Baitcasting Reels

[badhatharry]

You have to understand that I have been away from the fishing scene for over 15 years.......but when, and why, did they start hanging that big gear box on the side of casting reels?  Doesn't that add to the weight?   Thanks 

[Nocturnal]

I'm in the same boat.  I just got back into fishing in the last four months after 15yrs. 

 

To answer your question, many of them feel like they have actually gotten lighter. 

[Darren.]

Lower profile to the rod. Set the gear "box" on the outside

and voi la, you've got a low profile setup.

 

I've been away from tennis for over 15 years. A frickin' lot 

has changed since I was in the game. LOL. Racquets, spin,

it ain't a "take-yer-time" game any more.

 

Fishing is still the same game, but the tools have changed.

Can still catch on all the old gear, no problems, but like tennis,

there are newer ways to do so. Not necessarily better, just

newer....

 

My .02.

[Josh Smith]

The best innovations seem to be affordable super braid and improved plastics.

Josh

[Raul]

You have to understand that I have been away from the fishing scene for over 15 years.......but when, and why, did they start hanging that big gear box on the side of casting reels?  Doesn't that add to the weight?   Thanks 

 

When ? around the year 2000.

Why ? well, the gears didn´t grow in size, it was the frame that got smaller.

Does it add weight ? nope, cuz gears in modern day reels ain´t made out of heavy brass, spools aren´t made of heavy steel and so on.

[FinCulture]

The best innovations seem to be affordable super braid and improved plastics.

Josh

agreed.

[Dr Gadget]

 2 years ago  I started to fish again after a 55 year layoff, I came from WI and fishing in the desert just turned me off. I have access to private lake in Iowa and stared fishing again. The first reels I had access to were cheap spinning rods, did not enjoy the experience. Last year I bought Zebco pros and got rehooked on the experience. Started fishing seriously again. I got a good spinning reel and a Daiwa Tatula 8.1 bait caster. Wow here I go again, bought a couple of the high end Quantums 6.1 and 7.1 and a Daiwa Zillion 9.1. I am totally rebooked and fishing. Also  bought a couple of casting reels from the 50s just for the hell of it, no adjustments just cast and catch very fun. Like the modern equipment but is still fun to fish with the old stuff. The Quantum MG with the lightest Gohst Rod is awesome. The Tatulas are great.   

[Tmmytomato]

Lower mass, more comfortable all day casting, lighter weight. You won't find any new round bait casters anywhere near the light weight of the new low profile reels - or as comfortable for an all day or three day tourney.

[Nocturnal]

2 years ago I started to fish again after a 55 year layoff, I came from WI and fishing in the desert just turned me off. I have access to private lake in Iowa and stared fishing again. The first reels I had access to were cheap spinning rods, did not enjoy the experience. Last year I bought Zebco pros and got rehooked on the experience. Started fishing seriously again. I got a good spinning reel and a Daiwa Tatula 8.1 bait caster. Wow here I go again, bought a couple of the high end Quantums 6.1 and 7.1 and a Daiwa Zillion 9.1. I am totally rebooked and fishing. Also bought a couple of casting reels from the 50s just for the hell of it, no adjustments just cast and catch very fun. Like the modern equipment but is still fun to fish with the old stuff. The Quantum MG with the lightest Gohst Rod is awesome. The Tatulas are great.

Haha, sounds like the bug I just caught! It's great to be back fishing again! Welcome back to you too.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Lower mass, more comfortable all day casting, lighter weight. You won't find any new round bait casters anywhere near the light weight of the new low profile reels - or as comfortable for an all day or three day tourney.

i have 3 abu pro max 1600s that weigh 7.6 and fit my hand better then a low pro the whole left side is only 1 1/2" around and it has a recessed reel foot so all in all its actually smaller then a low pro as it has no teardrop shape.

[Tmmytomato]

I'm talking 4.7 ounce Aldeberon, 5.9 ounce Chronarch MG, 6.2 ounce Metaniums (nine in all of those styles) and DO NOT have large hands so the low profile reels are much more comfortable for me.  I also have a couple round Calcutta Bs that are great reels but not quite as easy for me to palm on an all day or three/four day event.

It's interesting how everyone has their "druthers" and the sponsored pros can throw anything they want but see how many use the low pros the vast majority of the time. They say it's because of the comfort and weight and they fish all day every day..

[K_Mac]

Back in the day a reel with 22-24 Inches Per Turn of the handle was fast. The bigger gearing makes much faster IPT possible.