Rebuild old reels or buy new?

[Zippo Guy]

I recently found an old Mitchell 300 reel while cleaning out the garage.  I'm sure I bought it 50 years ago when we lived in Anchorage, AK. I cleaned the outside and put new line on it.  My grandson caught and landed a 14 pound catfish yesterday with it. I'm planning on sending it off to DVT to get a good cleaning and lubed to used as a catfish/backup reel. I think in my case it is best to leave it to the pros. 

[Friggs]

I also have gotten back into fishing after a long time. Some of my stuff is 30+ years old. I have upgraded two reels. But what I wanted to upgrade more was my rods. I think, and I could be way off here and others can correct me, but there has been more advancement in rods than reels. I would like to hear others thoughts on this.

 

Bill

[new2BC4bass]

9 hours ago, Smalls said:

Guess it depends on what they are. 

 

It's not worth it to repair a black max. A Chronarch, on the other hand, will last forever with a little maintenance and a new part here and there 

I'd have to agree.  I have the Curado 201E7, Gen1 STX and Premier.  They all cast quite well.  If you need extra distance, I'd look at the Tatula Long Cast.  (There are others, too.)  Trouble free braking?  Look to a reel with an SV spool or a DC reel.  A few of the new reels are extremely light.  You can find reels for 5 oz. and under.

 

I'm a huge fan of the TD-Zs that came before that time period.  I'd keep them over most of my newer reels.

[Big Hands]

 nvm

[bulldog1935]

Over the history of fishing reels, there were paradigm changes; level-wind (a big step backwards for tournament casters), freespool, separating freespool from LW, the comfort of LP reels;  the flip-bail, anti-reverse, skirted spool, ball bearings, lightweight materials.  There were parallel advances in rod MOC and construction, and in fishing lines.  Throughout the history, old reels don't make the swap to new lines. 

I can still catch fish with 1914 Talbot and Thomas cane, from the other side of all those major changes.  My older daughter's go-to choice for creek-fishing was a 1937 Luxor half-bail and short Airex solid glass rod (no anti-reverse on the reel). 

 

Over the age of @basspro05 's reels, he's not going to see paradigm changes in new reels, but subtle improvements that parallel the subtle improvements in rods and lines.  The comfort changes in baitcasters including lighter weight and better shape noted by @AaronH @QED and others are certainly real. The things that are harder to see are CAD/CAM and processing improvements in the gears and structural improvements in how to use lighter-weight materials (where they bombed in the '90s). 

 

The biggest decade difference in baitcasters is the performance gained by gradual reductions in spool mass and inertia, accompanied by subtle changes in brakes.  Reducing spool mass and inertia gets the same brake result using less brake, and that equals greater cast distance.  The way to read cast distance is effortless, reliable fishing with a wider lure weight range.  Out of all my new reels, I'm still most impressed with ZPI Alcance, a bench-raced Revo incorporating magnesium spool, titanium spindle, and tuned mag-brake adjustment cam. 

Shimano and Daiwa are going to have similar step changes.  If you happen to like Daiwa's basic mag-force brake, the SV brake is the next-step better. 

 

In spinning reels, the CAD/CAM improvements may be more important, because of the high bending moments inherent in the basic design, and pushed harder as spindles get longer and drag goes higher.  Structural stiffness is most important - reducing flex in the body, rotor and long spindle, and building gears that are better at handling the high contact loads that result from pushing to higher drag loads (what fished-through Mitchells).  For my money, '18 Stella is the benchmark, and all the new Shimano reels introduced since then incorporate that same design, to the extent that the parts inerchange with '18 Stella. 

[papajoe222]

12 hours ago, Friggs said:

 I think, and I could be way off here and others can correct me, but there has been more advancement in rods than reels. I would like to hear others thoughts on this.

It all depends on what you consider to be advancement. One thing, for sure, is lighter weight rods that still have the same power as older versions.  One thing I do like is many companies now, rate the power and tip action. That, IMO, makes it easier to choose a rod for specific applications where with older rods, you had to load the rod to determine where the flex was.

Some may say today's offerings are more sensitive, but that is all relative to the person holding it.

[The Bassman]

I've had an upgraded Curado 100B in the flea market since June that that performs as well as my new reels, just a little bigger in the hand. Figure I'll treat it as my "57 Chevy" that I drive only on sunny days. 

[zell_pop1]

On 11/27/2021 at 5:05 PM, Aaron_H said:

I think the biggest difference is going to be size/weight. I've compared an SLX to the older Citica 200D (similar-ish price point, the Citica was technically more expensive when new) and technology is similar, same braking system, castability is similar. But the SLX is much, much smaller and three ounces lighter. Sitting them next to each other, it's almost clownish how much larger the Citica is, but it's still a great performing reel that catches fish even 15 years later.

 

I'd say if you can get your reels back up and running for little cost, it would be worthwhile. But if the size/weight savings is significant to you, upgrading to newer reels could be the way to go.

Actually I had a few Citica 100 DSVs and they were great reels and the SLX really is basically the same reel but I guess slightly lighter but I am not sure that is a good thing as lighter means less metal.

[PourMyOwn]

On 11/29/2021 at 5:43 AM, The Bassman said:

I've had an upgraded Curado 100B in the flea market since June that that performs as well as my new reels, just a little bigger in the hand. Figure I'll treat it as my "57 Chevy" that I drive only on sunny days. 

Just checked it out, looks like a good deal for someone. 

 

I find that the larger, heavier reels fo a better job of balancing longer rods than the new lightweight reels. My green Curado is great on a 7'6" fiberglass cranking rod. 

[Alpster]

I have a half dozen old Shimano 50mg reels. Most are 15+ years old. Keep them clean and lubed and they are still amazing. Wouldn't trade them for anything on the market today. I paid a fortune for the first Shimano DC reel (Calcutta 2500 DC). It was and is a fine reel, but it was over-priced and wasn't the magic it was hyped to be. I'm glad I have it now, but I haven't been tempted by DC reels since. JMHO

[Phil77]

Got my two best old reels their annual clean and lube tonight. 

[senile1]

@basspro05, welcome back, buddy!

 

I still use older reels.  For baitcasters, the Curado 200e7, Citica 200E, and Citica D models still adorn a few of my rods.  I also have a Chronarch from the same era as the E models.  The newest reel I have is a Revo STX that is maybe five years old.  For spinning rods I use Shimano Symetres.  I have always been one to use an item for its entire life if it still functions properly.  

 

The Chronarch and E series models are awesome reels, while the Citica D may be a bit shorter on casting distance and then of course there is its higher weight.  But the D is a tank.  I have had to replace parts here and there that typically need replacing, but otherwise these reels have no issues.  I will buy newer reels when needed, but I don't buy them just because I can.  If your reels are in good shape, they will still serve you for years to come.

[basspro05]

21 minutes ago, senile1 said:

@basspro05, welcome back, buddy!

 

I still use older reels.  For baitcasters, the Curado 200e7, Citica 200E, and Citica D models still adorn a few of my rods.  I also have a Chronarch from the same era as the E models.  The newest reel I have is a Revo STX that is maybe five years old.  For spinning rods I use Shimano Symetres.  I have always been one to use an item for its entire life if it still functions properly.  

 

The Chronarch and E series models are awesome reels, while the Citica D may be a bit shorter on casting distance and then of course there is its higher weight.  But the D is a tank.  I have had to replace parts here and there that typically need replacing, but otherwise these reels have no issues.  I will buy newer reels when needed, but I don't buy them just because I can.  If your reels are in good shape, they will still serve you for years to come.

Thanks Senile1! I think there is something to be said for running something until the wheels fall off of it!