Any thoughts?

[CaughtMeABiggun]

Just want to throw this out there. Take a look at the Dobyns Maverick casting reel and the Calamus X2 casting reel on Amazon. 

[roadwarrior]

So what's the deal? Another $100 reel?

[FishTank]

Two reels that look very similar.  One at $100 and the other for under $30. I would pass. 

 

I will say Dobyns rods are pretty good. Seeing this reel from them is odd.

[CaughtMeABiggun]

I’m not saying they are, but they look to be 95 percent the same reel. One is 25 bucks and one is 100 bucks. I have two of the the Calamus reels that I bought a couple of years ago for giggles and I was stunned that they out-fish any 75 to 80 dollar reel. Honestly I have some 100 plus dollar reels that they fish as good as. I am still stumped on how they made a reel like that for a price like that. I took one apart and I couldn’t find anything different that would make it less than a reel that is 3 to 4 times it’s price point. If Dobyns used this reel for the base template it would make a ton of sense, but if they did it makes sense to buy

the Calumus and save 75 bucks. The Dobyns has some extra bearings (10 vs 5), but you can take the 75 bucks you save and put it towards a higher end Dobyns rod. I just wanted to give some food for thought. With a lot of reels coming out of the same

Chinese factories it’s a good idea now to make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.  I think these reels are just made from templates. This frame, this side plate, and so on. It’s like picking out the cabinets, backsplash, and floor for your kitchen. To be honest I hate it has become this way. Unless you spend 200 plus dollars on a reel, you’re probably just getting a random mix of parts out of the same parts bin that everyone else is using. Abu Garcia and Pflueger have been diluted by rebranding Doyo reels. Lews and BPS are Doyo. I have read multiple places that Daiwa and Piscifun have reels that share components. How much are we paying for the name on the reels?

[Deleted account]

14 minutes ago, CaughtMeABiggun said:

I’m not saying they are, but they look to be 95 percent the same reel. One is 25 bucks and one is 100 bucks. I have two of the the Calamus reels that I bought a couple of years ago for giggles and I was stunned that they out-fish any 75 to 80 dollar reel. Honestly I have some 100 plus dollar reels that they fish as good as. I am still stumped on how they made a reel like that for a price like that. I took one apart and I couldn’t find anything different that would make it less than a reel that is 3 to 4 times it’s price point. If Dobyns used this reel for the base template it would make a ton of sense, but if they did it makes sense to buy

the Calumus and save 75 bucks. The Dobyns has some extra bearings (10 vs 5), but you can take the 75 bucks you save and put it towards a higher end Dobyns rod. I just wanted to give some food for thought. With a lot of reels coming out of the same

Chinese factories it’s a good idea now to make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.  I think these reels are just made from templates. This frame, this side plate, and so on. It’s like picking out the cabinets, backsplash, and floor for your kitchen. To be honest I hate it has become this way. Unless you spend 200 plus dollars on a reel, you’re probably just getting a random mix of parts out of the same parts bin that everyone else is using. Abu Garcia and Pflueger have been diluted by rebranding Doyo reels. Lews and BPS are Doyo. I have read multiple places that Daiwa and Piscifun have reels that share components. How much are we paying for the name on the reels?

VW owns Porsche and Audi in addition to a couple of Italian brands...

[bulldog1935]

I paid $125 (new ebay) for my first Super Duty G.  After 4 hard years, it was good enough to snag a 2nd at $140.  The one thing you won't get from it is light weight, though it casts light weights remarkably well. 

 

In low end reels, you are paying a bigger share for name, marketing, inventory, seller mark up, which brings the list price of the $30 reel up to $100.  Doesn't make the $30 reel any more desirable. 

 

Doyo-hate is a strange concept.  Doyo is a Major parts supplier for both Shimano and Daiwa, and high-grade tackle has been made in Korea for 40+ years (e.g., Orvis and Hardy).  The map shows Daiwa's top 20 suppliers, and Doyo is flagged. 

[Tatulatard]

57 minutes ago, CaughtMeABiggun said:

I’m not saying they are, but they look to be 95 percent the same reel. One is 25 bucks and one is 100 bucks. I have two of the the Calamus reels that I bought a couple of years ago for giggles and I was stunned that they out-fish any 75 to 80 dollar reel. Honestly I have some 100 plus dollar reels that they fish as good as. I am still stumped on how they made a reel like that for a price like that. I took one apart and I couldn’t find anything different that would make it less than a reel that is 3 to 4 times it’s price point. If Dobyns used this reel for the base template it would make a ton of sense, but if they did it makes sense to buy

the Calumus and save 75 bucks. The Dobyns has some extra bearings (10 vs 5), but you can take the 75 bucks you save and put it towards a higher end Dobyns rod. I just wanted to give some food for thought. With a lot of reels coming out of the same

Chinese factories it’s a good idea now to make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.  I think these reels are just made from templates. This frame, this side plate, and so on. It’s like picking out the cabinets, backsplash, and floor for your kitchen. To be honest I hate it has become this way. Unless you spend 200 plus dollars on a reel, you’re probably just getting a random mix of parts out of the same parts bin that everyone else is using. Abu Garcia and Pflueger have been diluted by rebranding Doyo reels. Lews and BPS are Doyo. I have read multiple places that Daiwa and Piscifun have reels that share components. How much are we paying for the name on the reels?

Many of these chinease reels are made from plastic and don't even have metal thread inserts for the screws.  They can be pretty terrible.  I've owned a bunch.  Metal frame chinease reels are all I'll mess with now other than maybe a bfs reel since that is a low drag pressure application.

 

If you want a reel where the name on the outside matches the company that designed and built the reel then stick to fuego ct and up daiwas and shimanos.

[ironbjorn]

The Dobyns reels are fanboy novelty items made to match the rods and I AM HERE FOR IT 

[Deleted account]

3 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

The Dobyns reels are fanboy novelty items made to match the rods and I AM HERE FOR IT 

So a niche within a niche?...  

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, CaughtMeABiggun said:

Just want to throw this out there.

If all you've got is 26 clams + tax, go fishing and be happy. However, I'm with the Tard on this point-Coarse thread screws cycled in and out of plastic turns me off as I service my reels often. I'd probably just avoid that altogether and just fish it to death.

[new2BC4bass]

I've had lots of thoughts.  I thought I'd get better looking as I got older.  I though I'd retire at 65.  I though I'd learn to play the piano.  I thought I could stay on a diet.  I thought I would join a gym.  I thought I'd buy a car newer than 5 years old.

 

I thought I'd get out fishing more than I have the past few years.  I thought I'd get my spinning rods out.  I thought I'd like jig fishing.  I thought I'd use my fly rods this coming year.

 

I thought I'd go through my drawers and throw out shirts that have been too small for me for at least 10 years.  I thought I'd have more hair.  I thought I'd be able to remember thoughts better than I do.

[garroyo130]

9 hours ago, PhishLI said:

If all you've got is 26 clams + tax, go fishing and be happy. However, I'm with the Tard on this point-Coarse thread screws cycled in and out of plastic turns me off as I service my reels often. I'd probably just avoid that altogether and just fish it to death.

 

^ My issue with the Curado K which has screws going into plastic sideplate vs aluminum frame. 

[Tatulatard]

8 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

 

^ My issue with the Curado K which has screws going into plastic sideplate vs aluminum frame. 

Are there at least thread inserts and machine screws in use?  Its the self tapers that just go into the plastic that are troubling for me. 

[garroyo130]

4 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Are there at least thread inserts and machine screws in use?  Its the self tapers that just go into the plastic that are troubling for me. 

 

You mentioned the thread inserts above as well. I've honestly never seen a reel with thread inserts ... Maybe I need to step up my price point?