Super Tune Your Baitcasting Reels?

[John G]

I'm right there with you.  I've been using baitcasters almost exclusively since I was about 12 years old.  There is no way in the world I would attempt a cast with no brakes and the cast control set loose.  I hear people on the internet claiming this all the time, I flat out don't believe them.  If someone could cast one of my reels with no brakes and light cast control, I would eat my words, I don't see it happening though.

The brakes are there for a reason so you might as well use them. Using no brakes at all, it ain't pretty! LOL Instant birds next unless extreme thumb pressure is applied. I do keep my cast control knob just tight enough so there is no side to side spool movement.

[Raul]

I can cast with no brakes and no spool tension without backlashing, don´t go around doing it all the time though because the conditions in which I can do so are extremely rare. Modern day reels are fine machines as they come out of the box and hardly need upgrades but if you want to, changing the spool supporting bearings and changing the drag pads are what you would want to increase performance.

 

Dodgeguy pointed out one of my thoughts, heck, come to my everyday lake and you will son find out that you don´t need no mile long casts and there ain´t no point in doing them, the only thing you´ll get is better quality hang ups ! but more freely rotating spool supporting bearings will help you to cast/flip/pitch better to the brush and timber. A smoother and more powerful drag will allow you to fight and avoid fish from burying into the bush/timber.

[dodgeguy]

Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?

my patriarch is smoother but the mgx will definately outcast it.i like the mgx better because it casts better and is lighter but it is 150 bucks more.the patriarch is still a great reel for the money.

[dodgeguy]

I can cast with no brakes and no spool tension without backlashing, don´t go around doing it all the time though because the conditions in which I can do so are extremely rare. Modern day reels are fine machines as they come out of the box and hardly need upgrades but if you want to, changing the spool supporting bearings and changing the drag pads are what you would want to increase performance.

 

Dodgeguy pointed out one of my thoughts, heck, come to my everyday lake and you will son find out that you don´t need no mile long casts and there ain´t no point in doing them, the only thing you´ll get is better quality hang ups ! but more freely rotating spool supporting bearings will help you to cast/flip/pitch better to the brush and timber. A smoother and more powerful drag will allow you to fight and avoid fish from burying into the bush/timber.

i agree most of the time you don't need really long casts.it's more important with crankbaits than most other lures.

[bigbill]

Ok I should get better using baitcasting reels before I make any performance changes. I ordered the cermanic bearings and the better discs for the drag. I'll be practicing bait casting up until the ice is on.

[Bass Junkie]

Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?

C'mon guys, lighten up.... It's not even winter yet, get out and fish! We'll all be arguing about tackle for several months during that terrible situation called winter, let's just enjoy WHATEVER tackle we throw right now

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On a cost/benefit basis I recommend the following:

1. Deep cleaning/bearing flush and proper lube

2. Carbontex drag upgrade

3. Super Tuning (applies only to reels with solid spool shaft)

4. Bearing upgrade

5. Spool change if casting unusually light baits

6. Handles etc.

There are a lot of variables that affect casting distance. If rod length, power, action, guide train, line used and conditions are all optimal, a bait of certain mass and aerodynamics will only fly so far regardless of spool speed. This why the biggest advantage of a well tuned and performing reel is ease of casting and the resulting accuracy. Distance is secondary in almost every circumstance except crank-baits.

[Bluebasser86]

I've had most of my baitcasters supertuned (polished bearings mainly). Like others have said some reels it helps a lot, some not so much. The old Curado B is a long distance casting freak when it's supertuned and smoother than when they were brand new. I have noticed that several of them are a little noisier on the retrieve so if that would bother you then you might want to reconsider. A proper cleaning and greasing will help performance a lot also.