johnD.

So , get the 6:4:1 BB1. 28" per turn.They even make it in a 7:1. I'll guarantee you that BB1 will bomb a crankbait as far as you want to throw it.

Check out the standard Tatula version , same power , same action as the Ish rod , just cheaper. $169 Tackle warehouse has plenty in stock. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Tatula_Casting_Rods/descpage-DTCR.html

BB1 was built for deep cranking.

I buy bearings from Hawgtech. https://www.hawgtech.com/spool-bearings

Did you do a search ?

Daiwa BG 4500 on a Star Stellar 8' heavy. That's what I use.

Let's hope. The slx and slx xt ended up the same way for me.

Which ever daiwa you end up with you should open it up and grease the gears...I've bought 4 in the last 12 months every one of them was bone dry.

Tatula 150 P.

The 100's are some of the smoothest Tatulas I own. I had a SLX and SLX XT , both got geary feeling pretty quick. Tatula 100's and CT's remain smooth. Just my experience. Like somebody mentioned above the 100's can be had for around $110.

Simple , change the way you palm the reel. Hawgtech sells longer handles.

If you don't work on your own reels , you can send it back to Lew's , they will either fix it or replace it. But , yeah , anti reverse bearing sounds like the culprit.

8:1 ratio reels don't stay smooth for very long with hard use.

10 lb Invisibraid on my spinning reels.. Sunline FX2 on everything else...But , there are tons of good braids out there.

Ark , Tharp series 7'11 Guntersville special. $129