Which Casting Reel Upgrades

[WPCfishing]

What have you had done to improve your reel?

Was it worth it?

[ThatZX14Fella]

Following. I'm curious about upgrades and how beneficial they may be.

[Nstd]

Following. I'm curious about upgrades and how beneficial they may be.

X2

[Raul]

The only upgrade I have performed to a reel is changing the drag pads, I'm an enemy of adding costs to a lesser reel, by the time you have finished "upgrading" a lesser reel you could have purchased the next or even two steps above in the same line of reels. Why add 30 bones to a Citica ( for example ) in some upgrade when for those extra 30 you could have purchased a Curado ? I just can't understand it, but whatever tickles your fancy.

[OroBass]

I recently did a 1977 abu ambassadeur 4600c. I installed a duel bearing level wind, abec 7 spool bearings, ball bearing idler cog gear, and carbontex drag. I polished the pinion gear and spool ends. My free spool time on this reel is rediculous! I can outcast most new stock low pro reels.

[John G]

I have upgraded handles and drag stars to better looking handles and drag stars for no other reason than to make my reels look better in some cases and to put a longer handle on another because I wanted a longer handle. I have also bought bearing upgrades for some reels and also Carbontex Drag Washers for some reels. I have also added shallow spools to some reels I have no regrets so yes it was worth it.

[Bluebasser86]

Almost all of my baitcasters are supertuned. Some it makes a huge difference in casting distance, like my E and B series Curados. Others, like my Lew's, it didn't effect as much. Still, for as relatively inexpensive as it is, it does effect overall performance enough that I would suggest doing it. 

[kcdinkerz]

Just ceramic bearings, and some Eva foam grips. haven't noticed to much distance gain with the bearings but they do make casting easier, especially with one hand

[bootytrain]

A lighter shallower spool is probably the best bang for the buck.

[Hogsticker]

Polishing spool tips can be good. And I also like adding a longer handle if stock is less than 90 mm.

[Montanaro]

Carbontex drag and abec 7 Bocas to my daiwa tdz along with a new face plate.

Huge difference and looks better.

[masterbass]

I've added carbontex, upgraded spool bearings, and upgraded to shallow spools on some.  Carbontex is an inexpensive worthwhile upgrade.  Upgrading bearings make casting easier and more accurate, but flushing/lubing stock bearings can also make a big difference.  Shallow spools can transform a reel into a totally different finesse machine plus you can usually resell these at a decent price.  I've never upgraded handles, knobs or cc caps.  I prefer performance upgrades over cosmetic although I've bought reels that had cosmetic upgrades.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

What have you had done to improve your reel?

Was it worth it?

 

Trained my thumb how to properly manage the spool. Using just one or at times no brakes with very loose spool tension makes cast effort much easier and distance gains most noticeable. Just going from 2 brakes to 1 on cent brakes means 50% less braking, good gains to be had doing so.

[thehooligan]

I have upgraded handles and drag stars to better looking handles and drag stars for no other reason than to make my reels look better in some cases and to put a longer handle on another because I wanted a longer handle. I have also bought bearing upgrades for some reels and also Carbontex Drag Washers for some reels. I have also added shallow spools to some reels I have no regrets so yes it was worth it.

 

Pretty much everything John said.

 

My shimanos get handles, knobs, spool bearings and sometimes shallow spools. Ill also throw screw sets, dragstars, cast control caps for bling.

 

My daiwas/megabass get pretty much everything the same, but ill do sv spool swaps and carbontex is an absolute must.

[BASSPATROL247]

Ive bought a sheet of carbontex and cut my own washers out and replaced them on reels with lesser drag washer material, polished spool tips, added dual worm bearing worm gears and cog wheel bearings to my round abu's. Ive also polished the edges of my spools on the ones i could and have been soaking every bearing in all my reels for the last day or so and will rinse,dry and check them and replace the bad ones...

[J Francho]

Carbontex and a good cleaning for every reel I own. A couple get Hawgtech handles. Anything else is icing.

[00 mod]

Hawgtech Handles are a nice upgrade as well!

 

Jeff

[new2BC4bass]

I've added carbontex, upgraded spool bearings, and upgraded to shallow spools on some.  Carbontex is an inexpensive worthwhile upgrade.  Upgrading bearings make casting easier and more accurate, but flushing/lubing stock bearings can also make a big difference.  Shallow spools can transform a reel into a totally different finesse machine plus you can usually resell these at a decent price.  I've never upgraded handles, knobs or cc caps.  I prefer performance upgrades over cosmetic although I've bought reels that had cosmetic upgrades.

 

I don't do the work myself, but I have had Mike, Trey and Ian upgrade reels including supertuning.  Drag upgrades give the best benefit to some reels.  Usually I don't notice much increase in casting distance.  What I do notice is that I can run supertuned reels with fewer brakes.  I don't notice the small things like many of you guys.  My wife has referred to me as clueless on occasion. 

 

EDIT:  Should have mentioned that even though I am not as cognizant of the little things as most, I still appreciate using upgraded reels even if it is all in my mind. 

[Cgrinder]

Carbontex is a necessity. Ceramic bearings are nice if you like a little noise (I do). Carbon handles are cool but certainly not necessary.

[BASSPATROL247]

Trained my thumb how to properly manage the spool. Using just one or at times no brakes with very loose spool tension makes cast effort much easier and distance gains most noticeable. Just going from 2 brakes to 1 on cent brakes means 50% less braking, good gains to be had doing so.

from day one until recently i always had my brakes set to off or freespool and always had my cast control lose to almost the last thread.. sounds crazy but thats how i taught myself to cast.. finally got a better grade reel and now use both brakes somewhat, feels akward though...

[I.rar]

Bearings, drag and shallow spool in my curado 51. It's a totally different reel. The spool really gets going quick and the bearings make casting much easier with less effort. And carbontex...well why not? It's $8 for the set and makes the drag silky smooth with a touch of drag grease. The added pressure is a nice bonus too.

Eventually I'll get to the handle, drag star and Cc cap but those are strictly cosmetic and can wait.

[WPCfishing]

All good replies, Thx.. I want to get the most out of my Pitching reel. I'm looking for super smooth and effortless pin point accuracy. I'm going to send it to Mike and have him do his thing. I'm shipping one of  my Tourny Pro reels to him Tuesday. Then another and another and another. Can only send one at a time this time of year.

[oldschoolbasser]

12 bearings,lightweight Avail spool,magnetic brakes,and a skeletized line guide. Yeah,it was worth it!