You can bet that will be followed by the "best line" thread...

Snapped a champion DX on a cast my first time out with It. Luckily dobyns replaced no questions asked.

I did not read all the responses. But I can take any reel apart there is.. The older Shimano reels are superior in many ways. Made in Japan is the way to go.....


Accept no substitutes.

Prosise

That's already been settled... Falcon... Dan

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Don’t be. Super fast and I have never had the slightest issue. Digitaka and Asian portal
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Japan is a non-issue.....I've bought multiple +/- $1k cameras from Japan. In fact, sometimes I've been shocked how fast they arrived.

I'm still partial to my 100 and 200 Calcutta's, but, I'm a $100 to $200 Lews guy, some of which were used.....apparently it's like being a street bum.....hehehe

Anyone still like these, BNIB...

I’d buy that. How much?

I hear the Abu Garcia Black Max is a pretty sweet rig!

Great reel.

I like my new stuff, Abu's-n-St.Croix mostly... they are tight, light and ultra sensitive... but I keep one in the boat that is still my favorite... from the 80's... its heavy, clunky, no infinite anti-reverse, 5:2-1 with 2 Ball Bearings... the rod is a matching Diawa Bill Dance Series 5.5' PG50-P MH Pistol Grip...and that is a same era Bagley's... it takes me back, and is soo fun to fish... so for longevity sake the best baitcaster is a Procaster...

They are not a mess. I take care of all of my equipment. I will not post a picture but you are welcome to come out to Lake Fork and look at them for yourself if you feel the need to do so. I don't mind. I am a tackle nut and always have been. I do not hunt or golf so what I save by not doing those hobbies, I spend on fishing equipment.

Very good rods in the picture. I agree.

Why would I? I had a Curado 70HG and a Chronarch CI4 that I bought brand new and both sold because of their loss of performance in less than 6-7 months and poor build quality in. Sold them and went and got a Concept A and a Concept C, since I knew they would work like they have for years for me.

Do mind, while I am primarly a bass fisherman, my reels see saltwater use a lot for trout and redfish being 15 mins from Galveston Bay. That is still no excuse however... I've used my 13 Concept reels twice as much in saltwater that i did the two Shimano's I had, and they are still running like a top to this day. The Shimano's didn't last even a year before they started making noise and took a dump.

Absolutely true story that might put people's panties in a wad on this thread...; A few years ago I was wading for flounder with a Concept A of mine, that was already a few years old. Don't remember how exactly, but I wasn't paying attention and had the reel completely submerged in saltwater for several seconds. Continued using the rest of the trip..... Next morning I splash a cup of water on it, oil the bearings, put it back on the rack. To this day, that reel is in perfect operation and goes with me every trip whether it's fresh or saltwater.

Explain to me how when I accidently dunked one of my Curado E's (supposedly the best reel Shimano ever built) it rusted up solid before I even got home and was completely frozen.? I had to get that darn thing rebuilt! And then after the Curado 70 and Chronarch CI4 started acting up after limited saltwater use, that was the last Shimano straw for me.

So with with due respect to yall guys that ONLY bass fish (I wish I live within mins of a lake in every direction), I can understand how your Shimano's are amazing. Freshwater is easy on gear. Us saltwater guys tend to find out what works and what doesn't, and I can tell you the new Shimano's don't. 13 Fishing reels and Lews are the only way to go. Absolutely solid choices

Like ezbassin said, I'm not brand loyal either... I've just been through a lot of the newer reels and found what always works best. 13 and Lews here... However, I sold my last Lews simply because I didn't like the feel of it. My reels are strictly all 13 Concept after going through Lews, Shimano, and Abu (never owned or used a Daiwa.)

Way too far for me to travel, but you know what they say about fisherman being liars.

Hey DK, you do realize that some reels aren’t made for saltwater, right?