Capt.Bob

PLEASE NOTICE THE KIDDING!!!! Don't ever use WD40 on any reel,,,,spinning or casting, it has no p[lace around fishing equipment!!!! I also agree with .MR. and DVC, it's like buying insurance, anyone with a brain has it, if you don't the cost go way up with one accident!!!! By the time you buy the proper lubes and basic necessities, your money ahead having someone with the proper know how do it. NO KIDD'N!!

100% braid on everything, fluorocarbon or mono leaders on em all, 4' to 12', just depends on where what how and when!

The shop spin test hold's no salt, till you lube each reel properly it is meaningless, and even then not a true indication of performance, casting, or smoothness, as I can safely say the Chronarch is absolutely the better of those two reels! For true total performance judging it's real world use, and with that said if you check all the reel owners comments on all brands, especially those that have owned or used most brands, I think you will find you need to go other than bass pro and check out the Lew's reels also if you are looking to pull the trigger on a new reel and want the best bang for your buck, and the smooothest out there. You can't do that at BPS as they have a hate agenda against Lew's owner and refuses to stock them.

6' momo and blood knot to the braid and fill er up, thats how all mine are setup, in a year or two, I will turn it around on the spool and be fishing brand new braid again for another year or 2. Use a fluoro leader no heavier than the braid and you will never loose your braid till you want to trim it!! Just the way I run.

I have been amazed at Lew's for the past two years, starting with the Tournament, and would highly recommend it over an MG. This was such a great reel I sold my Castaic's Curado's and Chronarch's, and own 9 Lews reels now. They are all way better reels than there price would indicate!! After servicing reels for over 30 years, I will agree with Sam's buddy. They are built with tighter tolerances and better part's than most. The TP is nice but the BB1 is a the sweetest caster for any reel costing twice the money, and the Team Lew's Gold is worthy of consideration over any high end reel available from any manufacturer at any price!! I think the BB1 is unbeatable for casting over 1/4oz. for around $110.00, and the team gold if throwing the lightest lures on up, and available for less than $175.00, after 4 of them I think they and the BB1 are best buys, if throwing heavier than 1/2 to 3oz. the Super Duty is untouchable!!

Congrats on a class A outfit, I would say "it don't get no better than that" That is a dream setup, and you are going to love it!! I fish the western basin but know Captains that fish the central and eastern sections also, and as long as it is Lake Erie, it is pretty easy to say you are going to have no trouble breaking it in right!! Hope you have a great time and stick a real pig, with that said,,,,,,,,hope your son hangs one just a little bigger!!!!

I think maybe some of their vinyl and tapes "MIGHT", but I would think the paint 2 or 3 light coats of paint wouldn't be a noticeable difference. But that's why I posted the link,,,,,they should be able to answer that! If you try it be sure to post us with your results, it would be great if this would help others with your condition!!!

The only rods they won't upgrade on there plan right now are rods that are not broken and simply want to trade up, I tried to upgrade an old Avid at the same time I upgraded a broken Legend Elite, both about 14 years old, the broken rod was upgraded under there warranty program, but since there was nothing wrong with the Avid it could not be upgraded for a couple months till they reduce some of the current trade ins as they have been swamped under the trade in upgrade program,,,,,not warranty upgrade program!! It is confusing as nobody offers the choices to back their consumers that St. Croix customer service offers!!!! NOBODY!!!

I think the best rods in the world are made on Blue and Green Blanks, but can see how it would help you if they could be seen as well as they can be felt!!!! Maybe just spray the tip about the first 3 guides with a glow in the dark paint, as it is a light color in the day to contrast between the carpet or dark colors, and glow in the dark if used at knight. Her is a link to a sight that has several options for whitish green orange blue light yellow, and others by day and glow in the dark at night. http://glonation.com/index.html

I am not aware of any baitcaster with higher speed enough to retrieve more line per turn than the Stradic FJ I use (2500), even the large spooled 300 series Curado's are about 3 inches behind it per turn. I use both but have to pay much closer attention to the line spooling on my spinning reel to avoid loose line and winding problems. I prefer a rod under 6'8" with either and like a 6.4 gear on my baitcaster, have to slow way down winding my spinning reel as it will pickup more line than I want if I am not careful.

I totally agree with the comment DVC made on the rod being more important! You said you already had a less expensive reel you were happy with. That being said and wanting to upgrade I would not spend less than $100.00 on up for an excellent reel. If you buy cheaper you probably would be looking to upgrade much sooner than you think, and find you really weren't getting the bang for your buck. The Lew's reels, Like the BB1 or the Tournament, are both available at a price far less than their quality suggests. The BB1 @ around $110.00, I would put against any new reel available for $200.00 or more up to and including the Chronarch, and I find the 6 pin centrifugal braking system on the BB1 to be a better than other 6 pin systems, and much more effective and adjustable than others. If dual braking is your cup of tea, I assure you that you won't find a better bargain than the Tournament for $100.00 to $105.00 and it is readily available at that price, and has excellent dual breaking, both have a one piece Aluminum frame, something you will have trouble finding on the reels at around $80.00 and less. When you get ready to equip it with a rod, for $120.00 a used St. Croix Avid would be my goal, or could go with an excellent Premier for around $100.00 new. but for a rod I would wait till I could spend that or I think the reel will be of lesser usefulness. If you put together an outfit with these items in any combination, I feel you would be hard pressed to duplicate the quality and durability with any other combination at these prices, plus you will have an outfit that will give top performance for years to come!! There are others that are good but these are the best I have found at these prices. I also am no fanboy and not a fan of the Curado G, but would disregard anyone telling you it was junk! Maybe not an E but still a quality reel, as with anything there are always better, but not the PQ.

This morning is the first time I have been on this thread, as I don't do a lot of bass fishing. I have to say it has been an encouraging read and I commend you on your efforts and your dedication!!! I must say as I am returning from a 2 day Musky trip myself (that was also Jumbalaya) and sharing the North East Blow with you here in Southern Michigan,,,,,(can't always plan a trip with another guy and guarantee the conditions), and we can't head at the drop of a hat as he still has to work around a job. But You do bring encouragement my way!! Just as you, I have made a self pack this year also, mine is to target bigger Musky, I cast trolled and worked my rear off both days, determined to get that one big bite, and not caring if I caught anything if I couldn't hit that 50" mark. I wanted to go to some #'s spots we knew on the Lake but stayed fast, 13.5 hrs. Thursday and 10 hrs. Friday. On the way home I questioned no bent rods and if we should have given in a little and tried for the lesser fish, or even taken a break and tried for Largemouth, as they do very good on this Lake for them also. I don't really think it would have mattered as 10 to 15 sustained and gust to 20+ NE blow was the weather pattern, and cooler than it has been looking like rain 50% of the time, but not getting any. But I generally over the years stay flexible, and if the species I'm after is not willing, will go after another, just to catch fish, Pike, Musky, Walleye, Small Mouth and Large Mouth I enjoy fishing for them all. But My Musky fishing has never granted me a 50"+ fish and this year, when we hunt the Musky waters, I have made my own pact, that it's big fish only, and don't settle for anything less. But like I say what doubt I had of sticking with my goal and techniques for this year, are now gone again!! You have a way in this thread of instilling that dedication of sticking with it come hell or high water,,,,,THANK's! You are on a mission and are putting in the time, I have to travel to hit the Lakes that produce the bruisers I am after, so my efforts won't be a daily diet of frustration. Over the years have I given in to the baits and tactics required to get the bigger fish in favor of catching more fish, even if it meant they would most likely be smaller or going after other species. So after reading this and being encouraged by your dedication, I am back on track and will stay the path I set out on a month ago. Every trip for Musky we make this year I am going to check in here and get my dose of encouragement. Hang in there and keep it up, as I am sure with your determination you won't only be successful, but you are fueling the encouragement, I need and I am sure there are others!!!! BEST OF LUCK!!! and I can't wait to see the results!!!!! even if it is only in knowledge, which is inevitable and sure to come with your efforts, but hope to see them monsters you long to master also!!!!

COOL!!! What a day, there few and far between, but once you have a day like that, it's easy to chase em on them kinda day's when people wonder why you even bother!!! Congrat's on a Great Day!!

St. Croix Avid in your price range if you want all the LIFETIME warranty upgrade options for later. Premier if not, those would be my choices, but there are other decent rods out there.

That would be $20.00 for the R&R with servicing a neglected reel over the parts pricing. $20.00 is not out of line for a full service clean and lube, especially with replacing corroded parts. I have had reels that were contaminated with saltwater which made disassemble and bearing removal a real bear, and in those cases I usually contact the owner and inform them of the damaged parts and give them an estimate if I require an additional labor charge, over the standard servicing price. This eliminates any uncomfortable billing with the customer. I am sure others do the same as there can be some extra time involved freeing corroded and rusted parts, on top of a regular cleaning and service.

I might have thought different about this with 10 or 15 years experience, and with a few dozen companies under my belt, and an, I know what I'm talking about attitude, but adding another 30 or so years to that line of thinking, and having used most worthwhile brands out there, and dealing with those companies and others who have commercially, in all honesty I have to say St. Croix, year after year. As DVC stated it is more like a "replacement program," as warranty items cover you" If a rod is truly defective it's going to break right off the bat not weeks, months or years down the line,." I mean heck Wally World will do that with any rod they sell, at any price even a $15.00 dollar one!! But St. Croix goes one better with their premium lifetime rods and offer an upgrade or trade in for an old or abused rod,,, to the newest, finest, highest tech rod's they make, or anything in between!!!,,,,,,,,NO QUESTIONS ASKED!! That's why they would be my choice.

Boomerang or scissors, trim short! I use a cinch knot tied around the mainline, and make sure you pass it in under the spool, when you thread it in thru the line guide and go under the spool, as bringing it in over and then under the spool will choke the main line the wrong way and not have the bite (grip) on the spool you want.

There is your problem, I have never set more than one centrifugal brake on any of the 8 Lew's reels I own. some use no centrifugal brake, and as others have told you, there are more problems caused by over lubing than not enough. Think half a drop of oil!!! and adding oil, is not going to work with factory packed bearings!!! FLUSH means just that!!! Then you will see what one drop per bearing will do. DVC and .RM. know what they are talking about,,,,,,,,,,but from what you are telling us, is you are not listening. You can't kinda remove and add again, take it down and start dry. Only then will you be able to make an intelligent assessment. If you keep just kinda doing a half way strip and flush and clean, and then add more, you really are probably causing your own problems. I would send it in tell them what's wrong and have it properly serviced one time, then you know, and if it isn't you the service tech will let you know there is an issue with the reel, and Lew's will take care of it!!!!! This is how we all learned.

That is because the Ultegra with it's standard lower gear ratio is the same reel "practically" as the Stradic FJ, older ones = FI, and so on, but the Ci4 is not known for it being as smooth as the new FJ. the Ci4 is known for it's lightness, the Ultegra is a Japanese model Stradic FJ with minor exceptions and available with shalower spool which saves on the amount of line required to fill the spool, and 5/1 standard gear ratio, it has enough capacity for full cast. If the Ci4 is as you said, I would have to believe it has issues. The C14 is not as smooth as the metal bodied reel w/X-SHIP, but should not be binding they are a pretty smooth reel, I have serviced them all and never found that issue with one.

on the Super Duty I tie directly to the line anchor built on the spool, which is intended for braid, and a 150 yard spool of Sufix 832 40lbs or 30 lbs is perfectly full when done, in a year or two, I will turn it around and have brand new all over again. If I were spooling another reel I would use backing for 5 or 6 wraps and a blood knot to join them and never look back. I won't use tape as I have seen how it is to get off on others spools if you want to remove it.

I think from your post on the favorite baitcast reel thread that you aren't happy with any of your baitcast reels, this usually indicates a problem with your technique, it requires a lot of practice to get good with a baitcasting reel, but once you learn it they are great.

Think about a Custom built your way, less than $500.00 invested in this St. Croix Legend Extreme MXF with the Team Lew's Gold, "SSS" = Smooth, Sensitive, and SWEEEET!! Most good Custom Rod Builders can set you up better Than factory with top of the line blanks for about the same money as a factory made rod, but will make it exactly the way you want it, and are very capable of guiding you thru the build for exactly the purpose you want it for, even multi purpose,,,,,,,,your way!

I think he was looking at the Moderate action Premiers and not the Fast action. I have experience with the Avid MM and love it for cranks under 12' I had the MHM and was excellent for 15' and deeper cranks, but changed that to the Extreme 7'2" MHM and it is great also. I do think in those rods the 7' MM is much better for crank baits diving less than 12'. As for the premier over the Mojo, I think you made an excellent choice going with the Premier.

They never are! But when properly trained it ends THERE!! As I age I realize just how much truth there is in "SILENCE IS GOLDEN" Your on the right track, but you gotta start young,,,,,and you can't let up!!! It worked for me, as I might tell by the look she doesn't agree, but today she knows if she says anything,,,,,it will only get worse! probably why we have lasted for over 38 years!!! Never let up.

I too would find it hard to believe the frame on the Chronarch could flex from a reel seat problem. They are a pretty rigid frame!