IAR is instant anti-reverse, non-IAR uses a ratchet anti-reverse. So here is where things get confusing, the 2500C IAR nomenclature was used for Japan market reels in gray only, in export models, it was the 2500CI. The 2500C IAR was made from '94 to '02, but at the same time, models that were insta...

The 2500C was produced from 1975-1981 traditionally. The 1500C started in 1977. They don't have Instant Anti-Reverse. The CI and CIAR models came out in the 1990s. There are a lot of revisions from 1975 -1981 up to 1984. From 1989-2007 many too were produced with the changing of company ownership. T...

It is a great build!

For fishing I rotate a lot of sunglasses. Here are some that I currently use in my lineup. I bought a cheap Amazon sunglasses case (like a jewelry case) with drawers so they are all easily accessible. When I take a few fishing, I have hard cases that I store them in so that I can rotate. Bajio Toads...

Sorry I added one below that I forget so I edited this post. Thanks!

I agree. I have purchased a number of JDM reels over the last year. Conquest 100HG, Bantam XG, Zillion, Alphas, Zenon, Caldia, etc. Prices are great but a $50 increase here may be a $50 increase there. Glad to have some of the OG reels to fish with too. If they were made today, they would be alot mo...

Looks like 2/1 will be another price increase for Shimano/Daiwa...

Get a Bantam from Japan Lure Shop, Digitaka, or Japan Tackle. The 22 model is very nice. Or...find a Daiwa SV103!

dragon1 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 16, 2023 7:31 am

Agreed gents, great to read from both of you.

Same here dragon1!

I have been saying the same thing for years. The Daiwa SV103H and SV103XS are the best reels Daiwa has ever made. I have 11 of them. They are not as light as a Steez or even some modern offerings but when they made them back in 2015, I think they took the best of the TD-Z and the OG Zillion and made...

tincanary wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 31, 2022 6:57 am

Looks great Bob! Happy New Year!

When I want to fish, I reach for a Daiwa or Shimano. When I want to spend days in the woods traveling by canoe and fishing the rivers, I will take an Ambassadeur over everything else. For as much as I love my super tight tolerance Japanese made Shimanos and Daiwas, I don't want a grain of sand or t...

Old school Ambassadeur reels are very similar. Great quality and timeless function.

Kudos to new2BC4bass for mentioning the ABU Black Max 1600c. I've never known anyone else who used these but they are tiny "tanks." I bought a couple on clearance in the early 90s. Loaded them with spiderwire and mounted them on Shimano Crucial rods. SUPER comfortable to palm. Awesome drag. Built l...

The SV103 reels do that for me. I have 11. And the OG Zillion and TD-Z frame the same! I did pick up a Procaster ZX (the blue one) new in the summer from the 80s. What a premium looking reel for the time!