I saw Glenn's post last week about the exclusive BassResource discount on the stealth, and I had a $10 card on my amazon account from Christmas, so I went ahead and ordered one ($41 out of pocket). It came in Thursday, I spooled it up Friday morning. (12lb big game backing/40lb GM braid) I read some reviews and watched a few youtube videos on it, so the first thing I did after spooling was open the side plate and set all 4 centrifugal brakes on before I even tried to do anything else with it.
Initial thoughts, nice looking reel, a bit longer in the nose than ones that I'm used to palming. (I am using: black max, quantum burner, shimano caenan, and quantum accurist) I put my index finger on the reel body below the level wind on those, but down more on the rod on the stealth because of the "grille" for lack of a better descriptor. Where my thumb rests above the level wind was very smooth (almost slick) which took a bit to get used to.
I now had to decide where it would fit into my assortment of fishing equipment, so while it rained on Friday, and through my fantasy baseball draft on Saturday it just rode along in the truck in the nice little velvety sack that it comes with.
Sunday was a club tournament, so while we were waiting on boats to be unloaded I pulled one of my black maxes off of a M Vendetta and put the Stealth on, tying on a jointed structure jig. I was able to use it for an hour or so along a shallow shoreline, and I have to say I am impressed so far. I roll cast 90% of the time or more, and I did backlash with it one time when I accidentally skipped the jig (operator error, short stroke) but the reel performed flawlessly.
Sunday night I showed it to a friend who has a tackle shop nearby (he'd not heard of them) who raised his eyebrows at the price (and weight) of it, then said "if you don't mind, pull the side plate off" and then was poking and prodding the brake systems for a couple of minutes. Finally at the end of the inspection he said "Hmm, $50? I think I'd tell my wife to buy 4 of them"
Sorry to get long winded, but that's the way I am, and it's my thread . Long story longer: I'm impressed and excited to get it back out on the water to use it more, which is probably as much as any one of us should ask from a new piece of fishing equipment.
Now, to find a permanent home for it in my arsenal (probably a $$$ custom rod that will completely negate the cost savings and maximize the weight reduction). That ninja monkey...
