4pwr Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 I have to say the bulk of the fish I hook are 1 to 6 pound fish. These fish do not challenge my line,rod, or reel in any way. Graphite reels work just fine for me. Why the big knock against them? Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted March 21, 2008 Super User Posted March 21, 2008 I have to say the bulk of the fish I hook are 1 to 6 pound fish. These fish do not challenge my line,rod, or reel in any way. Graphite reels work just fine for me. Why the big knock against them?drop one from waist high on a rock or hard floor if it hits JUST right it can break the reel stem .i use a few but i always have a metal reel within arms reach .what can i say i like my Abu black max,s 2 Quote
flippin4it. Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 Every graphite reel I have owned was clunky and far from smooth. Quote
Mike-in-WV Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 Two of my Abu Garcisa Bait casting reels are plastic and they are as good as many metal reels out there today.Nothing "Clunky " about either of them,Lol. Love my Silver Max and it performs flawlessly and I can cast further with it then most can with any other LP reel. Yes they can and do brake and so does aluminum or pot metal if handle wrong or drooped on a rock like was mentioned above. Take a look at the inside of a Silver Max and I think you will be pleased with what you see. Mike Quote
4pwr Posted March 21, 2008 Author Posted March 21, 2008 I have to agree that if you drop a graphite reel on a concrete driveway and it lands just right it might be damaged. I think if you drop just about anything on a concrete driveway and it lands just right,it also might be damaged. What else is perceived to be wrong with them? 1 Quote
Guest muddy Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 I have to say the bulk of the fish I hook are 1 to 6 pound fish. These fish do not challenge my line,rod, or reel in any way. Graphite reels work just fine for me. Why the big knock against them?drop one from waist high on a rock or hard floor if it hits JUST right it can break the reel stem .i use a few but i always have a metal reel within arms reach .what can i say i like my Abu black max,s Just more and more of the same BS!!!!!!!!! I have dropeed my Pflueger President, down the side of a rocky embankment ( actually more than once) at the river, on the floor (concrete and otherwise) with no I repeat no issues over a number of years and many trips. Quote
Super User Jeff H Posted March 21, 2008 Super User Posted March 21, 2008 Mine never seemed to last more than a few years before they got to feeling like they were worn out. To be fair, they were fished hard and often and probably not taken care of as well as they should have been. I still have 4 of my old Shimano's and at least one Daiwa that have graphite frames and I could use them, but it wouldn't be much fun. Maybe many years ago there were problems but it is possible today that advances in composites and manufacturing techniques have made them much better. Quote
Mike-in-WV Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 The real truth can be seen just by walking around your house and your garage. Take a look at your truck or car inside and out PLASTIC! , Your computer, PLASTIC!, Your $2,000.00 plasma TV, PLASTIC! in the kitchen your wifes Microwave, PLASTIC, The handles on the pots and pans, PLASTIC!. I think you get what I'm saying here. Don't knock it just because it has plastic on it, so does most of your biggest investments. Some people feel it was all for the better, cheaper and lighter, Mike Quote
Super User burleytog Posted March 21, 2008 Super User Posted March 21, 2008 Two of my Abu Garcisa Bait casting reels are plastic and they are as good as many metal reels out there today. That is a pretty strong statement. I trust you have the experience to back that statement up. : Quote
Mike-in-WV Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 Two of my Abu Garcia Bait casting reels are plastic and they are as good as many metal reels out there today. That is a pretty strong statement. I trust you have the experience to back that statement up. : Saying that they are good as many does not seem like a strong statement to me being that there are some junk metal reels on the market today that are way over priced. My back up is that I started using Bait casting reels when I was about 12 and I'm 62 now. Also my wife worked for Pflugers when they were in Akron many years ago. It's true that I'm just getting back into it after a lay off from fishing for a few years and the reels have changed some and they still are. I am a recent owner of a Revo S ( Beautiful reel!)and several of my friends own the high end LP models and the older and newer round models they use for trolling. They both tried my reels several times and loved them and they could not get over the smoothness or the cast ability. The inside of these reels are all metal and brass gears including the pinion gear and the bearings and spools are second to none. Keep in mind that the Max reels made by Abu Garcia were meant to be an answer to the person who could not afford the high end reels and they never intended nor did they produce a junk reel as some of you may think, In fact, I really don't remember Abu ever turning out a junk reel. Just my opinion for what it's worth. Never said or meant to make anyone think I'm some kind of expert. Just a guy who is having fun with these reels and fishing again , Mike Quote
Super User .RM. Posted March 21, 2008 Super User Posted March 21, 2008 NO they aren't. All depends on how you maintain the reels. 8-) Quote
Saladmander Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 NO they aren't. All depends on how you maintain the reels. 8-) I have a 20 year old graphite Penn that I still love to use. The only thing I've ever put into that thing for parts is drag washers. Still runs smooth. I agree with RM. They can be just as good as an aluminum body reel if they're taken care of. Aluminum body reels can be just as much a piece of junk as a graphite reel if it's dropped, thrown, crushed, or not maintained properly. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted March 22, 2008 Super User Posted March 22, 2008 ...there are some junk metal reels on the market today that are way over priced. Yet another POOYA statement. Have you fished these 'junk metal reels' that are 'overpriced'? No? : Quote
Super User bilgerat Posted March 22, 2008 Super User Posted March 22, 2008 A poorly made graphite reel can twist and distort to a certain degree under a heavy load. I've seen this myself on saltwater (fighting a snapper blue for instance). In a case like this, a reel with an all metal frame would have the advantage. HOWEVER, a well made graphite reel would be fine for 1 to 6 # fish. As previously stated, maitenance is the key. Excellent graphite reels can be had for 30 bucks. Quote
Curado Posted March 22, 2008 Posted March 22, 2008 I've had about 3 or 4 and they all started having problems within a year. Quote
detroit1 Posted March 22, 2008 Posted March 22, 2008 I have the same experience as Curado, had 2 that didn't last longer than 2 years. And i'm not even catching 6# fish. I loved them the first year though. I didn't give them proper service, and i'm sure that has something to do with it. If you fish only 10-20 times a year, then by all means go with graphite. My deep cranks and spinnerbaits love the aluminum! Quote
Pencil Pusher Posted March 23, 2008 Posted March 23, 2008 The only metal frame/reel I own is a Garcia 5501 black from 1985. The rest of my reels are Quantum Competitions (13 yrs old), Garcia Revo(1 yr old), and Shimano Curado B's (14 yrs old), all graphite frames, and all have been through my personal ringer.. 8-) Not one has flexed out of shape... I can't believe you are saying that Revo's and Curado B's have graphite frames. Both definitely have aluminum frames. Quote
Mike-in-WV Posted March 23, 2008 Posted March 23, 2008 The only metal frame/reel I own is a Garcia 5501 black from 1985. The rest of my reels are Quantum Competitions (13 yrs old), Garcia Revo(1 yr old), and Shimano Curado B's (14 yrs old), all graphite frames, and all have been through my personal ringer.. 8-) Not one has flexed out of shape... I can't believe you are saying that Revo's and Curado B's have graphite frames. Both definitely have aluminum frames. Revo S is plastic. Had mine apart several times in the past two days just playing with it and getting to know it while tweaking things here and there. Also keep in mind that reelmechanic works on these reels all the time. That's what he does,Lol. If anyone knows his reels , he does! Mike Quote
Hot Rod Posted March 23, 2008 Posted March 23, 2008 I was taking my rods out of winter storage a week or so ago when I dropped two from the rack. They fell about 3 feet and the end of the rods hit the floor. The reels never touched the floor. For a second I was afraid the rods were damaged because the tips slammed around as they fell. Well on closer inspection both rods were fine but both of the graphite reel feet were busted. One was a cheap old $50 reel but the other was a quantum Accurast PT that was about 3 or 4 years old. There goes a $120+ down the tubes. (The new Accurist PT's have metal feet). I would never invest in a graphite reel again IMHO. Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted March 23, 2008 Super User Posted March 23, 2008 Revo S is aluminum main frame and reel foot, brake side plate is plastic. Same with Curado B. No disrespect to reelmech, but he is not correct on this. I have 2 Revo S-lL's sitting in front of me, as we speak, both are aluminum. BTW Abu Garcia also states they are Aluminum frames. 1 Quote
Super User .RM. Posted March 23, 2008 Super User Posted March 23, 2008 The only metal frame/reel I own is a Garcia 5501 black from 1985. The rest of my reels are Quantum Competitions (13 yrs old), Garcia Revo(1 yr old), and Shimano Curado B's (14 yrs old), all graphite frames, and all have been through my personal ringer.. 8-) Not one has flexed out of shape... I can't believe you are saying that Revo's and Curado B's have graphite frames. Both definitely have aluminum frames. Nope he's right. :-[ I was looking at the wrong reels when I wrote the reply. The reels I have that are graphite frames are the Competitions, and some old Energy reels, but all are Quantum. my mistake.... :-[i only have about 100 reels on my shelves.... Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted April 22, 2020 Super User Posted April 22, 2020 Its not about dropping a reel ...a 1k stella can break when its dropped..IMO i like the way metal feels myself ... Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted April 23, 2020 Super User Posted April 23, 2020 Nothing like bringing back a 12 year old post to argue the merits of construction material. 2 3 Quote
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