Hate to counter peoples claims but: I don't think a Stradic CI4 2500 is the Patriarchs 9530 match for a comparison: Stradic 2500: 6lb\200yds 15lb drag vs Pat: 6lb/120yd 6lb drag. The proper match would be the 9530 to the stradic ci4 1000 and the 9535 to the 2500. Depends on what you are comparing a...

The Patriarch is basically Pflueger's attempt at making a reel to rival the CI4. Why buy a copy when you can buy the real thing? By this logic, one should hunt for an original Fuego, which the CI4 "copied." As to why one might prefer the Patriarch to the CI4, it is lighter and smoother-turning* and...

Assuming the rod has at least a 25 mm first guide, the 9530 is not at all too big. It weighs less than a lot of ultralight reels. You want as much spool diameter as you can get for the reel weight, especially if you are going to use 6 lb. fluorocarbon. More spool diameter means looser coils that pro...

For 6 lb. fluorocarbon, you want a bigger spool than the Fuego-A 1500 offers. Go with the Patriarch 9530. I have Patriarchs in every size, and they are all smoother than the four Fuego-A's I have handled (in 1500, 2000, and 3500 sizes). They also have a higher retrieve ratio than the Fuego. For any ...

Have you found a reel with a 2:1 ratio for that rig?

Those might be straight-line break strengths, but the problem is that Nanofil loses a significant portion of its strength when knotted to a lure with even the best knots Berkley has found for it. With the double Palomar, for example (recommended by Berkley), I measured breaks at 8.75 to 11.20 lbs. i...

I also tried one two times for a total of half an hour. Not nearly enough of a test for a definite conclusion, but I caught nothing on it. Active bass and panfish were present, and I caught a few small bass on other surface or shallow lures. I'll be trying it again.

Hybrid is very strong line, but is no line for topwaters for two reasons. First, it includes fluorocarbon in its composition, so it is denser than pure nylon lines (most monofilaments) and will want to sink. Second, its memory makes it coily, and its fluorocarbon content means it soaks up water and ...

My favorite for shallow trout streams is the Thomas Buoyant. It's all metal, but can be retrieved at a relatively slow rate without snagging on the bottom.

Thank you for sharing the product of significant time invested!

It would be helpful to know the weight of the VBS/SVS units. Anybody know?

I started to reply, but the Aliens in my chest stopped me.

The three reels have spools with different lip diameters (and, I assume, different gaps between the back of the lip and the front of the skirt). The 1500 is the smallest and the 2500 is the biggest.

facelessnewsouth wrote:If the retrieve is a little slow for you, you can always drop in the 7:1 gears from a core 50mg....

I never realized I could do this! Have any of you reading this done this conversion? About how much would the gears cost?

Inches would be fine; I can easily convert.

Matt wrote: I was excited to use it and had my girlfriend drop it off to me at the river.

I need a woman like that.