VGT

put them each on your rod of choice and see how they feel, not sure if youll need it but may want to double check the handle length on that rod just in case you find your self 2 hand casting. I got a phenix x13 and had to extend the handle.

This is exactly what i did only i slipped it in a tube and gave it a couple very small bends in a couple spots before using a brass hammer on it. Runs much smoother, although its slightly a little tight in one spot.

no takers ehh?

i may add that those rods seem a bit on the heavy side and I would drop the lower end of the lure weight. But it seems that all the longer rods are in the heavier range. Will be throwing shallow and mid depth cranks, as well as jerk baits and some spoons.

Hey guys looking for a treble hook rod in the 7'6-8' range for some casting distance. Was looking at the Phenix MX-UR80MH for $180 (mod fast swim bait) and the XG3-7′9″-Glass for $160 (mod), the X13 or X14-Composite for $209(mod), and maxim MAX-711H either moderately fast or extra fast website unclear. I've got a maxim spinning rod from them and really like it. Will be using a Curado K with braid. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I believe The 2021 stradic and vanford are the same internals and design mostly including spool. Vanford is just lighter felt a little flimsy when compared to the aluminum body stradic. I just picked up the stradic 2500 a few weeks ago very happy with it. The vanford does look more aggressive if you are into that.

id get the slx mgl or like green pig said get two slx's, could get a high ratio one and a low ratio one if you like having a couple rods. Upgrade the drag and bearings as you see fit. I don't think there is any benefit to the curado especially if you fish light and dont have a spinning outfit. Ultimately go to the store bring your favorite rod seat both the reels in your rod and see what feels best. may want to tape the reel feet with masking tape if your reel seat isnt gentle. whoops sorry missed the fact they dont have the MGL.

I have been watching this guys rod and reel repair on line forget his name, any who he said they are both great reels, but if your going to be casting lighter lures get the SLX, I got a curado K200 and the spool capacity is enormous should have gotten slx mgl. But the curado will also serve me for light ocean fishing. He also mentioned that for $30 or so you can get a major bearing upgrade and carbon drag washer for the standard Slx and it will be very comparable to the curado.

Man should have practiced with cheap mono and save the $10-15. if you ever get the opportunity to teach someone to use one pull out a maximum casting distance plus some worth of line and run a rotation or two of electrical tape around the spool, back lashes will be prevented or easy to pick out. Anyways once you figure out how to pick them out its not bad most of the time with braid I give mine a few tugs and they come out never had to cut my line except once when I caught a tree on my back that was brutal.

I do 16-18 wraps (8-9 full left and right pairs) tie an overhand around the fg termination and leader, set the weaves (pulling working ends tight), trim leader, then 3 half hitches. I've never had one come undone, whenever I'm hung leader always snaps somewhere in the middle.

I use 20# braid on my 3 rods one spinning and 2 casting and always use a fluorocarbon leader between 6 and 20 # depending what I'm doing. Usually about the length of the rod so i have room to play after tying on many lures. I use the FG Knott and it casts through guides easier than any other knot i have found, its a little daunting at first to tie but once you figure it out its super easy. You'll want to use a leader on your braid in most situations as well, wouldn't recommend the double uni casting through guides for a leader, but as mentioned its just fine for backing. If your rod had larger guides it wont be as much of a problem.

Went fishing at my local pond, and man does this thing cast nicely, definitely smoother than the Sahara than I thought, the bail action is also incredibly smooth and light, much happier with it once I got I out out on the water, didn't catch any bass but caught two small rainbows. The Quality between old shimano and new just wasn't as huge as moving from my diawa CC80 to my curado 200K but very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend.

I’m hoping It will! Supposed to go fishing tomorrow pretty excited to see how it goes.

Hey guys just bought the newly released Stradic FL, now just sold as the “Stradic” since the Vanford took the CI4’s Spot. Replacing an old Sahara 1500FB that was damaged. Went to the Local tackle shop that has a huge inventory, was gonna go to bass pro but they were sold out in store of many models, and compared the Stradic and Vanford. Pretty much identical reels design wise just different materials and the Vanford has got a bit more aggressive look to it. Both extremely light compared to my 10oz (I think) Sahara. The Vanford although only slightly lighter than the FL felt a bit lighter but not as solid as the FL both equally smooth. Took the FL home unboxed it and really compared it too my Sahara. Took the spool off and the drag/ spool nut felt rather cheap and flimsy compared to my Sahara but no biggie. Both have very similar “starting inertia” when giving the handle a turn with the FL just a bit smoother. Although noted my Sahara will rotate it self when I drop the handle the FL does it when the spool is bottomed out in its cycle, I assume it may just need some good use to get the grease where it wants to rest. The single piece bail wire is also very nice hope I don’t bend it. Overall thought it would be a little nicer piece of hardware for $200 compared to what I got for $80 10+ years ago but happy none the less, one thing that does annoy is the spool has vertical play of about 1/16” seems to return the low side most of the time, my Sahara spool has only got 1/32” of vertical play and always returns to the low side after a couple spins. Hope I can get the line lay nice, had to play with the spool washers out of the box.

They typically just tell students to leave, I've never been caught, never heard of anyone getting a ticket. I was a little weary not being a student any more but had no issues. You need to hop a Horse gate for one of the ponds and walk through an unlocked get for another. I heard there are some good ponds behind the men’s colony legal as well but may be a hike or bike in.

Yeah it certainly does have a ball bearing line roller. Seems to be a good condition to me rotates nicely.

Took it out fishing the past couple days. Casts just fine no issues. Been having loads of problems with line twist using braid, I have spooled it off the top with the label facing up as in all the videos. I have a feeling this Reel spool is so small compared to the line spool that it adds some twist to the line. Rather frustrating.

Been fishing in San Luis Obispo CA, small ponds at the college. Caught a small one on a white jig fluke tail. And my buddy one on a green pumpkin jig with a plasma ned trailer. Both under 2 pounds. Got the little row boat out on the bigger pond and fished jigs, spinners and Ned rig all day with no bite. Back to bank fishing the other ponds skunked 4 more times until yesterday, figured I’d try a crank bait for fun and nailed one on the first cast. Stuck around another hour and caught a 3.5# on the same craw shallow diver. Went back today a little later with no luck, crankbaits, jerk bait and jig. Sorry if the images aren’t the best was having issues with upload size.

Will do, I was thinking the same thing surprising rod isn’t damaged.

This is my first real reel my parents had bought me when i was about 14 or 15 so it’s got a bit of Sentimental value. I can get a main shaft for about $8 new. I took about half an hour this evening and placed the main shaft in some v blocks and ran an indicator over it straightened it in the vise a few times and got it within a couple thousands reassembled with new grease and no more tight spots, night and free spinning. Now my only concern is that the leg may be bent. See picture and let me know what you think. Thanks for this let me know what you think about the photos, I’ve got no issue repairing myself just need parts.

Hey everyone was fishing the other day and trolling motor battery slid into my reel, was very tight when the spook would cycle downwards. Pulled it apart an the main shaft is bent. But it appears the entire reel is leaning forward like the spool is pointed down at the first guide, not quite that far though. I think the foot/ leg of the reel may also be bent but it shows no sign on the surface. MY question is do spinning reels typically have a forward lean or do the feet/ rod blanks run parallel with the spool? Thanks in advance. will add photos later. It’s a Sahara 1500fb probably 10-15 years old, would like to repair it.

Thanks everyone! And yes I have considered fishing the break wall but just haven’t gotten to it!

Hey everyone, I fish mostly in Socal (long beach), once a year in Minnesota, and then monthly in Westchester county, NY. Didn't really know anything about fishing other than how to tie knots well. Would fish lake trout occasionally on trips didn't catch a whole lot and would hit the pan fish hard when I would visit my grandparents in MN. Finally this last summer I was tired of rigging worms so I threw on a tiny kastmaster spoon to catch the panfish and I nailed a bass kept fishing the shallows the same way and landed a bunch of 1-2 pounders and was hooked. Trip ended back to work and home. Pulled out my old gear at home and fixed it up and fished my local city pond (el dorado park lakes). Fished plastic worms texas rigged after miles of reading and in the fall I caught several 3-5 pounders right in the reeds. Then started fishing Kensico Reservoir and silver lake preserve when I go out to visit my Girlfriend in NY. Haven't really caught much at all couple dinky's, all bank fishing. Now that winter has hit I'm catching nothing here in my local pond or in NY. Hopefully ill find some help here or someone to fish with at least LOL. Favorite Lakes, El Dorado Park Lakes, CA Union Lake, MN Silver Lake Preserve, NY