Why don't Shimano offer same and all models here and Japan? at least for the one piece It is similar here in EU. The two piece models are more popular here, yet they mostly import the one-piece versions and the selection is extremely limited. I'm not sure how they decide what they offer in markets ...

People used to buy spare magnets for the Haibo and installed extra magnets to make it work better. It is an ok reel, but you can do much better for 170 USD.

I think the line you are planning to use should be the deciding factor. Can you put enough line on a 200 size reel? If the answer is yes, you should stick to this size. If the answer is no, then go bigger. Regarding specific models, you got good recommendations already, so no need to repeat that.

If you have the reel, why don't you measure it? You have to take it apart anyway if you are going to replace it.

Savage Gear has 4 soft baits for ned rigs, looking at the catalogues it is available in the US for a year now. Do you guys have any experience with them? The reason I'm asking is that Savage Gear brings them over to EU as well for 2022 and thinking about trying the technique. I never fished a ned ri...

I like St Croix and these changes make me believe that things aren't going that well. Am I off base here? What you describe is an industry wide trend, I can see this here in EU as well. Unless it is a high end rod, companies using more and more cheaper stuff. I see a lot more SeaGuide stuff as well...

Fran87 wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:51 pm

Do you use it for swimbaits ?

No, it is on a 6"10 medium Expride. I use it for hardbaits, lot smaller than the swimbaits you plan to use.

Side note both platforms I mentioned I would not hesitate to even go in the 4 oz plus mark ... I'm sure I've thrown heavier on my Ryoga. I am not one who subscribes to the theory reels have limits as to what they can cast. They are in freespool during a cast, so there is no stress on internals. The...

Slazmo wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:07 pm

Quality and production output is kept low to keep the product in demand, hence why Gomexus has come around flogging off their copy cat product at a fraction of the cost and people are lapping it up greedily.

You can buy DRT copies of lures as well, I do not think they can do anything about it.

People are still buying it, why would they sell it for cheap? Simple supply-demand scenario.

Maybe I just need to start making videos on my own to show how to properly do all of this type of service and repairs. I think this would be popular here, at least I would watch all of them. My highest-end reel ('15 Calcutta Conquest) was pretty dry out of box, needed to add some grease to the gear...

This ayu profile GanCraft keeps iterating is probably the best looking hard bait out there in my opinion. These baits look absolutely fantastic.

EU has a new Ambassadeur Beast HD 5600/1 for the year which I have not seen in the US shops yet. But I do not expect it to be a major seller anyway. Other than that, there is no new reel for the EU market this year. Anything new will come this fall or later I believe.

Not Deps, rather GanCraft.

I would be more interested in the finished product It looks interesting though, nice work.