new2BC4bass

Nothing. I don't recall every reading a negative about these reels. Excellent value for the money. However, there are higher quality reels available if you want to spend the money. A fellow member who fishes spinning reels only...Shimano and Pflueger...has stated that none of his Pfluegers have needed repairs while some Shimanos have. No doubt there are other members with the opposite experience. Unless you got a lemon, that reel will more than pay for itself over the coming years. BTW, congrats on getting one at a very good price.

I'm with you. I have several Falcon rods. At that price I would buy it anyway and worry about what application to use it for later. If the OP doesn't want it I will give you first chance to buy the rod as my only Cara is that model. OP: All Falcon Mediums I have are rated 1/4-1/2 oz. (these are casting rods). Normally I stay within a rod's weight parameters so I have never tried a lighter lure with my Falcons. I can say a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait being pulled upstream with a Medium Falcon is a bit more than I would use on this rod unless it was all I had with me. The rod will do it, but I feel a MH would be much better. However, I wouldn't be afraid to try lighter as they seem to load very well. Too dang cold to give it a try until warmer weather arrives.

Everyone has opinions and freely gives them. The nice thing about the Internet is you will get those opinions on about any kind of tackle you can name. I seldom get to handle a reel or rod before buying. I depend on those opinions to make my choices. I don't really "change".....I just "add to"......my gear. There are a lot of good reels available. For me trying something new is usually a pleasure. Sometimes you find real (reel?) gems. Reviews on this site are why I tried the Primmus Xi HS and Helios Air. Both leaped into my favorites list. Wasn't too many years ago that I read you had to spend at least $250 to get a good Diawa (compared to other offerings). It was recently put forth that any Diawa below that price point still isn't as good as what other brands offer. Mainly because they are heavier and a bit wider. An 8 oz. reel doesn't bother me like it does many, but I have to admit that I love light reels. But..........weight (and being a fraction wider) doesn't determine whether or not I will buy a reel. Drag really doesn't figure into the equation either or I would never own a Shimano Scorpion 4 x 4 SVS or Daiwa Fuego (older model). The Tatula may be heavier and not as compact as the Lew's you are looking at, but it is still a great reel. It makes a good workhorse reel. It is a pleasure to use. Best of all the Tatula and Tatula CT can be found for about $95. IMO that is hard to beat. I'd have to say that variety is the spice of life....for me.

There is a used Steez 103 SHA and 100 SHA for $250 on another forum. Same board has an SV103H for $240 like new. I'm temped to buy one of the three, but just order a Helios and today received a box of stuff from TW and plan on another rod. Whew. Dang Bait Monkey.

I don't know if mine are the first version, but I have two of the gold colored ones. They haven't seen a lot of use, but are two of the three reels I used learning how to cast 3/16 oz. Shad Raps on. The other was a tuned TD-Z 105H that has been tuned and upgraded. I don't really see much difference in casting distance. Both cast that weight a fairly good distance. I like the dual brakes. Color of the reel isn't a favorite.

When you say you have never used one of these before do you mean a Trion baitcast reel or any baitcast reel? If you are just learning to use a baitcast reel, then I personally think a fluorocarbon line should be your last choice to start learning with. Most have a fair amount of memory. Line conditioner can help. However, getting a kink in the line from backlashing will weaken the line more so than other line types. I'd save the fluorocaron for when you get a little experience under your belt. I like 12# mono or co-polymer. A few I can recommend from personal experience are Sufix Elite, Berkley Trilene XL, Sunline Super Natural and Silver Thread AN40. Sufix Siege isn't too bad either nor is Big Game. I do feel that Big Game has more memory than the others I mentioned. However, once wet it is fine. EDIT: I had forgotten about P-Line CX. It was the line I used on my first baitcast reel. Handled very well. It did break down in the spool, but that was after plenty of backlashes.

Sounds like I will need to leave my Fuegos at home on hot days. Good thing I have a couple spares from other companies.

Sent the last TD-Z out for cleaning and upgrading before putting line on it. Tuner said it was dry and a little rough. The outer brake ring was loose from its holder....apparently a common occurrence. Now it is butter smooth. Love these reels which is why I am up to three. Quite fond of my older Fuegos. I also have one of the Alphas ito 103 Ai reels. That reel is smoooooooth.

Pretty sure no. Don't recall ever seeing that name.

I bought my last TD-Z on ebay from Japan. However, I don't remember which store it was.

Like I said....the old model has centrifugal braking....the new model magnetic braking. The old model was silver/grayish with gold colored handle, star, tension cap and spool. The front has a rectangular opening with a gold colored line guide. From what I see on the Internet the new model is white with a dark top piece. The only gold color I see on it is some trim on the spool to highlight it.

Last TD-Z 105H I bought came from Japan. Cost almost as much as my others but wasn't anywhere near as nice cosmetically or mechanically.

No comment on the rod. I think it was Dodgeguy who said he had no trouble casting light lures on his Trion(s). I did. Of course I'm not the caster he is either. Is it the older model or the new model? The older model had an aluminum frame. The new model has a graphite frame. The old model uses centrifugal brakes. The new model has magnetic brakes. The following comments are for the older model. I sent two to DVT for a good cleaning. The one with a Carbontex drag upgrade I gave to a deserving young man. He said it was the smoothest reel he had ever used, but to the best of my knowledge his experience was very limited at that time. At Mike's suggestion, I spooled the other Trion with heavier line (in this case 17# mono). I mounted it on a 6'10" HF and it is a casting machine. Haven't used it the past couple years due to an influx of other reels, but I never backlashed it after making the change. It isn't a pretty reel. It isn't the lightest reel. But it was a fine reel for the price. I have zero experience with the new models, but for $24 you could use it a year or two, throw it out, and still be ahead of the game. Don't see how it could be any worse than other graphite framed reels on the market...if it is the new model. If it is the older model, you got a great deal. EDIT: I originally didn't follow your link. I couldn't say how long a graphite frame reel would last as I don't think I have any. Some of the lower price reels in other lines also have graphite frames...such as Lew's....and seem to last more than a year for some people. They even get praised. I'm sure amount of usage, maintenance, handling and quality of material and assembly would all play a roll in how long the reel would last.

I have to agree with RoLo. My first dedicated crankbait rod was a 7'7" cheaper model (casting) so a bit heavy. Lots of weight out front putting a strain on the wrist. Not a rod I would like to fish with for several hours at a time. Add a nice size bass to the equation and he would have me crying "Uncle" in a short period of time. The only rod of mine that I still use from over 30 years ago is a 6' Lightning spinning rod. A fun rod to use and has landed the occasional nice fish with no stress on my wrist.

My Falcons are older models with cork handles....casting rods only. Never paid attention to the guides. Went and looked at them. Inserts look to be the same but guides are different on my older Falcons. I do feel the actions are about the same. More of a parabolic bend then my other rods of the same action.

This is too much like the often asked question, "What is your favorite reel?". I can't pick just one for that question either. I set the brakes and spool tension when I took my Primmus Xi HS out of the box. Haven't had to touch a setting since. Casting distance is very good with it. When I visit Florida I have to make minor adjustments to all my reels because I have to change my casting stroke while there. All reels except for the Primmus. Even my Curado 201E needed tweaking. Like mine, too. Other excellent performing reels are TD-Z 105H, Zillion 50th, Alphas, Helios Air, Patriarch XT, Carbonlite (gold ones), A reel from the banned company and a few more. None of my reels see hard use so I expect them to still be performing when I die. I will also add that the Black Max 1600C is another reel performing beyond its price point.

X2. Got lazy one day and didn't put my reel covers on when we moved a short distance to another lake. Did the El Cheapo Trion get any boat rash? No. My near mint Chronarch 101A did. Lesson learned. Now I won't even put a rod down while fishing without taking the time to put a reel cover on.

TackleTour has a several articles on fluorocarbon. Go to the Review Archive. Page down to Line Reviews. At the bottom of this section there is a Fluorocarbon Showdown Part I and Part II. Part II deals with stretch. I read all the time how fluorocarbon has no...or little compared to mono...stretch, but my limited experience with fluorocarbon says otherwise. Got snagged in the Delaware one day while using fluorocarbon. It stretched like a rubber band before breaking. There is a picture in Part I showing what fluoro likes like after breaking. I had to cut several more feet of line off to clear the frayed/split section of line.

You want a softer line for a spinning reel. Less memory. The Sufix Elite mentioned by RoLo is a good line to start with. Trilene XL is another good limp line for spinning reels. Super Natural is probably another, but I have only used it on baitcast reels.

Not true. BTW, Tackletour has an article comparing the stretch of fluorocarbon to mono. My limited experience is the same with the caveat that when fluoro finally breaks it is necessary to cut off a few more feet because of its splitting.

I can't answer this other than to say that a lot of Glass crankbait rods are rated as Fast. I suppose that means "fast" for glass.

Abrasive resistant? Between those two...fluorocarbon. A couple other good lines for that would be CXX and Platinum.

Rather he should put it on my shelf. OP: I wouldn't go with new bearings. Shimano already put good ones in it. As suggested, send it to DVT for a good cleaning. Possibly an upgrade to a Carbontex drag. I have two Curado 51Es that Mike did for me. One deep clean only and the other with upgraded bearings and I believe a tune. Can't see much difference between the two.

Go to TackleTour and then the REVIEW ARCHIVE. There is an article on the Chronarch 100A, 100SF and 100MG.

It is an older reel, but in that condition I'd be willing to pay $125.