offsidewing

The alcohol rinse is to make sure the degreaser leaves no residue. Not all degreasers leave a residue.

Define Smooth. I went through something similar the first time I bought a $300+ magnesium baitcasting reel with Aluminum gears. I thought being able to free spin the handle for 15 seconds meant a reel was smooth - like I could with a brass-geared aluminum bodied tank. Then I hooked onto a fish with my Metanium and that's when the smoothness light bulb went off.

Necro thread!

I had two Touney ZX casting rods that I got on sale in March sitting on my rod rack NWT. I Returned them to my local Cabelas today and picked up the equivalent Arachnids for $99. Really nice rods for $99. Too many other good choices at the $200 price point.

I've proudly owned two Lews reels. A BB1 pro and Tournament Pro. I never really appreciated their value until I bought a Shimano (and now Daiwa) baitcaster. There's nothing wrong with Lews. The Chronarch MGL is getting positive feedback from just about every corner of the internet. I own a MET MGL and if the Chronarch is 80% as smooth as the MET you'll be tickled.

Anyone tried an R+ spool in an SV103?

Water isn't a lubricant. Saliva, for many biological reasons, is a lubricant.

Anyone try an SV spool in a Steez A yet? I bought a Steez A on impulse. Its a great reel but I don't know that I like it any more than a Metanium MGL as far as casting distance and retrieve. I really like the SV spools wouldn't mind putting an SV spool in it for a little more versatility.

Do you hear the drag whine in your sleep or are you using a 3000/4000 sized reel with the drag locked down?

I have the Elite Spinning 610MLXF and its my favorite spinning rod. Its awesome for ned rigs, tube jigs, and drop shot. Also good for wacky rigging 3 and 4 inch senkos. I have matched with Shimano Vanquish 2500 HGS.

You ever try to horse a 6 pounder out from under a dock with a spinning set up? 1/10. Would not recommend.

A rod has a rating for line diameter like lure weights (20lb braid is about same diameter as 6 or 8lb mono) so check on that. Also make sure your spool isn't over filled with line. Keep in mind if you're whipping a casting rod like a spinning rod you're gonna have issues, especially with thin diameter line. I will avoid any comments on quality or longevity of the forum sponsor Kast King reels, but about the only non-glowing comment they receive from the mods who tested them are that they require a trained thumb when casting.

I just got into the Daiwa SV reels this spring. Have the Steez SV TW and SV103. The SV103 is one heck of a reel and accepts all kinds of spools. It palms great and doesn't feel like a 7 oz reel. I'm really impressed with the SV103.

Of what you listed, I have the Avid X 70MHF and use it for jigs and bottom contact plastics. Its One of my favorite rods.

Start with a 6'6" Medium Fast spinning rod and a $40 Pflueger Trion reel. I fished that one set up from age 15 to 35.

My favorite all round rods are the casting 7'0" slash 7'1" Medium Heavy St Croix's with a Fast Action. I have them in Avid X, LTB, and the new Elite series. If I throw anything under the 3/8oz (baits smaller than a 5" Senko or Fat Ika) I moved down to a Med Fast casting rod or spinning gear. The Avid X 70MHF rod is probably the "one" I'd choose if I had to choose one casting rod for Bass.

I'm actually "platooning" a Metanium MGL and a Steez A right now. Its only been a couple weeks and I fish only freshwater. So far, I prefer the steez A for moving baits and the metanium MGL for bottom contact weightless plastics. While both have aluminum main gears, The Metanium feels a little smoother.

What rods are they on, what line type, and what weight lures? I also found on my Mets if I over fill the spool they basklash just looking at them.

You're probably not going to see a mod to say a bad thing about Kastking. Kastking or not, I'd go with an aluminum frame reel with good fit tolerance and brass gears for long term cranking with swimbaits. Just my 2 cents.

Just like golf clubs and hockey sticks, go with whatever feels best.

How do magnets work on aluminum spools?

I tie 65lb braid to 15lb fluoro leader and cast a mile with the Avid X

I'm thinking of upgrading my jig rod and curious to see what all the NRX hypre is about. Which NRX casting rod for a 1/2 oz football jig and trailer?

If what you're using now works and gives you confidence, stick with it. I like Fluoro and don't have many issues with it. I use a palomar knot almost exclusively and don't have issues with it. 6lb for spinning gear. 10lb for weightless plastics. 12lb for moving spinners and swim jigs, an minimum 15lb for any weighted jigs that are fished off the bottom.

10# Fluoro here. I wait for sales and stock up on Seaguar Tatsu. Seaguar inviz-x is also good as wel as sunline FC sniper.