bootytrain

Yep you sure can.. Shimano has had oversized gears(HEG) for awhile now. I might pick up a Curado G5 for cranking. It looks like a great platform for supertuning. And I cant wait to see what is replacing it!

Damiki Angel EX. Great casting rod, only 80 dollars.

I have one, great rod but the reel seat design makes the reel move around under load. It too wide in the back portion of the seat.

Daiwas have what I call the "Daiwa gap" lol.. When you tighten the drag, it creates a noticeable gap between the handle and drag star. You can even see a millimeter or 2 of the handle shaft. Too me it looks cheap. Does it affect the performance? Apparently it doesn't. Shimano design is so that the star is flush with the handle at all times. Daiwa appears to be changing their design to have a lot of shimano like elements with the tatula. Abu/lews have the gap too. I don't think the back play affects performance and neither does the "gap".

If someone can post a video of this "back play"? If the drag is loosened on some of my shimanos you can turn the handle backwards maybe half a millimeter, and you have to really look for it to notice, but when the drag is tightened up that disappears. Same goes for my ABUs. Is that the back play you are referring to?

Nice.. I don't think Ive ever read a performance comparison between the 2, maybe you can be the first lol. Suggestion.. fish the Metanium with the red brake blocks, then switch them out with the white ones

Shimano Metanium XG and Shimano Expride

Zillion HLC on Rakuten for $414

What's strange is that Abu/lews/pflueger are all manufactured at the same place, but lews seems to have sidestepped the thumb bar issue.

Ive had the Gen 2 SX and it was a great caster, very smooth and far. Its magnetic brakes give a different sensation to most Shimano centrifugal casting. I didn't find the brakes to be touchy at all. On a long cast, the line would crown and you would think it was going to birdsnest really bad but it sorted itself out at the end and barely needed any thumb. I think the brakes on the Gen 3 SX are the same as the Gen 2 which is a plus in my book. Bad things were weight, and the tension control knob had too much of a gap between clicks so making the minute adjustments was nearly impossible, it was either off or on. I was eyeing the 3rd gen but Ive read about the thumbar issues so Im holding off until Abu resolves it. Don't worry about Tackletour reviews, those guys are used to really high end gear so fishing a low-mid priced reel probably doesn't excite them much. Most of the Revo reviews have been pretty positive actually.

What's the weight of the lures you are trying to cast?

You should be able to cast down to 2 grams with that spool with the right rod and line. I don't have one but over at Tackletour theres a lot of guys who use shallow AVAIL spools. The have the 4 pin brake option too.

I agree, variety is the spice of life For what its worth, my local BPS says the new Revos are their best sellers, and I personally plan on adding a Revo LTZ AE74 and Morrum ZX to the arsenal soon. Do I need them? No, I have a few killer Shimanos that handle everything I throw, but I like to switch things up. Tommorrow Im going to get better acquainted with the new Metanium, and Sunday Ill probably take the Revo Elite IB out.

What reels do you use now?

Stock Abu handle

Tough choice... I'd say go to a bps and handle them both and see which feels better for you.

Shimano update their reels every few years instead of just coming out different versions of the same reel ala TDZ/Zillion platform. 2014 its going to be an updated Stella freshwater and there are rumors of a new Curado/Scorpion replacement coming soon. Im going to bet the top of the line Calcutta/Conquest is going to be updated soon.

I forgot I had one of these sitting in its box.. took it out fishing today for the first time, wow this thing is a casting machine! Almost too pretty to fish though lol

Scorpion 1000xt and never look back:-)

Cardiff 50DC! Don't forget that one

All the reports from actual owners of the Conquest 50DC is that they love it. It should cast farther and have a stronger drag than the regular 50. Plus the DC whine.

It wasn't selling well is why it was discontinued.

Lucky guy! I would get a Conquest 50DC and Vanquish, and a scorpion xt or maybe a revo ALT. But the conquest 50dc would be tops especially for the sentimental part.

The old metanium mg and DC was still in the shimano japan 2013 catalog. I wonder if they will still be in the 2014 version. I guess we will find out after the new year. Shimano seems to be revamping the line up starting from the top and working their way down. So the Scorpion series should be next which is in line with the reports of a new Curado.

Bantam1 confirmed the handle side plate is magnesium. So you can speculate all you want, its still magnesium lol.