Shimano Scorpion Xt1501 + Avail Microcast Spool

[Mindfogger]

Hi Guys,

Im from Singapore and would like to know if any of you guys have any experience with the Avail Microcast Spool.

My current setup

6' Okuma Nemesis II

Power: Medium

Action: Moderate

Line rating: 6-12lbs

Lure rating: 7-15g

Shimano Scorpion XT1501 + Boca Bearings

I would like to cast weightless plastics(T-Rig) and am looking at the Avail Microcast Spool. And I cant find anyone locally that have tried Tune up spools.

The problem is i can only own one setup cause thats what my wife and i have agreed upon. Its a compilcated thing.

My local reservoirs are stocked up with peacock bass. Im downsizing my lures as i noticed that the fishes prefer smaller lures and im having a hard time casting lighter lures.

On paper it looks as if that with the Avail spool will be able to cast lighter lures.

Another option for me is to sell off my BC set and get me a spinning set or change to a finesse BC reel which will burn a big hole in my pocket. I would prefer to keep my bc set though. Or am i just thinking too much?

[bootytrain]

You should be able to cast down to 2 grams with that spool with the right rod and line.  I don't have one but over at Tackletour theres a lot of guys who use shallow AVAIL spools. The have the 4 pin brake option too.

[Mindfogger]

And one more thing that I forget to mention is that fishing will be done from the banks. Not sure if that would further help my query.

[kickerfish1]

You can probably source an Avail spool from hedgehog studios in Japan. They have their website available in English and you can email them about fitment for your reel. Lookikv at the website they have one on sale for $79.00 and as you scroll down you will see instructuons and pictures on what you need to do to install it. Even with the time differences I get replies within about 12 hours or so. Shipping was only about 5 business days at a cost of $9.00.

Also keep in mind that a scorpion 1500 reel is essentially the same size reel as chronarch 200e or curado 200e. It has a bit heavier spool and more line capacity than the scorpion 1000xt which equates to a US curado or chronarch 50e. Most folks that are wanting a finesse reel are customizing the smaller scorpions in the 1000 size or US 50 size. With that said I can cast baits down to 1/4 oz on my 200 sized or JDM equivalent 1500 series reels just fine.

I would assume peacock bass fishing is casting a variety of baits in tight quarters like topwaters and soft bodied swimbaits? With a bearing upgrade and assuming the reel is properly maintained inside, you probably don't even need the Avail spool. Finesse spools are really only necessary for throwing baits under 1/4 oz. If you match the reel with a nice rod and the appropriate sized line for the size of fish present and cover you should be set.

I think 21farms has some experience with the Avail spools but I am not sure on what reels. If he sees this he will probably weigh in, if not maybe send him a message on here.

[Mindfogger]

Wow that is a great insight.

Thanks. I assume that I should go with a rod change if I were not to go with the Avail spool change?

Anything with a fast tip with M-MH power. Probably MH cause snakeheads are everywhere where I live.

[bootytrain]

What's the weight of the lures you are trying to cast?

[Mindfogger]

What's the weight of the lures you are trying to cast?

My goal is to cast weightless plastics.

I have a 5inch Yum dinger, 4inch zoom super flukes, not sure abt the weights Ive read a post here which says its about 1/4oz but I feel that its much lighter when compared to the 1/4oz skitter pop.

I also have a frog which is abt 1/6oz.

[Raul]

You don´t need an Avail spool to cast a weightless 5 inch Dinger, it weights close to 1/4 oz and it casts like rock and flies like a bullet, 4 inch flukes also do not represent a problem for a Scorpion 1500 size of that series, the spool in those series is shallower and lighter so it doesn´t need a lot of energy to initiate rotation.

[Hogsticker]

I agree with Raul. The Avail spool will allow you to do this with greater ease for sure (less effort required). The aftermarket lightweight spools are more geared toward finesse fishing with lighter weights

[Mindfogger]

I would think that with all these explanations I should look into getting a better rod.

[Hogsticker]

That's what I would do. Look at getting a longer, higher quality rod. Even a 6'6 is gonna help ya with some distance. And for the techniques you listed, stepping up to a moderate fast or even a fast is likely a good idea. You may also be surprised how far a good polish on that stock spool can take ya

[Raul]

Here´s how I see it my friend, you say you have a Medium power, Moderate action rod, that and a noodle is pretty much the same, the pronlem is not exatcly the power rating but the action rating, a moderate action rod bends almost half of it´s length so there isn´t much muscle there. If you change for a MH power, Fast action rod you can fish in practical terms most of the baits. The only lure(s) I would fish with a moderate action rod would be crankbaits.

[21farms]

i have yumeya shallow spools on my scorpion 1001XT and my 13metaniumXG. let me tell ya, the shallow spools transform the reels, allowing me to cast light lures and pitch regular lures with new-found ease.

 

 

the reason i chose the yumeya spools over avails is because the yumeyas come with brakes whereas you have to either pull the brakes off of your old spool and put them on the new spool or buy the brake assembly separately. besides, yumeya is in-house with shimano so i know they're not reverse-engineered to fit.

 

now, all that being said, you shouldn't need a finesse spool to cast weightless plastics like 5" dingers or 4" super flukes...those should cast fine with the scorpion 1500/1501 stock. as others have mentioned, you're probably much better off putting your money toward a longer, medium to medium-heavy powered rod with a fast action.