Delaware Valley Tackle

Well said.

I don’t see Lews as taking ABUs place. Lews had a nice niche for themselves as good quality reels at very competitive prices, due largely to their modest marketing budget. The new ownership has gone 180 in the other direction with heavy marketing, sponsorship etc and merely joined ABU in that space.

Not all designs allow for thicker drag stacks. I’d start with a Carbontex upgrade. As for spring washers new ones might make a slight difference but it won’t be night and day. If you’re spooled with braid make sure it’s not slipping.

Could be any one of a number of versions. Google is your friend. Compare any schematic carefully with the reel to be sure you’re using the right one. If you want to send it in I’ll go through it for you. Just let me know

For a newbie it’s hard to beat a set of American Tackle Microwave spinning guides. The setup is spelled out for you, price is reasonable and results excellent. Closest thing to a no brainer. Rod building thread and epoxy are worth the cost. You’ll close to $50 with shipping but the results will be better than a $50 rod off the shelf.

A QUALITY multi piece rod is just as good as an equivalent 1piece.

There was shimano castaic I believe that had the flip up hood.

Imo the biggest advantage of bearing upgrades is ease of casting resulting in improved accuracy. Some ancillary gains in distance are usually noticed too. The benefit of bearing upgrades should always be measured against properly flushed and oiled stock bearings.

A regular 3x10x4 bearing won’t fit in those as bulldog points out. Good results can be had super tuning those reels including inside bushing surfaces and level wind parts.

It’s the thought that counts!

I feel your pain

I’ll have a booth at the Adirondack Outdoor Show in Johnstown NY this weekend. Stop by and say hello.

Everyone is treated special here! Lol send at your convenience including a copy of the work order form from the website. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks

Citicas are workhorse reels well worth maintaining imo. Send whatever you have at your convenience. As for the grease, the shear amount used doesn’t mean much of anything.

A single felt washer isn’t unheard of. It’s sufficient for a freshwater reel that size. That said, I prefer to swap out felt for Carbontex no matter how many there are. Good call.