Delaware Valley Tackle

Exchange it for another.

There is a component of the CCS rod measuring system that measured blank speed , as in recovery speed, not action. This is commonly referred to as the "crispness" of the rod and affects sensitivity. To what level it's detectable by an individual obviously can't be known. The proof is always and will always be in on-the -water use.

It may be as simple as deep cleaning including the AR or it may require replacing. Let me know if I can help.

A solid , well built reel. The Super Tune designation is a little misleading in that it uses a full floating spool design eliminating the friction points polished in traditional "super Tuning". Did you have specific questions?

NFC, scV and k2 are all high end blanks no doubt. Cost is artificially high though. St Croix and Phoenix both have to protect their retail rod lines and NFC commands a high price due to the Loomis name. Of the three, ST Croix would be my choice.

Material makes a difference in the weight savings. You'll likely notice a crisper feel in higher quality blanks. $100 is probably in the upper end of mid level blank cost.

Sensitivity is the human sense of feel which varies from person to person. There's no way to measure but in a rod , weight is the enemy of potential sensitivity. When considering one blank over another ,in addition to length, power and action all being equal I look for the lightest weight. Like Mick said a good build can get super results from a upper mid level blank and a poor build can make the best blank feel dead.

6.3:1 is not slow by any means. It's a good all around ratio and the tatula is a good all around reel. Fish itvwith confidence and enjoy.

If it were me, the answer would change every tx based on location , season, conditions and partner.

What Shimano do you have with no drag clicker?

There are too many variables for any meaningful data to be compiled.

There are lots of variables. I think what you're doing by being observant and changing as indicated is the best course.

You can get away with it in a pinch but don't be boat flipping fish or horsing them out of weeds.

A drag upgrade is arguably the best bang for the buck mod you can do. As stated, increased total pressure depends on the stock design but the smoothness and longevity are worth it alone. No bass reel really needs more than 7-8 lbs of drag.

60% is about what they're overpriced to begin with.

At $150 any of the mainstream reels are a safe bet. You'd have to try to go wrong. It boils down to features, preferences and deals.

What bait are you throwing? Some, like spinnerbaits, decelerate quickly and require some extra thumb.

Is there a backing knot? Are you accidentally applying side pressure while spooling? Is the pawl cap snug?

There are several reasons to build custom rods but saving money isn't one of them unless you're going high end. There's a learning curve so most don't start out learning on expensive components. A custom affords more attention to detail and a better built tool once you get the basics down.

Just fish it normally and let me know if you have any lingering concerns.

That's not a normal fishing motion and does not indicate any problem. You can over lube a reel in a number of ways to mask mechanical sounds but in many cases performance actually suffers.

Shimanos are among the simplest to work on. There's no magic or secrets in any of this. It willingness, experience and a few tools. I'll be happy to tend to your reel service needs if you like. I extend a 10% discount off labor to members here. Just supply screen name when sending reels.

Yes 5 tube.

What you have listed are all different sizes of the same tip top. The Fuji BFAT is a black top with Alconite ring. Best bang for the buck. A 6 ring size is "standard" while tube size is in 64ths of an inch sometimes converted to mm as well. My guess would be a 4 or 4.5 for an 822 but measuring is best. About 1/8 from the very end.

The Shimano uses a key washer where as lews , abu rely solely on the fit of the AR sleeve to the shaft. There's always some give there and I'm guessing the pressure of the drag star pressing on the sleeve is what you're seeing.