Show off your Stuff

[JediAmoeba]

47 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I see some Type R's in there. 👀

I love my type r's. I always wanted to get one if the yellow Australian ones

[MiceNReets]

Had this sitting wrapped up since the start of December.  Can’t use it for another few months but decided to finally unwrap it to check it out.  
 

 

[Derek1]

7 hours ago, MiceNReets said:

Had this sitting wrapped up since the start of December.  Can’t use it for another few months but decided to finally unwrap it to check it out.  
 

 

Pretty sweet. Is that braid on there. 

[newapti5]

Another TD-Z repainted. The is the 36mm spool 100ML "US Trail" version.

 

 

[MiceNReets]

4 hours ago, Derek1 said:

Pretty sweet. Is that braid on there. 

16lbs Seaguar R18 fluorocarbon.   I just put a strip of tape on the line.   

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Russell13 said:

my newest setup 

It's not showing the rig - it's going to a "Please join" page.

[Russell13]

i think I got it figured out now 

[Lead Head]

@newapti5

 

What type of paint do you use?

If you could share your process, or direct me to somewhere I can find information specifically for prepping/ painting a reel it would be much appreciated. 

[newapti5]

12 hours ago, Lead Head said:

@newapti5

 

What type of paint do you use?

If you could share your process, or direct me to somewhere I can find information specifically for prepping/ painting a reel it would be much appreciated. 

 

I am new to this as well. I chose Testors Extreme Lacquer (the old One Shot Lacquer) for these reels, but TBH, I kind of regret that decision. Lacquer is good for many things, looks beautiful as well, but it's prone to even tiny scratches, which are inevitable for fishing reels. My next project would be back to enamel paint. 

 

There aren't much information regarding painting fishing reels online, but there're a TON of info about painting model cars. It's a really deep rabbit hole if you want perfection. If you're interested in the process, I found this YouTube video quite helpful:

 

 

Forgot to mention, if you could disassemble the whole reel, the paining process would be much easier. 

 

 

[newapti5]

7 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

I am new to this as well. I chose Testors Extreme Lacquer (the old One Shot Lacquer) for these reels, but TBH, I kind of regret that decision. Lacquer is good for many things, looks beautiful as well, but it's prone to even tiny scratches, which are inevitable for fishing reels. My next project would be back to enamel paint. 

 

There aren't much information regarding painting fishing reels online, but there're a TON of info about painting model cars. It's a really deep rabbit hole if you want perfection. If you're interested in the process, I found this YouTube video quite helpful:

 

 

Forgot to mention, if you could disassemble the whole reel, the paining process would be much easier. 

 

 

 

A few things worth mentioning: 

1. I used 500 and 1200 grit sandpaper to prep the surface, and wetsanded it  with 1500 grit to finish.  You don't have scrape all the original paint off, but smoother the surface is, better result you can achieve. 

2. I didn't use primer, as I found the Testors lacquers work quite well without primer, as long as the surface is smooth.

3. Clear coats are optional, but I found them help alleviate small scratches. Painting clear coats, though, requires extra effort and care. Several light coats with quick hand movement. You don't want to spray too much in one coat, which could cause dripping. 

4. For lacquer, masks are not gonna cut it. You must use respirators like this: 

https://www.harborfreight.com/p95-maintenance-free-dual-cartridge-respirator-large-67727.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNzA0ODQ5MDUiLCJza3UiOiI2NzcyNyIsImlzIjoiMTIuNTkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20938165855&campaignid=20938165855&utm_content=160520900791&adsetid=160520900791&product=67727&store=3030&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA44OtBhAOEiwAj4gpObpqZ8eQFsVo6HelRDs7xkJc4rnPGEKJEx1efbD-cGFPpc3YJPyRaxoCK2gQAvD_BwE 

 

[Lead Head]

Thanks for the info!

[ABrugs]

I decided to sell both of my rods and reels to invest in one high-end setup. I got a 6th Sense Sensory 7’2 M/F + a Daiwa Zillion SV TW 100H.

 

[MiceNReets]

1 hour ago, ABrugs said:

I decided to sell both of my rods and reels to invest in one high-end setup. I got a 6th Sense Sensory 7’2 M/F + a Daiwa Zillion SV TW 100H.

 

Love them zillions.   

[bulldog1935]

We never show this side of the reels.  

That 2-hand rod is going to be finesse fishing for snook in 4 weeks...

[redmeansdistortion]

My new reel came yesterday, an Abu 2600C IAR.  I love these thumb bar models.  For me, they are peak Ambassadeur.  The brake plate and free spool mechanism on this was designed by Jarding Karlsson and Borje Mooseberg, the designers of the original 2500C.  These thumb bar models were to be the successor to the 1500C/2500C and were made from '97 to '99.  The program was scrapped after Pure Fishing took complete control of Abu in 2000, but would see a small revival a decade later in the 2600C Elite.

 

Here's the brake plates; top is a pushbutton model and bottom is a thumb bar model.  Very few parts are shared between them, the only commonality being the pinion bushing.

 

Note the differences, especially in the pinion yoke.  On the thumb bar model, the pinion yoke rides on pins to better keep the pinion gear aligned.  It makes for a smoother cranking reel versus the pushbutton models.  Additionally, the thumb bar models use a kick lever to re-engage the spool instead of pins located at the base of the driveshaft.

 

So now I have one of each.  The 2600C is set up with an Avail 2540R spool, line guide, pinion bearing, and mag brake.  From Valleyhill we have a 2BB level wind and 2BB idler gear.  I've retained the 5.3 gears and will use it primarily fishing in lakes and larger rivers (Lake St Clair, Detroit River, Huron River).  I have it spooled with #1.0 line.

 

And for the 1600C.  This one uses an Avail 2BB level wind, 2BB idler gear, line guide, pinion bearing, and 1520R spool.  It's used for fishing small streams and creeks and uses a 6.1 gear set.  It's spooled with #0.8 line.

 

[Big-Bass]

57 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

My new reel came yesterday, an Abu 2600C IAR.  I love these thumb bar models.  For me, they are peak Ambassadeur.  The brake plate and free spool mechanism on this was designed by Jarding Karlsson and Borje Mooseberg, the designers of the original 2500C.  These thumb bar models were to be the successor to the 1500C/2500C and were made from '97 to '99.  The program was scrapped after Pure Fishing took complete control of Abu in 2000, but would see a small revival a decade later in the 2600C Elite.

 

Here's the brake plates; top is a pushbutton model and bottom is a thumb bar model.  Very few parts are shared between them, the only commonality being the pinion bushing.

 

Note the differences, especially in the pinion yoke.  On the thumb bar model, the pinion yoke rides on pins to better keep the pinion gear aligned.  It makes for a smoother cranking reel versus the pushbutton models.  Additionally, the thumb bar models use a kick lever to re-engage the spool instead of pins located at the base of the driveshaft.

 

So now I have one of each.  The 2600C is set up with an Avail 2540R spool, line guide, pinion bearing, and mag brake.  From Valleyhill we have a 2BB level wind and 2BB idler gear.  I've retained the 5.3 gears and will use it primarily fishing in lakes and larger rivers (Lake St Clair, Detroit River, Huron River).  I have it spooled with #1.0 line.

 

And for the 1600C.  This one uses an Avail 2BB level wind, 2BB idler gear, line guide, pinion bearing, and 1520R spool.  It's used for fishing small streams and creeks and uses a 6.1 gear set.  It's spooled with #0.8 line.

 

Beautiful reels and stunning work!

[bulldog1935]

I did the math one day. 

After removing the initial ounce with spool swap, getting 1500CI down from 9 ounces original to 6 ouces final - those last 2 ounces cost $200/oz.  

 

 

 

@redmeansdistortion  all those existing upgrades in your yahoo.jp 2600CI made it a really good buy in a tough-find reel.  

[waymont]

On 1/7/2024 at 12:32 AM, JediAmoeba said:

I love my type r's. I always wanted to get one if the yellow Australian ones

I have a couple I love too. You know what it is about them that keeps them so smooth?

[JediAmoeba]

On 1/21/2024 at 6:33 AM, waymont said:

I have a couple I love too. You know what it is about them that keeps them so smooth?

The Type R has better spool bearings, a lighter zaion drag star and a lighter spool. I also believe they were more limited runs so a little more care was taken in their production.

[Columbia Craw]

2024 JDM SLX DC 70 is here.  This is my first experience with the DC cast control.  It’s going on my jerk bait rod.  The finish is much nicer than the flat black with blue graphics.  

[MiceNReets]

Mail day!   Decided to call st croix last week and upgrade my avid x 66MF to a LTB 68MXF (jerkbait).   Looks and feels great.  Thinking I’ll pair it up with a tatula 80 or tatula sv103.  Now gotta wait for the snow to go.   LoL

 

 

[Chris at Tech]

On 1/17/2024 at 2:40 PM, bulldog1935 said:

We never show this side of the reels.  

That 2-hand rod is going to be finesse fishing for snook in 4 weeks...

I’ll bite (pun intended)…

 

what does finesse fishing for snook look like?  I’ve only caught a few in the mid 20s but the big boys have been on my bucket list as long as I’ve had a bucket list.

[bulldog1935]

Hi @Chris at Tech, 

We fish the navigation channel in Arroyo Colorado (TX tropics) every winter.  One side of the barge channel is lined with houses and docks/boat-lifts, with 4 miles of sodium spot lights pointing into the water.  

It draws winter bait - balls of glass minnows.  The schoolie male speckled trout, which travel 20 mi/day to chase bait, sweep through the lights every night.  The dock piers stack snook, and I've seen 40 on our piers, seen, hooked, and lost snook over 30".  

On this rod, I'll be fishing metal microjigs, 5 g, about 1"

 

You look at the light on the water as a bowl, with bait "hiding" in the light, and gamefish ambushing from the dark.  Fishing the light catches nursery seatrout that live here.  Fishing the perimeter of the light bowl catches the schoolies, redfish, and snook.  

If no one is fishing the light on the adjacent dock, you cast past that light, and your retrieve maximizes snook attention along the dock piers.  

Susie with her 25" male schoolie spec, an 18" snook taken on a 3-g minnow plug, and the rod that casts that light lure past 130'.  

 

Even below-slot fish are a hoot on finesse tackle - this one was jumping off the table, and went back into the channel.  

Regards

ps - my first slot snook, 6 years ago, 25" was on this XUL-rockfish/Cetus combo, 4-lb copolymer - a double with a spec on tandem jigs (20-lb leader).  I since retired the little Cetus for braid on Shimano, and @Eric 26 now has the Cetus karma. 

This is also the most civilized fishing you've ever partaken.  Stealth is important, so you sit together on the dock, smoke cigars, sip rum, and watch for fish sign.  Somebody gets up and catches a fish, then sits back down.  Everyone who wants gets a spec limit every night.  

[Chris at Tech]

Thanks for the info.  Sounds like a great time!

[Big-Bass]

On 1/23/2024 at 4:53 PM, Columbia Craw said:

2024 JDM SLX DC 70 is here.  This is my first experience with the DC cast control.  It’s going on my jerk bait rod.  The finish is much nicer than the flat black with blue graphics.  

I bet this will be nice!