little giant

I have 2 Kistlers, bought last spring. Not spinning though. 1 is a Helium weightless worm/senko rod, light MH. Super sensitive and light. Second one is a KLX ML I use for neds. Again excellent. Yes, blanks are imported, Japan I think, but rods are made in Texas. E mail them with questions, I did and readily got answers. Good company.

Metanium 101 HG is my best Shimano. I have old Bantam B5's that are still great and are workhorses. I have SLX 71 & SLX BFS and they've become a letdown. They're "geary" and seriously flex when fighting fish in vegetation. Really wondering about micro module......

832 yellow Berkley X9 chartreuse Kastking hammer braid chartreuse Seaguar smackdown flash green. Use em all, casting, spinning, bfs.

Norman speed clips for more than 20 years. Cranks and jerks only.

Also, when removing the wire bearing clips, do it inside a zip lock bag in case they fly! Hope you have the correct tool to remove spool pin.

Be sure to flush out the bearings your not changing. I use a small container with isopropyl alcohol and let bearings soak 20 minutes, then swirl them around and let dry on paper towel. Alcohol will evaporate fast. Then oil them. When I see dirt on the level wind, I pull out a bunch of line, hold wet soft toothbrush against it and turn handle slowly. Brush will grab the dirt. Then re-oil. I don't take the reel off the rod. Cal's on the drags.

I use Reel X grease and oil. They're both synthetic. Use oil on the level wind after it's been cleaned, Grease will attract dirt. Are you only changing spool bearings??

Senko Tiki Stick Gambler Ace (6 inch) Zinker- fall a bit too fast though. All weightless, shallow water here, south Florida

I'm sneaky, that's it! Sneaky Pete!

I have a ct 100, it's a good reel and no issues with th drag. Get it in your hands an pull line and start tightening the drag and see what happens. Or , tighten it all the way and see if you can pull line. If you can, reel should be looked at inside.

Slips on hookset?? Drag tight enough??

To the OP: of all the reels you got last year, pick the one you like/use the most and get that one!

Most excellent!! Enjoy!

I have 7 speed Hakai, lefty. Use for 1/2 oz spinnerbaits. Great reel and great to use. Casts very well once dialed in, good mag brake. On the inside, a heavy duty brass main gear and pinion and huge drag- 20 lbs! Frame is magnesium. Built like a tank! But still light, 6 ozs. I have 3 Dream Tackle Design BFS reels, all 8 speeds. They're built on the Hakai. Love em!

I have 2. SLX 71 & SLX BFS. 71: no issues but I can definitely feel flex in the reel on a heavy fish. Lightweight sideplates and lack of pinion bearing may have something to do with it BFS: Again, no issues but the shimano mag brake is a love/hate relationship. Mag brake on curado bfs is outstanding!

Thank you for the info from one bfs/ falcon rod guy! Keep the info coming as you use it, please. My favorite bfs rod is a falcon clearwater inshore ML. Sold as a speckled trout jig rod, casts a mile, handled an 8 lb Florida LM

I put a very light coating of grease using an artist paintbrush

I use Seagaur Abrazx fluorocarbon for my leader both fresh and salt, strong stuff. Nothing against the FGbut try the Alberto knot braid to leader.

Crowder inshore salt casting rod. E series: 7'6", fast, 3/8 to 2 ounce. $230 Made in Florida, lifetime warranty. I use his 7' MH fast for plastics 5/8 to 1 ounce. Also have 2 others, one for surf, one for trolling for pelagics. Excellent rods! All those big plastics you want to use seems like you want to fish Florida or Texas!! You can check out Crowder rods website. Another great brand is Bull Bay rods. Also made in Florida, salt rods. Note that most salt rods are built with more backbone in the mid section.....

Nope, too many great plastics from different brands! Can't even imagine using just one brand!

Dream tackle design: YES!! I have an 8 speed regular. Upgraded the bearings and its smooth as silk. They lowered the amount of drag, the Hakai is 20 lbs, but drag compares with a tatula. Liked it so much, bought 8 speed bfs shallow spool. Loved that so much, bought another that's on it's way. Right now they can be bought on Ali baba, $110 + 12 for shipping.( to Florida) I don't care for my SLX bfs, doesn't cast all that great, ( with upgraded spool bearings no less!)

I have a 100 size Hakai. 7 speed, 6 ounces, magnesium frame. I changed the nylon bushing on the pinion to a stainless bearing. Casts a mile and great mag brake.

I bank fish most of the time, 3 or 4 days a week. I use a medium size toolbag. 1 double sided plano box, its smaller than a 3600, with a variety of hard baits, small double box terminal tackle, and 10 bags of plastics. I determine the night before what I need to bring. I fish 2-3 hrs starting at daybreak. I bring 4-5 rods, 2 of them always bfs.

The sound (and smell) of the coffeemaker at 5 am. The laughter of my son catching his first fish at 5 years old!

I'm a braid to leader guy. Try the Alberto knot as the connection between braid and leader. Very slim, very strong and Flies through the guides. I use seagaur abrazx and p line tactical, I'll have to try pounce