21Farms - You aren't messing around with your JDM buying! I think I will probably just go with the Yumeya spool. Where did you end up getting yours from? It looks like JapanTackle may be the current best bet. Depending on how exchange rates go, and how much I actually get to fish this year, I may pi...

There was a pretty good review of the BFS spool for a core done as a head to head with an aldebaran BFS a while back. WoodT was the poster I believe. I can't comment on either from experience but the post may help you make a decision. Good luck! I thought so, but my search didn't reveal anything. M...

Aldebaran BFS can be had for around 350 and it comes with a shallow spool I know, but I was sort of hoping just to modify a reel I already own. That being said, if the BFS is really the cat's pajamas, and worth the extra cash, I would consider. For now, the reels I already have don't get enough use...

I haven't done a lot of finesse / light lure fishing in the past, but would like to do more. Particularly, I am interested in targeting more smallmouth in smaller rivers. At this time, I would like to try to setup one of my reels specifically for that task, rather than buying a whole new rig. I woul...

I have a 110 in "GG Hasu" that looks almost identical.

Over the years, I have seen Megabass items pop up at BPS from time to time. Usually, it seemed like only a few items, and they usually didn't last. I'm guessing they couldn't quite find the market at the time. I wonder if they have finally caught on.

What specific oil are you using? With the preponderance of synthetic materials, and plastics (polymers) used in firearms these days, most lubricants are safe for use with many materials. However, many of the lubricants are, appropriately, heavier in weight / more viscous (I actually grease my compet...

I like a high-quality cork, as far as aesthetics go. I don't really grip the rod handle, except for during a cast, so I have never had an issue with ergonomics. Some do prefer something other than a cylinder, and good cork is becoming scarce. If you can use a material that has more grip, less mass, ...

Bantam1 wrote:We do have a midget in the office. I need to get to work on making him ride a unicycle One problem solved.

Convince him that lower to the ground = less chance of injury, perhaps?

An interesting anecdote from the Kistler FB page yesterday: "G.Loomis rod company thinks our KLX mark is confusingly similar to their GLX mark and will likely cause consumers to believe there is some relationship between GLX and KLX marked rods. G.Loomis believes we are intentionally trying to conv...

can Mg spools be anodised? Mg alloys can be anodized, but I believe it comes out a rather unflattering shade of brown. It also alters the dimensions a bit, which may cause the part to fall outside of acceptable tolerances. I don't know if any companies offer quotes on single pieces. ETA - If I reme...

Akihito is a LEGEND! He just got me a 50s and yes he can get 51s as well. Original plan was a cutting edge just on the shelf, burner. Instead I got something 8 years older, 50g heavier and quite a bit slower IPT slower than anything I've owned... yet I'm more excited about fishing this reel than an...

For real deleterious ? That has got to be the most under used and awesome word for causing damage or harm I have read. Congratulations on your marvelous vocabulary. I am being serious not rude. I have a bit of an idiosyncratic lexicon. Chalk it up to a Jesuit education. It has made for some very in...

I often use one brake as well, with no deleterious effects. I actually only have two brakes installed in most of my reels, since I never really used more than two. It doesn't really affect the weight of the spool, but when I changed the brakes, I figured "why not?". As for the Stephano, it seems tha...

Maybe (and here's a suggestion), aftermarket knob screws to replace the current dome/flat head ones, so that you can have better access to the spool and VBS on the water. I have had reels with knurled thumbscrews, so that you could disassemble the reel on the water. However, they have always been c...