11-10-2002, 11:58 AM
The outer casing of the reel has no "bearing" on the quality or performance of the reel. As you suggested, the use of graphite is typically a measure for reducing the weight (and raising the price). The "reel deal" is how many bearings are there in the inner workings, and are the primary working parts metal or plastic?
What brand reels are you looking at. Also, what species will you be targeting most? I suspect if you tell us what the final candidates are in your decision making process, you will get opinions...both pro and con...an whatever you are looking at.
In the final analysis, buy the best quality you can fit into your budget (or convince your spouse you can afford). I know you still use and enloy your old tried and true Mitchell 300. The older models were made to last and there are still a lot of them around. But, with today's space age materials you can get smaller reels, at a decent price, that will hold up for many years.
I am still using and nursing along several ultralight Shimanos that I bought in the early eighties. I do all my own reel tuneups and repairs, and each of these reels has been apart many times. Aside from a few bail springs, however, they have been real workhorses and have landed countless fish of many species and some over twenty pounds...on four or six pound line.
Try before you buy, if it is possible. My only unilateral word of advice...DON'T BUY ANY OF THE QUANTUM REELS WITH THE MAROON CASINGS. These are full of plastic parts that don't hold up at all. Also, the drags are terrible. If you plan to catch big fish (who doesn't), you need a good drag system.
Anyone discovered anything new in reels lately that we should know about?
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What brand reels are you looking at. Also, what species will you be targeting most? I suspect if you tell us what the final candidates are in your decision making process, you will get opinions...both pro and con...an whatever you are looking at.
In the final analysis, buy the best quality you can fit into your budget (or convince your spouse you can afford). I know you still use and enloy your old tried and true Mitchell 300. The older models were made to last and there are still a lot of them around. But, with today's space age materials you can get smaller reels, at a decent price, that will hold up for many years.
I am still using and nursing along several ultralight Shimanos that I bought in the early eighties. I do all my own reel tuneups and repairs, and each of these reels has been apart many times. Aside from a few bail springs, however, they have been real workhorses and have landed countless fish of many species and some over twenty pounds...on four or six pound line.
Try before you buy, if it is possible. My only unilateral word of advice...DON'T BUY ANY OF THE QUANTUM REELS WITH THE MAROON CASINGS. These are full of plastic parts that don't hold up at all. Also, the drags are terrible. If you plan to catch big fish (who doesn't), you need a good drag system.
Anyone discovered anything new in reels lately that we should know about?
[signature]