Light and smooth. Spool is a thing of beauty. Fine gears to produce the 8:1 ratio. Great for throwing 1/8 jigs. Many use it for steelhead fishing in the PNW. Not the greatest drags for that application but you could do it, I worry about the gear and pinion after a few hot steelhead but it would cast like a dream all day long! Some … Continue reading Daiwa Tatula 8.1:1
After two seasons, anti reverse pawls are worn but not failing.Greased screws all came out perfectly.Anti rust bearing a little rusty… …and drags were all in good shape. Anti reverse bearing and the ARBB were a little messy. All in all I would say that the regiment of CorrosionX marine grease, TSI 321 oil on bearings and Cal’s drag grease all performed as expected. These … Continue reading Review: CorrosionX Marine Grease, TSI 321 oil and Cal’s drag grease
Every so often you come across a seemingly innocent looking reel that appears from the outside to be in perfect condition. A quick turn of the handle does not reveal any potential problems. Adjusting the drag and turning the handle usually produces a stick drag which is normal for most reels that have never been serviced. Then you engage the clutch lever or casting button … Continue reading How-to: Reel Bearing Corroded onto Spool Shaft
Shimano Trinidad reels have huge drag surfaces and drag washers. Once you upgrade and grease new carbon fiber drags its best to invest some time on the areas of the gear that come in contact with the new drag washers. Take a few minutes and polish the surfaces of the gear. The photo’s below show a before and after. Which surface do you think is … Continue reading How-to: Polish Shimano Trinidad Drag Surfaces
Shimano Bantam 1500 LC is a popular reel in the Puget Sound for salmon fishing. The problem is that they are not longer made and parts are scarce. I love working on them as they are pretty simple in design and function. However, when the spool bearing is corroded to the spindle and you can’t even get the reel open to work on it…grrr! Several … Continue reading How-to: Shimano Bantam 1500 LC Corroded Bearing to Spool Shaft
We get many reels in different conditions. From new in the box to 50+ year old treasures from grandpa. When we package a reel to send back to the owner special care is taken to protect your investment. First we always use Priority Mail Medium boxes. They are brand new boxes and nice and rigid. We wrap each reel in bubble wrap. We line the … Continue reading Packaging your reel for shipment
Always amazes me the engineering that went into these old reels. This Penn 350 is weird by today’s standards. Then turn to a bucket of Shimano Tekota’s Last on the list this weekend is a badly corroded Shimano Torium 30. This has been a project as every step of the way corrosion has ate at nearly every thing. Minimum of $75.00 in parts. Continue reading Reels today
Good fishing from this rock today. Limit of trout in no time! Boy they love grasshoppers! Warden doing his thing. Beautiful country! Crystal clear water with fat healthy strong fighting trout! Caught my first Bull Trout too! No picture as you have to release them unharmed. Loving Idaho trout fishing! Continue reading Fishing Idaho Trout
Over the years I had heard that the lakes and streams of Idaho were filled with big fat trout, but I had heard that about many other places as well only to be let down. Having fished here over the past 6 months I can say, this tale is true! Resevoirs Handsome limit of beautiful fat trout. Dunking garden worms still produces! Streams Solid 18 … Continue reading Idaho Fishing
