I received my Gen3 STX from my local tackle store on Friday. Tore it down and clean/lubed it. Bearings were over oiled, like pretty much all factory bearings are in any reel. But they spun up really, really well once I was done. Used the oil that came with the reel and Hot Sauce on the gears, pawl, etc. Spooled it up with 12# Sequar Invisix. I put the reel on an NRX853 and took it fishing this morning.
One thing I noticed once spooled and mounted is that you really have to crank on the reel tension knob to get a 3/8 jig to slow it's decent. I thought something was wrong with it at first. I have a bunch of other Abu's and the Gen2 Premiers and MGX use the same components inside that knob. So I tried transplanting the guts, using extra shims, even swapping the knob from my MGX. The MGX knob as a whole did make it a little easier, but not just switching the guts out. But it seemed to get a little easier as I worked on it, so I just put it together stock.
Had it out on the lake today and am really impressed with it. Tried jigs between 1/4-1/2oz. Casted them all really well, into the breeze, with the breeze, didn't mess it up. With the 1/2oz, I had one centrifugal brake on, about 1/2 on the mags and a bit loose on the spool. Cast that jig a mile! Really impressive distance. And I have Gen2 premiers, Steez, Cores, MGX and Calais DC's to compare it to. Yeah, the Calais is still the king for distance, but this thing was impressive, right at the top of the list, for sure.
Palmed really well. I got the 7.1:1 model and I did notice the bigger gear housing with the end of my fingers when I was handling it. But it otherwise felt like my Core 50's and Steez. EVA knobs have a little more textured feel than the Gen2 reels, but I think it's a good thing. Biggest fish I caught on it was a 2lb Kentucky, so no real test of the drag. But I'm sure it'll be fine considering it's a carbontex type setup.
I still think the cast control knob needs too much pressure to get the spool to slow down. But it didn't seem to need as much tension. I'll wait to hear what others report about it. I know AG/Pure Fishing will stand behind it, so I'm not worried.
Bottom line, great reel. I removed a Steez to put this reel on the NRX853, and it looks like the STX has found a long time home there.