I bought 2 the week they came out, but just took them out this week. First of all, it's light! Looks like the AldebaranMg/Core50 (duh), but feels much smaller due to the different design side plate. If you've got big hands, you might not like how it palms. I get some room between the reel and palm w...

its too late for me to turn back now. hope i don't regret my decision I don't think you'll regret it. I'm just saying, I won't buy anymore since there are other options I prefer. The PG 172H is my favorite jig rod at the moment. Even though I had to modify the grip (looks like the FDU now). Before ...

I own the PG 172H and 176M, and the EXPRIDE 165L-BFS and 262UL-S (and many other shimano rods). I'd have to choose EXPRIDE over PG because of the price/performance ratio. Performance-wise, PG is higher, but not that much higher. But costs more than double. Plus it's got an ugly foregrip that can get...

I've got the Rushburn and the Deep Salvage, for my two favorite fishing methods (jig+pig and deep diving crankbaits). I'll be honest, I hate the grip. Especially the slippery metal foregrip thingy. It is ugly! And the split grip shape feels very awkward. But the blanks are very nice. Light weight ye...

If you want one, you better get your orders in with your favorite exporter.

ZPI F-0 oil on bearings and Tri-Flow High Performance Synthetic Grease with Teflon on gears.

Thanks for the detailed explanation davej.
I'm going to start hunting for a few of those REALIZERS today.
Looks like they have a shad color that might work really well in my area.

By the way, I love ST-41s. My favorite treble hooks.

Beautiful boat!
Be safe and catch a lot!

Fishingboy wrote:btw, the seats/posts would have to go

You must not fish in rough water too often
I wouldn't dare fish my local waters without seats.

Not likely with 25lb line and the baits you're using, but is the rod too stiff?
Only thing I can think of.

Or maybe the reel line guide has a nick?

Great post.
Looks like I'm gonna start looking for a few REALIZERs.
How did you use it? Like a big crankbait? Slow? Fast?

They sell those domed ZPI stickers as a separate product as well.
But I'm not a fan of domed labels. I wish they'd sell etched aluminum decals. Kind of like what Megabass uses on their newer reelseats.

Like this>

Fishingboy wrote:They look awsome. Kind of like something from Starwars!

That's what I was thinking.

ShoreBound wrote:One more question: Are the spool and the brakes sold together or separately?

First of all, they don't make it anymore so you're kind of out of luck.
They used to sell the parts separately.

ShoreBound wrote:I can't see from the pictures how the brakes can be adjusted. Anybody know how?

You just turn the magnet thingy.
This would turn a Conquest 50 into a NICE small plug reel.
I thought about getting this, but I got a 50S instead (with this)

Which one?

There's 3 different types of the 2500R
2500R-CUSTOM 1st gen based on a 2500 size Certate (glossy metallic blue)
2500R-CUSTOM 2nd gen based on a 3000 size Certate? (flat metallic light blue)
2500R Hyper Custom, Certate with Saltiga gears (silver)