Does anyone know why?

[facelessnewsouth]

Agreed. The man fishes what he wants just like the majority of us who aren't lucky to be sponsored bit I think it's a rather far stretch to assume its cause of the VBS unless he's stated that in the past. More interesting is that the USDM Shimano have the same exact brakes and for the most part are the same reels. Perhaps he's just an enthusiast like many on this forum and appreciates the slight improvements we get from overseas direct.

This!

[Carlos Carrapiço]

Megabass reels have amazing build quality and look very exotic, but I doubt they outperform a Aldebaran/Metanium for a full shift of serious bass fishing. The JDM shimanos are more comfortable to palm, lighter, better casting performance, less expensive. Once you master shimano's VBS system, you can reliably cast all their reels without backlashing. Why mess with reels that have outdated magnetic braking systems when you can buy all your reels with the same VBS centrifugal system and master that?

No reason to fish those Megabass reels unless you're trying to make a statement and show off to people. It doesn't even make sense for pros to use enthusiast reels. Just because the price tag is high does not make it the best tool for the job. And at the end of the day, that's what matters. Use the best tool for the job.

I don't know what is your experience with Megabass reel but I know mine.

Concerning the outdated magnetic braking systems, I believe VBS is indeed the outdated.
You can look outside Shimano camp and you can find better centrifugal systems (at least more user friendly ) in other places like Abu, Quantum (which owns the rights for externally adjustable centrifugal system in the US. This doesn't affect the ABU flying arm system because its concept is different). You can even find tandem systems that work great.
More, you can see even inside Shimano camp that they realized the need for an externally adjustable centrifugal system.

What you can say is that VBS works fine with the angler that likes to set it and forget because if you like to do fine adjustments then you get something else.
You can say also that is very predictable and less sensitive to the user skills.
MAG-V/Z are better pitching and need less effort to get the same distance.
VBS in some cases can get you more distance but not sure it is up to the system in the HLC Zillion spool

BTW, KVD was fishing Megabass Visions 110 in the other day....

[godshippy]

I watched a video where he explicitly said that he doesn't have a reel sponsor, he feels the JDM Metanium is the best reel, and that he has a hook up and gets them for a great price.

I think it was a video where he was doing a walk thru of his boat if I'm remembering this correctly. But he definitely did say specifically that he fishes those JDM Shimano reels because he thinks they're the best, and that he has a hook up that gets them for him at a very discounted price.

[GARRIGA]

I watched a video where he explicitly said that he doesn't have a reel sponsor, he feels the JDM Metanium is the best reel, and that he has a hook up and gets them for a great price.

I think it was a video where he was doing a walk thru of his boat if I'm remembering this correctly. But he definitely did say specifically that he fishes those JDM Shimano reels because he thinks they're the best, and that he has a hook up that gets them for him at a very discounted price.

Isn't getting it at great discount a form of sponsorship?

[5poundhooker]

Very interesting discussion guys. He may only pay a little to use the reels, but isn't able to put it on his jersey. As far as enthusiast reels used those rods are not inexpensive at all. I would fish the purple Zonda 68 if I could afford it. I think it looks awesome. I think I saw a video that said he only uses 7:1 retrieve for everything casting, even cranks. I think thats nuts. To each his own i suppose.

[gorilla style]

Megabass reels have amazing build quality and look very exotic, but I doubt they outperform a Aldebaran/Metanium for a full shift of serious bass fishing. The JDM shimanos are more comfortable to palm, lighter, better casting performance, less expensive. Once you master shimano's VBS system, you can reliably cast all their reels without backlashing. Why mess with reels that have outdated magnetic braking systems when you can buy all your reels with the same VBS centrifugal system and master that?

No reason to fish those Megabass reels unless you're trying to make a statement and show off to people. It doesn't even make sense for pros to use enthusiast reels. Just because the price tag is high does not make it the best tool for the job. And at the end of the day, that's what matters. Use the best tool for the job.

I don't know what is your experience with Megabass reel but I know mine.

Concerning the outdated magnetic braking systems, I believe VBS is indeed the outdated.
You can look outside Shimano camp and you can find better centrifugal systems (at least more user friendly ) in other places like Abu, Quantum (which owns the rights for externally adjustable centrifugal system in the US. This doesn't affect the ABU flying arm system because its concept is different). You can even find tandem systems that work great.
More, you can see even inside Shimano camp that they realized the need for an externally adjustable centrifugal system.

What you can say is that VBS works fine with the angler that likes to set it and forget because if you like to do fine adjustments then you get something else.
You can say also that is very predictable and less sensitive to the user skills.
MAG-V/Z are better pitching and need less effort to get the same distance.
VBS in some cases can get you more distance but not sure it is up to the system in the HLC Zillion spool

BTW, KVD was fishing Megabass Visions 110 in the other day....

Umm Quantum doesnt make lures as far as I know. And according to Cals review, the HLC didnt show any improvements on casting distance vs a regular Zillion.

[facelessnewsouth]

Umm Quantum doesnt make lures as far as I know. And according to Cals review, the HLC didnt show any improvements on casting distance vs a regular Zillion.

No, Quantum doesn't make lures, but strike king does, and KVD is sponsored by strike king. The point Carlos was trying to illustrate is that the Pro's don't always stick to sponsor gear only. Without calling anyone out, other forum members and I have found examples of this in the elite pros and it certainly includes rods and reels as well.

[bigreddog]

Umm Quantum doesnt make lures as far as I know. And according to Cals review, the HLC didnt show any improvements on casting distance vs a regular Zillion.

No, Quantum doesn't make lures, but strike king does, and KVD is sponsored by strike king. The point Carlos was trying to illustrate is that the Pro's don't always stick to sponsor gear only. Without calling anyone out, other forum members and I have found examples of this in the elite pros and it certainly includes rods and reels as well.

Very true. I know that in other sports, those types of allowances are written into contracts. Tiger Woods, for example, had a clause that ensures that X number of clubs in his bag are always Nike -- but he still can use a certain number of non-Nike clubs at his discretion (which is why he continued to use a Scotty Cameron/Titleist putter for so many years. Sure, sponsors want their products to be showcased -- but if it makes their athlete less competitive, then that's no good for either party.

As for Aaron's choice of reels. I think part of it has to do with the fact that he doesn't have a reel sponsor, so he chooses not to be "endorsing" Shimano domestic market reels without Shimano paying for that honor. I've known several elite athletes who would use a competitor's products to fit a specific need -- and went as far as camouflaging or defacing the brand-specific features so as a) not to offend the actual sponsor and b) so the competitor wouldn't get any free advertising.

[Carlos Carrapiço]

Umm Quantum doesnt make lures as far as I know. And according to Cals review, the HLC didnt show any improvements on casting distance vs a regular Zillion.

No, Quantum doesn't make lures, but strike king does, and KVD is sponsored by strike king. The point Carlos was trying to illustrate is that the Pro's don't always stick to sponsor gear only. Without calling anyone out, other forum members and I have found examples of this in the elite pros and it certainly includes rods and reels as well.

Thanks

[Carlos Carrapiço]

And according to Cals review, the HLC didnt show any improvements on casting distance vs a regular Zillion.

I think you can find some people that disagree with Cals HLC review me included but I have two HLC spools at my home and several zillions to test in my backyard for as long as I want while Cal may be pressured by the enormous amount of gear to review.

[518bassin]

No, Quantum doesn't make lures, but strike king does, and KVD is sponsored by strike king. The point Carlos was trying to illustrate is that the Pro's don't always stick to sponsor gear only. Without calling anyone out, other forum members and I have found examples of this in the elite pros and it certainly includes rods and reels as well.[/quote]

Very true. I know that in other sports, those types of allowances are written into contracts. Tiger Woods, for example, had a clause that ensures that X number of clubs in his bag are always Nike -- but he still can use a certain number of non-Nike clubs at his discretion (which is why he continued to use a Scotty Cameron/Titleist putter for so many years. Sure, sponsors want their products to be showcased -- but if it makes their athlete less competitive, then that's no good for either party.

As for Aaron's choice of reels. I think part of it has to do with the fact that he doesn't have a reel sponsor, so he chooses not to be "endorsing" Shimano domestic market reels without Shimano paying for that honor. I've known several elite athletes who would use a competitor's products to fit a specific need -- and went as far as camouflaging or defacing the brand-specific features so as a) not to offend the actual sponsor and b) so the competitor wouldn't
get any free advertising.[/quote]

They do the same thing in the NFL. Reebok has the uniform contract so your not allowed to wear any other companies gear. I know with the gloves a lot of guys use Cutter but the NFL makes them put the Reebok/NFL shield on them to conceal on TV. It doesn't surprise me it happens in another sport.

[bstuckey]

More than likely Aaron has a clause in his contract with Megabass that prohibits compensation/sponsorship from other manufactures, thus he purchases the Shimano reels that he fishes... I've never heard what he pays for the reels but if he pays $1.00 for a reel then he is not being sponsored. Why does he fish with Shimano reels? Probably because he likes them and they fit his needs and confidence.

Regarding the Shimano vs Daiwa debate... who cares... it's a blond vs brunette discussion... just go fish!

[GARRIGA]

if he pays $1.00 for a reel then he is not being sponsored.

I believe there are many forms of sponsorship from a totally free ride to a greatly reduced discount. What I think is most important is if he would still buy a particular product had the price been full retail such I would have to pay. For $1, I'd seriously consider fishing Quantums if I was a tournament fisherman watching his pennies to ensure I could survive the grueling financial season. Since I don't get discounts that steep or fish for a living and have a well paying day job, I buy Shimano and Daiwa and lately attracted to their JDM offerings which depending on exchange rates and source may or may not be more expensive. I also don't carry 18 plus rigs and thousands of pounds of tackle around.