Registered: November 2007 Location: Lakeville Posts: 1263
Review Date: Thu June 19, 2008
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $34.99
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Easy to operate (once you get the hang of it)
Cons:
Takes some practice to "tune" the brakes
This is the first bait cast reel I have ever really attempted to use. It took multiple readings of the 4 page uninformative manual to get some things figured out, not to mention a 2nd set of eyes to figure out the drag control. Once you get all the controls down it is quite simple to operate requiring almost no thumb pressue on the line to keep it from "nesting". Acutally unless I'm putting a lot of force into the cast I don't need any thumb pressure anymore. It did take some re-learning of arm control though because your release point on the line must occur much sooner in the casting motion than with a spinning reel. For a first timers bait casting reel it was a very good purchase. Good price as I didn't want to spend $150 on something I didn't like. It's easy to operate and pretty cool looking on the rod.
For those that do have an interest and purchase this here are a few "cheats"...
This won't sound high-tech at all, but this is a breakdown of the operation. The little bitty knob on the top right side of the reel has nothing to do with drag, line control, or really anything. The "star" shapped knob between the hand control and the reel is the drag control. The silver knob on the side controls how easily the reel lets the line out. The magnetic brake control determines how quickly the reel stops letting line out (great for controlling the "nesting" issue). You want to tune the reel to let about 8-10" of line out when you give the lure a little bounce in the air. Once you "tune" the silver knob and the magnetic brake to your lure (I suggest using similar weighted lures on this reel otherwise you have to re-tune) you are ready to roll. I highly suggest tying on a jig head with a tube or grub and practicing with that and getting a feel for the overall operation of the reel.
I have decided to make this my tube/grub pole as to keep from continually tunning the reel. I used it last night for this sole purpose and caught my first fish on it. It took about 25 casts and 2 nest to get the tunning right before I didn't need any thumb pressure.
If you are interested in trying a bait casting reel, this is the reel I would suggest for a first timer. It has made me very happy.
Hunting and Fishing Indiana - IndianaSportsman.com
