Not a single Shimano rod with monocoque grip is a 1-piece AFAIK. They all have blanks that all glued into the grip, so it's not like you're really losing sensitivity here when you stick it in instead: it's such a tight fit (no way it'll come out when fishing), and at the very bottom of the blank, t...

DirtyD64 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:44 am

....Are both of your models the older 2016 version?

Both '22.

Yes, you can replace the handle with any handle made for Shimanos without issue. I replaced both handles on my Ald BFS reels with 90mm rays studio carbon handles. It's a sweet reel, I use 8lb Sniper and 8lb Shooter on each reel. I've put one through the ringer fishing river smallmouth this summer an...

I ended up ordering the Lightning Strike on Friday. Got a notification that it shipped this morning. Hope to get it in time for a river trip on Sunday.

Thanks for the input, guys. The opening line on the Degel description got me, "From bait finesse on a 1.3g smorava + trailer to fishing for a 3/8oz spinner bait roll ...". Though, after rereading both rod descriptions it does sound like the lightning strike has that extra power to align with what I...

Thanks for the input, guys. The opening line on the Degel description got me, "From bait finesse on a 1.3g smorava + trailer to fishing for a 3/8oz spinner bait roll ...". Though, after rereading both rod descriptions it does sound like the lightning strike has that extra power to align with what I'...

Bump - Has anyone picked any Orions? I'm going to grab the ML Degel or ML+ Lightning Strike some time before summer hits. Hog, did you end up picking up the Degel? It has my attention as a versatile river smallmouth rod. I actually snagged the Lightning Strike model. The Degel has too little power ...

Hogsticker2 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 5:50 pm

Bump - Has anyone picked any Orions? I'm going to grab the ML Degel or ML+ Lightning Strike some time before summer hits.

Hog, did you end up picking up the Degel? It has my attention as a versatile river smallmouth rod.

The little rubber stopper that keeps the blade pushed up near the head broke off one of my screwheads. How are you guys fixing these? Dab of glue? I need some ideas. A youtube video I found involves pushing a bobber stop up the shank of the hook but the ones I have at the moment seem too small.

I have a 22 Poison Ultima 6'10" M on preorder. I may just have found the reel to combo with :) That rod would be too much for this reel imo, I have an Ald 50hg on a 6'10" M PG for perspective. Finally got an order in for the Ald BFS, got it in today. Spooled it up with 8lb sniper, slapped it on a 6...

I have a 22 Poison Ultima 6'10" M on preorder. I may just have found the reel to combo with :) That rod would be too much for this reel imo, I have an Ald 50hg on a 6'10" M PG for perspective. Finally got an order in for the Ald BFS, got it in today. Spooled it up with 8lb sniper, slapped it on a 6...

The "pop" with very tight line makes sense that it causes this, the little rollers are made to shift and normally stay put in place even with a hard hookset, in this circumstance, there is a ton of pressure on them (anti reverse rollers are locked in with maximum back pressure), then a hard pop and...

Have you done recent maintenance to the reel? If so, did you use grease in the a-rb? If you did, flush that out and use only a light oil. Grease will make it slip randomly, especially in colder weather. I did this winter for the first time, the reels probably 3yrs old with light use. Never greased ...

I have a similar dilemma. I throw 5-9g total weight on a light bfs rod, rated 3.5-10g, 6-12lb line. I like 8lb fluoro at the least as I use it for river smallmouth. I have used an Ald 50hg and Steez sv tw + ZPI M both with 12lb fluoro for the higher end weights, and a 30mgl hg for around 5g with 20l...

Noticed it once or twice last year and have been using the reel more this spring. Reel is a morethan pe tw. When I snag a jig, I'll do the bow and arrow trick but sometimes the arb will give and I'll get a backlash and I've seen the handle spin backwards. Thought I used to accidentally depress the t...