Thanks for all the help guys. The only thing I am not crazy about is the clutch on the side rather than behind the spool. It really feels good on my Loomis CBR841. I am going to have a hard time putting it down this year i think. That put me off at first, but it won't take you long to get use to it.

Darn. The Morrum 1600 and the 1500C are both way out of my price range. I had been wanting to try a small Abu round reel, so when a package deal came up for 3 Black Max 1600 reels, I grabbed them. Only used one so far, but boy am I glad I bought them. I couldn't believe how well such a cheap reel ca...

My ito is the smoothest reel on the retrieve that I've personally ever handled. You've made a good start. :mrgreen: My first baitcaster was going to be a Curado E7. Fuegos were being closed out at TW so that wound up being my first reel. Still don't have an E7. Somehow I've wound up with over half o...

I have the Type R model. Not the best looking reel IMO, but who cares with that kind of performance? :mrgreen: I picked up several older Diawas the past 8-9 months. I did manage to make a few casts with the first two I received before it got too cold for me. The TD-X 103HSDF hasn't made it to a rod ...

Light lures - Curado 51E
Everything else:
Fuego
Patriarch XT
Zillion
Lews TP
Ambassadeur Black Max 1600

Picking just ONE reel as my favorite in the last 4 years (will shortly be 4 years since I got back into fishing) is super easy. Definitely my Curado 51E.....or possibly the lovely Patriarch XT...or maybe the Zillion 50th...or Lews TP1SH...or TD-Z 103HL Type R...or Fuego...or STX...or Alphas ito...or...

I had a long time b/c user tell me that there were several beneficial reasons for filling a spool to the rim: casting distance, drag, and IPT. Distance and IPT seem logical to me, but not sure about drag. I have filled my spools to the rim the past 2 years based on his advice that I should be fillin...

Are you still looking for a MH rod? If so check out bbcboard. There are 2 of these for sale in one ad. Original Team Daiwa Cielo Worm/Jig Rod Model TD CFL 701WJ7 7' Lure; 1/4oz - 1/2oz Line; 14lb - 30lb $150.00 TYD They were originally a $300 rod. I have the 6'6" model. Got mine on closeout for half...

Call or email Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle. He is always willing to help. There are guys here who also can help...provided they read your post and feel like replying. Most times they do so be a little patient. The gurus may not be checking this forum all that often because this is probably their b...

I know at least one person here has made spacers out of PVC. I saved some Nylon bar ends from a job. Made spacers for my Sol so I could use the Presso spool I bought for it a couple years ago. Basically they should never see any wear, but my concern is will they shrink over time and fall out? I have...

BTW, it took longer to deburr the I.D. on the cut-off side than it did to make the part. I used a microscope for best results.

I've been to Utah twice. Both times in the dead of winter. Unless the weather patterns have changed in the last 40 years, then I feel safe in saying I will be fishing before you...at least in our respective home states.

Background: Two years ago I picked up a used Sol. Ordered a Presso spool for it at the same time I ordered a replacement spool that had been stolen out of my Type R by a guy no longer on any of the fishing forums I frequent. Didn't use the Sol at all last year since I bought a Curado 51E when they w...

I used my Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'10" M Fast to throw a variety of lures last year, but smalljaw can give you better feedback on this series of rods than I can. There is also a 2-piece model of this rod available if that would fit your situation better. You can't find deals on these rods lik...

The TD-Z 100m spool will NOT fit in your TD-Z 103HL Type R... Any photo of the spool in question would help out - it doesn't have to be very detailed. If you want to trick out one of your Fuegos, the TD-Z 100m spool WILL fit in there and offers a nice performance upgrade on it's own. Add in a quali...