Show off your Stuff

[bulldog1935]

Of course the Ambassadeur level winds take a lot more effort (and money) compared to slicking up a new low-profile baitcaster.  @redmeansdistortion has done really well scoring great mini Ambassadeurs for relative peanuts to start great projects, then built at least one from just parts. 

The Ambassadeurs drive the LW from the spool during the cast, so the extra effort is removing mass and inertia from the LW mechanism. 

Low profile reels only need a good spool and spool bearing set.  We have Lew's original BB-1 patent to thank for that. 

[redmeansdistortion]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Of course the Ambassadeur level winds take a lot more effort (and money) compared to slicking up a new low-profile baitcaster.  @redmeansdistortion has done really well scoring great mini Ambassadeurs for relative peanuts to start great projects, then built at least one from just parts. 

The Ambassadeurs drive the LW from the spool during the cast, so the extra effort is removing mass and inertia from the LW mechanism. 

Low profile reels only need a good spool and spool bearing set.  We have Lew's original BB-1 patent to thank for that. 

One overlooked aspect of the synchronized level wind is that it functions as a brake.  Yeah, you aren't going to get 10 minutes of free spool, but you will get a very controlled cast that will still go just as far as a disengaging level wind.  Every one of my Abus casts further than my Millionaires and is about the same as my Calcutta Conquest on the same rod with the same lures and spooled with the same line.  Best of all, no adjustments need to be made between lure weights and techniques, it's set and forget.

[Columbia Craw]

New one. 

[KP Duty]

31 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

New one. 

 

I have that model, but built with the IM blank.  Yours looks like it has a longer handle (which would be nice)  Mine was purchased back in 2016.  

[Columbia Craw]

The shot angle distorts the handle. 11 1/4 inch fwiw.

[ska4fun]

My low-profile BFS crew. I'm more fond of round profile BFS reels, but these tiny reels have their appeal. 

 

 

[PressuredFishing]

10 hours ago, ska4fun said:

My low-profile BFS crew. I'm more fond of round profile BFS reels, but these tiny reels have their appeal. 

 

 

I see you got the krestel, thoughts?

[Eric 26]

1 hour ago, PressuredFishing said:

I see you got the krestel, thoughts?

I was thinking the same thing.

[ska4fun]

7 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I was thinking the same thing.

 

The new braking system has a noticeable learning curve, yet when you get used to it, the reel casts very good.

I cleaned the spool and side plate bearings, the casting ones, because they were greased.

[redmeansdistortion]

I just had to get myself another Daiwa SS 700.  Daiwa stopped making them this year and it was hard to find anywhere that wasn't eBay.  Remaining stock sold quick once word was out that production was stopping.  It's a true workhorse and will be perfect for my 10 day backpacking/canoe trip through Algonquin Provincial Park coming up in May.  These things are bomb proof and I needed something that I know will withstand the wilderness since I will rely on it to eat.  No doubt there are other newer and smoother reels, but I don't want a grain of sand to get in the way of me eating trout and walleye or becoming a temporary vegetarian having to live off of mushrooms, ramps, and asparagus.  Between this and my 2500C, I'll be more than ready.

 

[mrpao]

I want to get one too before they become hard to find in good shape. Just something cool about that old school reel.

[redmeansdistortion]

16 hours ago, mrpao said:

I want to get one too before they become hard to find in good shape. Just something cool about that old school reel.

They're the best workhorse reel since the ABU Cardinal.  I'm of the belief that Shimano copied most of the design for the original Stradic back in '91.  Looking at both schematics side by side they're nearly identical, down to the level wind and the way it's all put together.  The only differences are the way the anti reverse is implemented and the internal bail trip.  

 

You can still find the 700 and 1300 sizes new on eBay for decent prices as of right now.  It was the cheapest worm driven spinner in more modern times at half the cost of the Vanford.

[bulldog1935]

I suspect Daiwa Europe will continue offering the Whisker SS 1600 and 2600 models in Europe -- or else they would be sacked and burned. 

[redmeansdistortion]

7 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I suspect Daiwa Europe will continue offering the Whisker SS 1600 and 2600 models in Europe -- or else they would be sacked and burned. 

Yep, probably the most popular carp reel on that side of the Atlantic.  Most YouTube videos you see of the reel involve carp fishing in England and Germany.  The actually offer newer SS reels but they run double to triple what the Whisker does.

[Columbia Craw]

I could not refuse and didn’t want to wake up to a horse head in my bed.  I drove back down to the NFC-Edge’s new pro shop and to my surprise, I was allowed to check on hand stock and discovered they had a small selection of Silver Windows on hand. I also found out I could get the current on line discount.  I grabbed an MBR 736-1C.  I go to pay for it and the pro tells me to go ahead and come behind the counter and pick out my free rod. They had a promo that allowed customers to get a cosmetic blem rod free until they are gone. Most were Delta series but I found an EFX 694-1C but could not find the blemish. No matter. Free is a very good price.

[ska4fun]

On 12/5/2022 at 9:33 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

I just had to get myself another Daiwa SS 700.  Daiwa stopped making them this year and it was hard to find anywhere that wasn't eBay.  Remaining stock sold quick once word was out that production was stopping.  It's a true workhorse and will be perfect for my 10 day backpacking/canoe trip through Algonquin Provincial Park coming up in May.  These things are bomb proof and I needed something that I know will withstand the wilderness since I will rely on it to eat.  No doubt there are other newer and smoother reels, but I don't want a grain of sand to get in the way of me eating trout and walleye or becoming a temporary vegetarian having to live off of mushrooms, ramps, and asparagus.  Between this and my 2500C, I'll be more than ready.

 

 

I'm my surfcasting days, these superb pieces of work were one of my dream gear!!!

[KP Duty]

On 12/9/2022 at 12:15 AM, Columbia Craw said:

I could not refuse and didn’t want to wake up to a horse head in my bed.  I drove back down to the NFC-Edge’s new pro shop and to my surprise, I was allowed to check on hand stock and discovered they had a small selection of Silver Windows on hand. I also found out I could get the current on line discount.  I grabbed an MBR 736-1C.  I go to pay for it and the pro tells me to go ahead and come behind the counter and pick out my free rod. They had a promo that allowed customers to get a cosmetic blem rod free until they are gone. Most were Delta series but I found an EFX 694-1C but could not find the blemish. No matter. Free is a very good price.

I almost went for a silver widow with the christmas sale.  Such a sweet looking rod...on the X-ray LMX blank.  Next year....

[Aquaftm45]

On 8/16/2022 at 10:05 AM, evo2s197 said:

Just got a Sedition Cristobal and a new TD-Z 103HL

Great find, I've been trying to track down one of these for 3 or 4 years

[bulldog1935]

I added two rods this month.  If you read about my long shore-micro-jigging rod on the Redfish Rodeo in October, it was on a trial, and proved to be a great rod, but at 8'9", more length than I need in a kayak (that rod also has plenty of opportunity for shore micro jigging on Feb trip).  This 7'3" Abu Salty Stage Prototype Baitfinesse rod takes its place for big fish and extreme light lure range on kayak.  (Kurodai is black sea perch). 

This is a stunning rod, with the exception of a butt grip too small for human hands.  It casts 3 g past 120', will cast up to 20 g, fishes down to 1.5 g, powerful butt, fast mid, all the light stuff is in the short solid tip.  I wouldn't hesitate to fish it in bass finesse (I bought it for redfish from a kayak). Aside from casting, the stunning part, it weighs only 80 g and is shocking-light-in-hand. 

The grip solution - I added thickness and reshaped the grip to work for me using cork tape and X-shrink.  Very happy with the result. 

 

 

Added a bass travel rod, bringing my bass rod arsenal up to 7.  While I will use it for bass, that's not why I bought it.  5-pc Legit Designs travel rod. 

They packed in kryptonite, a Meiho box (my favorite lure boxes), a neoprene zip case inside that, and a rod sock inside that. 

Anyone looking for a versatile packs-small travel rod, this rod is really powerful, fast, a bit on the heavy side, but still casts 1/8 oz (below its rating) quite well. 

 

 

 

My real goal for this rod is an opportunity redfish rod when we bike-fish Laguna Atascosa NWR in February.  Every night, we'll be dock fishing for snook and schoolie male specs.  We plan to ride the no-motors NWR roads (roads are closed for the ocelot population), explore the Cayo and shoreline of Rattlesnake Bay.  I picked it because it's the most rod that will exactly fit in my bike half-frame bag. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

16 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I added two rods this month.  If you read about my long shore-micro-jigging rod on the Redfish Rodeo in October, it was on a trial, and proved to be a great rod, but at 8'9", more length than I need in a kayak (that rod also has plenty of opportunity for shore micro jigging on Feb trip).  This 7'3" Abu Salty Stage Prototype Baitfinesse rod takes its place for big fish and extreme light lure range on kayak.  (Kurodai is black sea perch). 

This is a stunning rod, with the exception of a butt grip too small for human hands.  It casts 3 g past 120', will cast up to 20 g, fishes down to 1.5 g, powerful butt, fast mid, all the light stuff is in the short solid tip.  I wouldn't hesitate to fish it in bass finesse (I bought it for redfish from a kayak). Aside from casting, the stunning part, it weighs only 80 g and is shocking-light-in-hand. 

The grip solution - I added thickness and reshaped the grip to work for me using cork tape and X-shrink.  Very happy with the result. 

 

 

Added a bass travel rod, bringing my bass rod arsenal up to 7.  While I will use it for bass, that's not why I bought it.  5-pc Legit Designs travel rod. 

They packed in kryptonite, a Meiho box (my favorite lure boxes), a neoprene zip case inside that, and a rod sock inside that. 

Anyone looking for a versatile packs-small travel rod, this rod is really powerful, fast, a bit on the heavy side, but still casts 1/8 oz (below its rating) quite well. 

 

 

 

My real goal for this rod is an opportunity redfish rod when we bike-fish Laguna Atascosa NWR in February.  Every night, we'll be dock fishing for snook and schoolie male specs.  We plan to ride the no-motors NWR roads (roads are closed for the ocelot population), explore the Cayo and shoreline of Rattlesnake Bay.  I picked it because it's the most rod that will exactly fit in my bike half-frame bag. 

I always appreciate the OCD and pursuit of perfection approach to your posts.  You don't half measure anything, and it shows.  

 

ETA:  So cool about that Ocelot population, and great to hear that they are being managed.   

 

 

[bulldog1935]

On 12/14/2022 at 12:14 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I always appreciate the OCD and pursuit of perfection approach to your posts.  You don't half measure anything, and it shows.  

 

ETA:  So cool about that Ocelot population, and great to hear that they are being managed.  

Everything about the Arroyo Colorado is wonderful - it's the most successful conservation project in Texas. 

I know 3 people who are clinically OCD, including my PhD boss, and it's quite creepy. 

But I'll read it as engineer is lifestyle, and I'm looking for something specific in all my tackle. 

BTW, if you want the details, here's what was wrong with the child-size grip -

- it absolutely hurt to hold - too small diameter, too short to grip with 3 fingers; the ridge in back split and spread your grasp wide between middle and 3rd finger.

I fixed it with scraps from other projects I had on hand.  Tried it first with 1/16" closed cell foam, blue masking tape, and X-shrink to make sure I'd like the finished shape.  Then cut that off and made it final with cork tape.  The trick was cutting all the correct tapers into the edges of the cork tape sections, so the shrink would seam all the edges together.

The trick with X-shrink - use a tea kettle, and pour boiling water from the middle to each end.

[ZillyWabbit]

Been looking for these for awhile now. Just picked them up within two weeks of each other. Both NIB. Daiwa Kyohga and Megabass IP79. 

[Big-Bass]

4 hours ago, ZillyWabbit said:

Been looking for these for awhile now. Just picked them up within two weeks of each other. Both NIB. Daiwa Kyohga and Megabass IP79. 

Tackle Direct offered the Kyohga reel a few years ago for like $149 and I think it was a mistake.  I bought one not realizing it was a jigging reel thinking I could just swap the handle.  It was beautiful in person.  The IP79 is a classic!  That is part of my collection of reels that are NIB of the OG Zillion and TD-Z style frame.  I bet that cost you a pretty penny!  Good looking reels!

[MinDoFmejiA]

My current "workhorse" is a Lews Speed Stick 6'6" ml, with a Pflueger President size 30. I currently have it spooled up with 10 lb. power pro high vis yellow, with some fc sniper 6 lb. floro leader.

my heavy setup is a BP MH heavy casting rod and an offshore angler casting reel spooled with Daiwa 8 braid. I use the casting for my hard baits, bigger frogs, and most top water. I use the spinning setup for everything else, whether its a weightless soft plastics, small spinners, smaller swimbaits, and lighter top water.

[Lucky6]

/e got a bunch of new gear in 22 pm me for questions/comments/strats