I decided on ordering an Antares DC

[Outdoors]

Just waiting for its arrival from Amazon now. Yup... pricey, but I broke down and got one.

 

Before it arrives and I take it out for some serious fishing, I have a few questions for my fellow Antares DC owners.

 

Tackletour seems to suggests the X on it is for extreme distance. How many of you actually use it though? Is it risky? Say, setting it on X, with the outside dial placed at a low breaking? Is it still fairly backlash proof?

 

 

[Further North]

I don't have the Antares, but have an (older) Calais DC.

 

I've tried the "X" setting a few times...and just don't see enough benefit in distance to make up for the increase in other problems (backlash, loss of accuracy, etc.).

 

...but I don't have any situations where an extra few yards are ever going to make a difference in catching fish.

 

Obviously the technology could have improved since the Calais.

[Outdoors]

10 hours ago, Further North said:

I don't have the Antares, but have an (older) Calais DC.

 

I've tried the "X" setting a few times...and just don't see enough benefit in distance to make up for the increase in other problems (backlash, loss of accuracy, etc.).

 

...but I don't have any situations where an extra few yards are ever going to make a difference in catching fish.

 

Obviously the technology could have improved since the Calais.

Thanks for the advise.

 

It could have improved, but I think it would still be somewhat around the Calais' level.

[freelancer27]

10 hours ago, Outdoors said:

Just waiting for its arrival from Amazon now. Yup... pricey, but I broke down and got one.

 

Before it arrives and I take it out for some serious fishing, I have a few questions for my fellow Antares DC owners.

 

Tackletour seems to suggests the X on it is for extreme distance. How many of you actually use it though? Is it risky? Say, setting it on X, with the outside dial placed at a low breaking? Is it still fairly backlash proof?

 

 

I am the proud owner of a 2016 Antares DC (I bought mine a year ago for 520 USD). 

The 'X-Mode' is to be used carefully. I use it when I really need to bomb Lipless Cranks (1oz) out there from the bank. But it requires a bit of skill of punctuative thumb pressure every now and then. Getting a backlash in the 'X-Mode' with Fluro almost always ends up in a in- reparable backlash. 

Start with the regular modes and train your thumb for a couple of months! Then take a heavier, aero-dynamic lure and do lop casts with the thumb being on the spool. 

After that slowly work yourself up. Also watch the wind, try to keep it in your back if possible.

Enjoy the reel!

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

I am the proud owner of a 2016 Antares DC (I bought mine a year ago for 520 USD). 

The 'X-Mode' is to be used carefully. I use it when I really need to bomb Lipless Cranks (1oz) out there from the bank. But it requires a bit of skill of punctuative thumb pressure every now and then. Getting a backlash in the 'X-Mode' with Fluro almost always ends up in a in- reparable backlash. 

Start with the regular modes and train your thumb for a couple of months! Then take a heavier, aero-dynamic lure and do lop casts with the thumb being on the spool. 

After that slowly work yourself up. Also watch the wind, try to keep it in your back if possible.

Enjoy the reel!

I believe the most heaviest lures I have are 3/8 oz and 5/8 oz; spinnerbaits and crankbaits. I'm thinking those weights probably wouldn't be very compatible on X mode?

[Outdoors]

On 12/30/2017 at 8:06 PM, freelancer27 said:

I am the proud owner of a 2016 Antares DC (I bought mine a year ago for 520 USD). 

The 'X-Mode' is to be used carefully. I use it when I really need to bomb Lipless Cranks (1oz) out there from the bank. But it requires a bit of skill of punctuative thumb pressure every now and then. Getting a backlash in the 'X-Mode' with Fluro almost always ends up in a in- reparable backlash. 

Start with the regular modes and train your thumb for a couple of months! Then take a heavier, aero-dynamic lure and do lop casts with the thumb being on the spool. 

After that slowly work yourself up. Also watch the wind, try to keep it in your back if possible.

Enjoy the reel!

 

On 12/30/2017 at 11:14 AM, Further North said:

I don't have the Antares, but have an (older) Calais DC.

 

I've tried the "X" setting a few times...and just don't see enough benefit in distance to make up for the increase in other problems (backlash, loss of accuracy, etc.).

 

...but I don't have any situations where an extra few yards are ever going to make a difference in catching fish.

 

Obviously the technology could have improved since the Calais.

Hey guys! The reel actually arrived today; estimated arrival date was between Jan 2 to Jan 5, lol.

 

Have any of you cleaned your DC reels yet? I was wondering where exactly does the oil go on them at?

[Further North]

Take a look in the manual.

[Outdoors]

16 hours ago, Further North said:

Take a look in the manual.

Oh trust me, I did. The Antares is all Japanese, and unfortunately I couldn't find any cleaning videos for it. But it looks like I may have to remove 4 screws, and maybe place the oil on the chip.

[freelancer27]

1 hour ago, Outdoors said:

Oh trust me, I did. The Antares is all Japanese, and unfortunately I couldn't find any cleaning videos for it. But it looks like I may have to remove 4 screws, and maybe place the oil on the chip.

Yep, remove the digital unit and clean/oil the reel as any other. the Digital unit does not need special maintenance to my knowledge. 

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Yep, remove the digital unit and clean/oil the reel as any other. the Digital unit does not need special maintenance to my knowledge. 

Hey, thanks for the reply.

 

Just the reel then? No need to oil the actual chip?

[freelancer27]

52 minutes ago, Outdoors said:

Hey, thanks for the reply.

 

Just the reel then? No need to oil the actual chip?

Nope. Just clean it with a q-tip from greeze and dirt if neccessary

[Outdoors]

7 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Nope. Just clean it with a q-tip from greeze and dirt if neccessary

Alright, thanks for the information. The cleaning seems simple enough.

[Maico1]

On 12/30/2017 at 12:12 PM, Outdoors said:

Just waiting for its arrival from Amazon now. Yup... pricey, but I broke down and got one.

 

Before it arrives and I take it out for some serious fishing, I have a few questions for my fellow Antares DC owners.

 

Tackletour seems to suggests the X on it is for extreme distance. How many of you actually use it though? Is it risky? Say, setting it on X, with the outside dial placed at a low breaking? Is it still fairly backlash proof?

 

 

No problem using the X setting at all and they are used on TopWater and Frog setups.....