 spinning rod in ML that I was trying to sell that no one wanted. it’s just put away now with no reel. Might go ahead and get the Tatula LT when funds allow and put It on there. 

[thunderblack]

I like Stradic as well. They look good

[MiceNReets]

On 9/15/2022 at 11:19 AM, Cbump said:

Lmao. It took a lot for me to put It on there for real. I didn’t want to spend more than about $150 so really It came down to Tatula or Stradic. I didn’t like that the Tatula was made in China or that It was black and going on this particular rod. 
Got the Tat Elite rod in though and it’s made in China lol ??‍♂️
So whatever lol
 

 

 

 

I do have a pretty sweet H2O tac 40 spinning rod in ML that I was trying to sell that no one wanted. it’s just put away now with no reel. Might go ahead and get the Tatula LT when funds allow and put It on there. 

The Poison Adrena is made in China and it’s a fantastic rod.   I think the tatula LT being made in China is pretty irrelevant as a reason for not wanting it.    The Stradic looks like a better match on the rod anyways and I enjoy the Stradic over the tatula LT so much that I got rid of my tatula LT reels and picked up 3 more Stradic reels. 

[redmeansdistortion]

On 9/15/2022 at 11:19 AM, Cbump said:

Got the Tat Elite rod in though and it’s made in China lol ??‍♂️

I wouldn't worry about Daiwa and Shimano gear being made in China, they own and operate the factories.  Other brands like Lews and Abu do not and have OEMs build to their specifications.

[Cbump]

Well good news, I’ll be buying a Tat LT anyway. Picture this: 

My wife and I go to take off at daybreak this morning in the boat. I say to her, watch that pole. She puts her hand on It. Less than 10 seconds later, she lifts said hand to take a picture of the sunrise. Pole immediately flies out. ?

[redmeansdistortion]

All spooled up to go creek fishing in the morning.  Hopefully the bite is hot, been a few weeks since I've been out.

 

[Derek1]

6 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

All spooled up to go creek fishing in the morning.  Hopefully the bite is hot, been a few weeks since I've been out.

 

That’s wicked cool man. Hope you enjoy it. 

[redmeansdistortion]

3 hours ago, Derek1 said:

That’s wicked cool man. Hope you enjoy it. 

Thanks!  Had a pretty great morning, bite was slow but still managed a couple of browns.  Still good to get out of the house for a bit.

[Bankbeater]

It's been a while since I posted the lineup. This year it includes:

3 Daiwa baitcasters

3 President spinning reels

1 Shimano SLX

[thediscochef]

On 9/15/2022 at 10:19 AM, Cbump said:

Lmao. It took a lot for me to put It on there for real. I didn’t want to spend more than about $150 so really It came down to Tatula or Stradic. I didn’t like that the Tatula was made in China or that It was black and going on this particular rod. 
Got the Tat Elite rod in though and it’s made in China lol ??‍♂️
So whatever lol
 

 

 

 

I do have a pretty sweet H2O tac 40 spinning rod in ML that I was trying to sell that no one wanted. it’s just put away now with no reel. Might go ahead and get the Tatula LT when funds allow and put It on there. 

Those Tac40s are nice. I have like 8 of them in various casting and spinning setups.

 

I did away with brand loyalty today though, I broke my shimano clarus spinning rod this morning dragging a chatterbait through some weeds. It wasn't anything that should have broken the rod tip, but that's what happened. Oh well. My first non-tac40 or shimano rod is this St Croix Mojo Yak MF that will be paired with this well worn speed spool tournament pro. Gonna be using this for lighter weight swimbaits, chatterbait minimax, jerkbaits, wacky rig etc. I got the yak version for the shorter handle, Winn grip, and reinforced tip. Hoping this rod lasts me a bit longer than others have. I think catching the biggest bass I've seen in the Cabelas pond is probably a good omen.

I also picked up a lews mach spinning rod. I liked the feel.

[redmeansdistortion]

With the water being low, I went and scouted pools and runs on the local river yesterday.  A nice rain should bring in the steelhead so hopefully I'll be getting them soon.  This is a tricky river to fish as the underlying topography changes quickly due to urban runoff, but most of these deeper pools should remain relatively intact.  They don't really change unless we get some very, very heavy rain.

 

[redmeansdistortion]

 

Scratch built 2500C IAR, made from new and new old stock parts.  The only used parts are the press arm and pinion yoke.  

 

 

And for comparison purposes, a bone stock 2500C on the scale.

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

 

Scratch built 2500C IAR, made from new and new old stock parts.  The only used parts are the press arm and pinion yoke.  

 

 

And for comparison purposes, a bone stock 2500C on the scale.

That's some serious weight-loss.

[redmeansdistortion]

19 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

That's some serious weight-loss.

Heck yeah.  It's now my lightest round reel.  I also have another 2500C, a 1600C IAR, Millionaire CT SV, Millionaire Ringa SSS, and a Calcutta Conquest BFS.  

[Eric 26]

6 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

 

Scratch built 2500C IAR, made from new and new old stock parts.  The only used parts are the press arm and pinion yoke.  

 

 

And for comparison purposes, a bone stock 2500C on the scale.

I’m not a round reel guy but d**n that’s good looking ?. When I was much younger probably 14 years old I bought a red round Abu Garcia reel (don’t remember the model?) to bring to the annual Minnesota fishing trip/vacation, stopped fishing 2 years later and always argued with my brother as to who bought it?. 

[bulldog1935]

@Eric 26 you can't imagine the total change swapping the heavy stock spools for new lightweight spools.  Everything you learned about setting up your old Ambassadeur goes out the door. 

Zero end tension, up to 1/4 oz, you don't need centrifugal, and with lighter weights, you only need a light mag brake.  Especially for the stream trout rods  @redmeansdistortion is matching.  

There's a lighter spool available than this, but this reel easily fishes tiny 1.5-g plugs. 

[redmeansdistortion]

6 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Zero end tension, up to 1/4 oz, you don't need centrifugal, and with lighter weights, you only need a light mag brake.  Especially for the stream trout rods  @redmeansdistortion is matching.  

I'm using the centrifugal brake with the extra small blocks from Avail on my other 2500C, 2g to 7g+ with zero spool tension.  It's the most controlled reel I've used and does exactly what I want with zero fuss.  With some of my other newer reels like the Calcutta Conquest BFS and Millionaire CT, I often have to make slight braking adjustments depending on bait weight and technique.  I don't have to do any of that with the 2500C, it's so simple yet so effective.  

[bulldog1935]

I went through the centrifugal exercise on my 1500C, taking the approach of setting mag brake for the lightest thing I'm going to throw on the reel, and centrifugal for the heaviest I'm going to throw. 

I reduced the 5 Avail magnets to 2. 

It would throw 7+ g without backlash.  When I added centrifugal shoes (the same smallest/lightest), it was just a distance robber on the light end.  So I went back, replaced the centrifugal with the Avail spacer, and moved the magnet from the left side to the right side, which my photo shows above. 

 

The one that really floored me is my 4600, which I was targeting 1/2 oz on light braid. 

When I was tinkering for initial set-up with 6-lb YZH, discovered it would cast 3 g, set my mag there, and added 2 centrifugal shoes for the half-ounce. 

The reel is backlash-proof from 3 g to an ounce - no adjustments. 

[Eric 26]

@bulldog1935 & @redmeansdistortion you two guys are  light years ahead of me as far as your knowledge of reels?. I may not be able to break down/rebuild a reel but I can say without a doubt I sure love seeing and definitely appreciate all of you guys sharing on here?