The Certate LT's can be lubed really easy without the tool, unlike the other MQ reels (Exist & Luvias) the rear cover comes of with two easy to access Torx head screws and you can add grease the the gears and oscillation gear and cam without having to disassemble the reel, it only takes a few minute...

The SS series are truly great reels, but they are a 30 year old design, the rotors aren't balanced, the inches per turn is low, and they are not very smooth. I caught my PB steelhead on my 700, and PB wild Rainbow on my 1300. I still use them every couple years but i'm surprised how crude they are c...

This is a no brainer, the Fuego LT. Daiwa killed it at the sub $100. price point, do a little shopping and you can find them for $80.00 or so. I bought a 3000 to use as a workhorse reel and was blown away. I used it side by side with my Certate 3000 CXH LT and several times I looked down to verify w...

I purchased a JDM Ballistic LT 3000-XH a few weeks ago and was not happy to find it was made in China :evil: from my research it looks like only the earlier models were made in Japan! First I have to say this is the best looking reel I have seen in a long long time but it has it's issues the drag wa...

I have the original grey 300HSL and upgraded the gears from the original brass to the Stainless Steel HD gears, it's been a very good reel, I would buy another in a second when the time comes. The HD is more oriented towards Ocean and Heavy duty work I believe they have greased bearings so that coul...

My 2500 Certate snaps shut well, you might have a bent bail arm or crud in the bail arm mechanism?

Kurt

I have three Certate LT's, a JDM 2500, USDM 3000C-XH and a JDM 4000C-XH and they have been the best reels I have owned so far, I have caught a lot of Salmon on the two smaller reels and they are just as smooth as they were when new (Butter :D ). One sneaky feature the Certate offers over the Exist a...

I'm aware of that little bit of play in the pinion but this different, it's a knocking that I feel when cranking and it is pretty much on par with each spool rotation so about eight per turn of the handle, it feels like a ball bearing skidding for a moment like it is dry or has water in it? I have l...

I have a problem with several of my LP reels, Lexa 300, Steez A, Steez SV103 and intermittently Tat. Type R CT. all of them are Lefty's and 8.1-1 Ratio but the Lexa. They have developed a knock for every revolution of the spool and depending on the load it comes and goes, I'm pretty certain it is th...

The Certate LT is a tough act to follow, it is right on par with the Stella in my opinion, I have been very happy with mine so far.

Kurt

I couldn't fish with a geary feeling reel like the Lew's spinning reels I have felt, it would drive me nuts! I know I would not detect a certain number of light strikes without a very smooth reel. Maybe some of the newer reels are smoother? I'd love to see them Daiwa or Shimano smooth, having anothe...

I had several Lew's Tourney Pros and they were very smooth and out lasted my Metaniums, Lew's knows how to make Aluminum gears that hold up. I've had five "Micro Module" reels, all more expensive than the Lew's Tourney and only one was as smooth as the Lew's and it was twice the price.

Kurt

LowRange wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:07 am

Fordvan

This just cracks me up! I can hear my buddies now ragging on who bought the ford van! , I think my next reel will be a Ballistic LT

Kurt

Meh. another rehash..., it looks like a bargain $25-50 reel, I was hoping for more.

Kurt

I would go with the Certate, I think the Exsence has a shorter stem overall. The Certate is a sweet reel, not as smooth as my Stella's but its still super smooth, the Certate take a bit of force to start it up due to all the damn seals.... That's interesting about your Certate, I have two JDM and o...