FrnkNsteen

I don't know for sure how to tell the difference. I think it's the older model due to the shape of the handle.

Me too.... Most recent was a nice clean Daiwa left handed TD Sol I picked up a couple weeks ago. Already had one I picked up a year or so again and like it, so I picked up another. You don't see the lefties as often. Funny!! I've bought one from A-Jay too! I think I bought a nice clean Daiwa "Skipping" rod from him a year or so ago. Bought a reel from FishTank too. Both were in great shape for a fair price!!

That's it @bulldog1935. That step you showed in the image was what Tackle Advisors was referring to that was different between the two and needed to be addressed. I didn't know that some knob makers included a shim.

Daiwa knobs on a Shimano or vice/versa??? 😯😯😯 Isn't that going to make people lose their minds and faint?!? Good tip though!! I didn't realize they had the same shaft diameters and lengths? I thought I had seen a video from Tackle Advisors saying there was something different about them that caused issues with aftermarket knobs from places like Gomexis. Maybe that was just on spinning reels though.

Yes, they are two different reels. I agree with the comments above on the DC vs Bantam. I had a Curado DC and I sold it. It wasn't a BAD reel. It just felt bulky, and in my opinion the braking was inconsistent. Eventually the noise got on my nerves too. I don't have a '22 Bantam MGL, but I have a 2018 Bantam MGL and really like it. It doesn't cast light stuff very well with the closer line guides, but does great with 3/8oz and up jigs and chatterbaits and is buttery smooth!. I've heard the 2022 version has much improved casting after they moved the line guide further away from the spool. I do also have the Curado MGL and love it. I think you would be happy with either the Curado MGL or the Bantam MGL. My personal preference is Bantam over the Curado. The Bantam is heavier, but built like a tank.

Well,... Like you said,... To each their own. Sucks you had that bad experience with them! I can understand where you are coming from. I've just never had any issues with them. I've bought MANY rods and reels from them. New and used, both in person and online and having them shipped and their service has always been great. I am about 100 miles north of them and I like to go down there when I can and weed through the used rods and reels. Why, I don't know,... Since I have WAY more of both than I will ever need. 🤔🤔

Was this through American Legacy? I have never had an issue with them and they have always been good to me, whether on orders, problems with orders or rods broken during shipment. They always stood behind things. Sounds like you had a bad experience, but I don't agree that they are a horrible company. I've dealt with others that were FAR more questionable.

I have a few different setups I have been using. First, I have a couple Dobyns 736cb Glass that have a pair of old Shimano Calcutta reels loaded with braid. I like the braid on those setups so I can feel what the lure is doing on those composite rods, plus it doesn't hurt the hook sets. The braid on the softer composite rod lets me feel it without being numbing after fishing it all day. Currently running a Jackhammer on one and a Sieberts Fogy on the other to vary to actions and sounds. Second, I've got a pair of older Fenwick Techna AV that I throw lighter MiniMax setups on up in shallower spots. I think both of those currently have 15lb mono on them. Lastly, I've got one setup I run 20lb Abrazix on while throwing chatterbaits up around the rocks and reefs when we go to Ontario for Smallmouth. The hope is the larger flouro stands up a little better against the northerns without having to run a steel or titanium leader. So far so good! I think I have only lost one to northerns. My point is to do what works for you. Different setups for different situations

Funny you should ask that. I JUST bought a used 6'9" St Croix LTB Jerkbait rod from American Legacy and received it just yesterday. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but I think I already like it. I put a spare SLX MGL 71 on it for now. It is light ( weighs in at 3.9oz on my scale.) With the reel mounted with 12lb flouro, I think it weighed in at 11.3oz. Weight and balance feels really good and balances right at the front of the reel seat nut. Action seems to be just a bit moderate. Not too much, but the bend seems to come around 1/3 way down the shaft.

I have been using the brand Academy Sports carries. I think it might be called Rod Glove. They seem to work ok and only cost $4.99 for Casting rods and $5.99 for Spinning rods. I HAVE had a few issues with line guides or tips popping through the mesh, but not really enough to cause any issues. They do protect them on the rod racks in the garage and a lot less issues with tangled lines in the rod locker since I started using them.

I personally try to keep my lure weights in the middle ground sweet spot for a rods rating and try not to push the edges. I would definitely imagine rod manufacturers would have a safety factor in their rod ratings in an effort to avoid risk of breaking rods. My suggestion would be to work your way up to it and see how the rod likes it. Start with a 3/4oz jig and see how it does. Then add a soft plastic to that as you work up to that 1oz window and see how it goes. You should be able to get a feel for how the rod is liking it, or if it feels like it is loading up too much. The big thing is to avoid fast, jerky, snappy kinds of casts that really load up the rod. Focus more on smooth roll casts or casts that lob the heavier baits out there. The load on the rod greatly increases with a specific weight bait as acceleration rates of the bait increases. In other words,... The harder you fling that lure, the more load you apply to the rod.

The only reel I have replaced original bearings with aftermarket is a Tatula CT Type R that I fell on and did some damage. Had to replace the AR bearing and sleeve, so while ordering the parts for that, I decided to also splurge and put a set of Hedgehog bearings in. They were smooth, but in my opinion,... I wouldn't say they gained me any casting distance. I WILL say that the smoothness was noticeable and made pitching or casting take less effort. Just didn't feel like it was enough of a difference to warrant the cost

The times I have replaced bearings, I didn't really notice an increase in casting difference anyway. More just a difference in smoothness and ease of casting. I didn't go to ceramics though because I knew they had a reputation for being noisy and I knew that would drive me nuts. I think the ones I went with were the Hedgehog Air.

I tend to agree with this. I typically like a well balanced rod to feel like a feather in tip up applications where I'm using the rod to move the bait and want to feel every little thing. On moving baits though,... a little tip heaviness so it naturally wants to go to a level or tip down position while reeling is actually kind of nice.

Personally I couldn't care less about the bling. I'm not a die hard Loomie fan, but agree they are nice rods and like the ones I have. I have a handful ranging from GL2, E6X, IMX Pro, and GLX. As you go up through the ranks, they already get pretty spendy. Can you imagine what they would charge if they started adding all the bling??