Ern

Back to subject. Quantum reels have CQ issues that have plagued them for years. I have had an original QMD (made in Japan) since 1985'ish. I have my grand fathers old 33 (made in the USA). Both reels are in great shape. I just greased both yesterday as matter of fact. I could spool either and use it today without problem. I wish I still had my old 1310's or my Prolite. But I am glad to be rid of the QSS's, the Snapshots, the Hypercast, Micro, XtraLites, and Energy reels. One EM7-1 cost me a huge brown trout I still have nightmares about. Quantum's biggest problem is bean counters cutting counters. I would believe that an engineer worth anything can make a great reel. Cutting corners to a point to where it makes the accountants happy with the result is the trick. I tuned an Extralite trigger spin, XTT00 last night. Required removing a ton of grease, turning down the gear shaft (how the bearing went on is as amazing as how it came off) and polishing the gear, degreasing everything, polishing the drag plate, de-burring the Teflon drag washer, and removing drive gear shims. I need to call Quantum to get a bearing for the left side as the three bearings are two pinion bearing and a right side drive. Had a place for the 4th bearing on the left side plate. I guess the accountant said "no". As was the case with the polishing of the gear I did. But after reworking this reel it is awesome! What I will have when I get the other main bearing is a 4 bearing Ultra light trigger spin with a 5.4:1 gear ratio and a smooth fade free drag. I think it will do well as my grand daughters first reel. Minus getting a bearing, I have $2 in the reel at this point. Look at how many Cardinals are still in use. Even my QMD. Old Mitchells that still work. Then look at how many of the new reels have failed. I have learned to look at a reel's schematics and then have the reel in hand to see if it has the features I want. I own a full set of the Shimano Symetre FJ's. 500, 1000, 2-2500's and a 4000. But I wont be buying a Symetre FL. I own Curado E-series reels. I won't buy a G-series. At one time If I could get a couple months out of any reel I was happy. I have killed ABU, Daiwa, Shimano , Lew's(original), and Quantum. if I used it, it died. One of my Symetre 2500's is on its 5th year, maybe. Cleaned it yesterday, too. I have had it to the beach surf fishing, Disney on a plane, tailrace trout and pond bass fishing, Carp fishing, and wading for smallies. It has seen some use. Only wear on it is the spool labeling is faded and has a scuff on the lip and the little plastic thingy in the handle has gone MIA. I'd imagine it could be found in the tailrace area I fish. I had to polish the oscillating slider, too. Other than that. Clean, lube, and fish. Any reel can have flaws. But from my dealing with Quantum, I have found consistent QC issue and lack of customer support (a whole other issue I have had with Quantum) to make me spend my money on other product.

Zebco, Van Staal, Quantum, Martin, Fin Nor, Martin, and Rhino are all BRANDS owned by W.C. Bradley Co. Original Van Staals were legendary. Opinions differ now. And best in the World is relative to what it needs to do. Google ZeeBaas reels if you want a top of the line, take it for a swim surf reel. Then come tell me about the Van Staal. There are several best in the worlds relative to what you want a reel to do. I'd love an Exist 1003 or a Cardiff 2000HGS for trout fishing. Wouldn't use either in the surf. Do your research before talking nonsense like everyone else.

I had posted a little back about issues of the lube on a Shimano Symetre 2500 FJ. I got a lot of good ideas on what to use. After fighting with the reel I started looking closer at the internals to see what was causing the problem. I also found a site that went through the different lube types that Shimano has for their reels. I found out rather easily that the Permalube that Shimano recommends is said to be hard to find even from Shimano as they want to hoard it and very few retailers carry it. Secondly, I found out that it is the most Heavy of the grease types Shimano uses in reels. Hmmm. I read that the black friction ring can cause the binding too. I seen suggestions to replace it with a new or blue one from Shimano, to grease it, or to remove it. Friday night after another binding fit, I tried grease - still binding. I removed it- still binding. "Dang!" I tore the reel down this past Saturday morning and got to looking at the guts really close. Drive gear and pinion were good. The bearings were all smooth. I even took the anti-reverse hub apart and cleaned it. What I did find was tooling marks on both the oscillating gear at the post and the inside of the oscillating slider. Hmmm. I broke out the dremel and a polishing stone I use with my guns and polished up the tooling. Much better but still catching. "DANG!!!" By design their is a flat spot that ever so often hits just right as the oscillating gear runs inside the slider. THE SOURCE OF THE BINDING ISSUE. The thinner grease was allowing for this spot to catch. So I got out a box. wrote a letter and was planning on shipping the reel to CA. Then I remembered the HEAVY GREASE. I have some heavy lithium grease in the garage. Worst case I get to clean it again. I gave the gears I shot and the inside of the oscillating slider a double dose. SMOOTH and no binding. Needless to say I am happy. Ern

Shimano Curado 200E7 Shimano Cumura 63M Stren high Impact 10lb Throwing Heddon Tiny Torpedos (or any topwater) to river smallies.

I know this gets said a lot. But I am going to let some in on a little secret that my just help your bank fishing. I have been wading trout and smallmouth fishing for the last many years and off and on bank fishing for what ever. Stealth has become an important part of any of it. Especially since I am a LARGE guy. At 6'3 and 330lbs I have learned to be a little sneaker than the next guy. Especially since my partner for most of my fishing was half my size. slow and stealth can be our friend. So what is the big secret? What is the one thing that I see everyone making a mistake? I am blessed with small stream with plenty of smallmouth and a pond with a lot of hungry largemouth within walking distance of my house. Even a world class brown trout fishery within 3 miles. I get to see kids and their parent out enjoying all. This simplest thing could change their hookup count. Before you go plowing to the water edge, Stop. I mean stop walking and approaching the water edge. Even crouch down if need be. I usually stay back a minimum of about 15' to start. Make your first cast from here. This approach keeps your foot step vibration and any shadow or the view of you from the fish or to a reduced level. This first cast can be the best of the day. I usually work an entire trip like this, especially if bass or trout are the target. They both tend to hand around the shore line structure and are very shy. I know everyone is looking for a magic lure. But try this approach and make your first cast before get to the water. Hope this helps someone. Ern

What are you guys using to lube your reels? Reason I ask I clean a Shimano Symetre FJ last fall. Used white reel grease (looks like Vaseline) and it gummed up in two trips. then the grease got into the pinion shaft and really gummed it up. Three trips and done. There was just enough to cover the cogs on the main gear. That stuff got everywhere. I broke the reel down, cleaned and degreased. Put it back together. No Lube and it is smoother than with the white grease. I mean no lube. no oil. nothing. I have a Abu C4 that got the same lube and it is gummy. Since this stuff is ABU branded. I thinking about sending it and the lube to Abu and telling them to please fix my reel and keep the lube. But in the mean time. What do I use for a reel grease/lube? Thanks, Ern

I just grabbed a couple extra Symetre FJ's myself. I got to look at the newer FL's and shimano removed the bearing from the right side of the reel and put in a plastic bushing. Basically IMHO you get a Sahara performance at Symetre Price. I like bearings on both sides and aluminum frames. Just me.They can keep the plastic.

For the lure range you are looking at and fishing smallies I would suggest it is time to upgrade some. I would suggest looking for a good light to med light. I got a deal on a old model crucial 6' med light on ebay. Was like $55. I really like this rod better than the St Croix Avid in 6' Med. Light. Why shimano thinks everyone wants a split grip is beyond me. Another Shimano I have is a Clarus 6' Light. Love this rod. Would be another one for you to look at. Balances Perfect with a 1000 size shimano.

I got the 1500A in it a little bit ago from TW. Spool capacity wise it is about like the current 1000 shimanos. The reel will interchange with the 2000 size daiwa spools, also. I would say it is closer to the old 1500 shimanos ( hence a 1500 daiwa.) I like the reel. Very smooth and Solid. Would most definitely be a light to med light application reel.

I had to laugh at this one today. After Years of fishing Shimano Spinning reels I have never had one bind....until today. One of my Symetre 1000FJ's got the binds. We were on a stream trout fishing in a down pour. The reel got tight and by the time I got home was pretty much locked up. Now this reel is well used and regularly cleaned. But it locked up today. Best guess is that water got into the pinion through the drag. It was full of water.Anyway. A good cleaning and back to normal. The funny part is a friend that was with me had the exact same reel. Dunked it today....again. Never had a problem. Just had to laugh. Ern

All Pro Rods. APR-EL's are Blue.

I'll assume you are looking at 1000 size reels. I have the Shimano Symetre 1000FJ's and HIGHLY RECOMEND it. The Abu 601 is another good one. They are on clearance @ ffo. I Just got a Daiwa Fuego 1500 that is like butter. All of these are on light or med light rods.

I have a Shimano Clarus. That is 6' MH F. You may still be able to find one.

I use a 7:1 for for topwater/shallow cranks just to keep up when I need to. My other reels are in the 6.?:1 range.

I got to play with the 750 Carbonlite at BPS on Friday. Looks like a nice reel. But I wouldn't trade one of my Symetre for it. I will say I have a 1000FJ that has been through it and still functions like a new reel. I have used it for River Smallies to 10lb carp. No problems. It has been trout fishing at least twice a week since I got it. If you are looking at using it for just bass get a 2500. I have 500, 1000, and 2500's in the symetre and Love'em.