The PCS Blogosphere
The 2010 Fred Hall Show in Long Beach, California
The annual Fred Hall tackle show will be held again this week in Long Beach, CA, and it's one of the largest in the nation. Without a doubt, it is the most popular show on the west coast. I'll be flying down from northern California, just for the day, to attend. I've got my camera, two camera batteries, a note pad and a whole bunch of questions all ready. In particular, I will be asking about quality and service issues with fishing reels. These are issues that I deal with every day, and they have been mounting.
The annual Fred Hall tackle show will be held again this week in Long Beach, CA, and it's one of the largest in the nation. Without a doubt, it is the most popular show on the west coast. I'll be flying down from northern California, just for the day, to attend. I've got my camera, two camera batteries, a note pad and a whole bunch of questions all ready. In particular, I will be asking about quality and service issues with fishing reels. These are issues that I deal with every day, and they have been mounting.
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What's That Sound?
Question:
I gave my Shimano Charter Special a complete clean, regrease and rebuild (it was actually pretty clean inside, with no wear) and noticed that the drive/pinion gear noise is quite noticeable when winding the handle, not in a bad way - it doesn't sound like there's anything wrong - is this usual for these reels? Do I maybe need to put more grease on the gears to quieten it a bit? I was even more noticeable when I had it attached to a hollow glass Ugly Stik rod... Cheers, Mike. (Australia)
Question:
I gave my Shimano Charter Special a complete clean, regrease and rebuild (it was actually pretty clean inside, with no wear) and noticed that the drive/pinion gear noise is quite noticeable when winding the handle, not in a bad way - it doesn't sound like there's anything wrong - is this usual for these reels? Do I maybe need to put more grease on the gears to quieten it a bit? I was even more noticeable when I had it attached to a hollow glass Ugly Stik rod... Cheers, Mike. (Australia)
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More About Spinning Reel Upgrades
Question: Hello, I am new on this forum and from France. I am interested in spinning reels from a Taiwanese manufacturer. Some of their reels seems to have large drag washers like Stella and Saltiga, but no one in France is familiar with these models. Have you an idea on these reels? Have you tried them? Thanks for your answer. (Narbonne, France)
Question: Hello, I am new on this forum and from France. I am interested in spinning reels from a Taiwanese manufacturer. Some of their reels seems to have large drag washers like Stella and Saltiga, but no one in France is familiar with these models. Have you an idea on these reels? Have you tried them? Thanks for your answer. (Narbonne, France)
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Questions about rebuilding a Penn 14/0
I am in the process of rebuilding a Penn 14/0 and I had a couple of quick questions if you dont mind.
1) Are the 2 gears on the spool itself supposed to have any play in them? In the reel I just took apart, the toothed gears move a little? Is this normal or should they be locked in place?
2) The handle had quite a bit of play in it. I was looking at the gears and they all seem to be in relatively good shape. What could be causeing this play in the handle?
3) I cannot get the actual reel bearings out from the outer shell. Is there a trick to this or do you just recommend buying complete hole bearings. If I do this, do you know if they come with the outer shell?
Thanks very much.
Answer:
I am in the process of rebuilding a Penn 14/0 and I had a couple of quick questions if you dont mind.
1) Are the 2 gears on the spool itself supposed to have any play in them? In the reel I just took apart, the toothed gears move a little? Is this normal or should they be locked in place?
2) The handle had quite a bit of play in it. I was looking at the gears and they all seem to be in relatively good shape. What could be causeing this play in the handle?
3) I cannot get the actual reel bearings out from the outer shell. Is there a trick to this or do you just recommend buying complete hole bearings. If I do this, do you know if they come with the outer shell?
Thanks very much.
Answer:
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What mods and upgrades do I need to make?
Question: Alan, I just bought a Progear CS 625 to pair up with an OTI 7'6" 60-80# Class rod. I want to be able to cast lures and baits to tuna and have the drag to really put the screws to them. I'll be using 80# spectra. The fishing I'm looking to do here in the Gulf of Mexico is throwing topwater lures and free lining live baits to YFT. Probably a very similar style to how you west coast guys set-up your wahoo bombs. Anyway, my question is what mods and upgrades do I need to make to get this reel to cast well without backlashing all the time and get the drag system up to par for 60-100# YFT? Thanks in advance. BTW - I based alot of my decision on your write up on the Albacore Special on your website.
Question: Alan, I just bought a Progear CS 625 to pair up with an OTI 7'6" 60-80# Class rod. I want to be able to cast lures and baits to tuna and have the drag to really put the screws to them. I'll be using 80# spectra. The fishing I'm looking to do here in the Gulf of Mexico is throwing topwater lures and free lining live baits to YFT. Probably a very similar style to how you west coast guys set-up your wahoo bombs. Anyway, my question is what mods and upgrades do I need to make to get this reel to cast well without backlashing all the time and get the drag system up to par for 60-100# YFT? Thanks in advance. BTW - I based alot of my decision on your write up on the Albacore Special on your website.
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Point Sur, California
We towed the boat to Monterey on Thursday, launched and took a 25-mile run down the coast to Point Sur. Our depth was 100 to 120 feet. Fishing was fast and easy. We had four stringers of nice fish for the four of us, limits all around.
We towed the boat to Monterey on Thursday, launched and took a 25-mile run down the coast to Point Sur. Our depth was 100 to 120 feet. Fishing was fast and easy. We had four stringers of nice fish for the four of us, limits all around.
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The Eternal Optimist!
I spent a little time this evening checking out the local weather reports and the sea surface temperatures. Right now, it's blowing 28 kts with a 12 foot swell and a 6 foot wind wave. That's what the "point and click" forecast says for the area 60 miles offshore from Monterey. By the middle of the week, it's supposed to lay down a little. The reports say winds to 15 kts and seas to 5 feet. The problem is that the "push" of warm water that held all of those albacore last week has been "pushed" back quite a ways. It's now 60 nm from the nearest harbor (Monterey) and these northwest winds are not going to help matters. Still, Thursday is 4 days away. A lot can happen in 4 days. And with this El Nino, there is no telling how long the albacore might stay within range.
I spent a little time this evening checking out the local weather reports and the sea surface temperatures. Right now, it's blowing 28 kts with a 12 foot swell and a 6 foot wind wave. That's what the "point and click" forecast says for the area 60 miles offshore from Monterey. By the middle of the week, it's supposed to lay down a little. The reports say winds to 15 kts and seas to 5 feet. The problem is that the "push" of warm water that held all of those albacore last week has been "pushed" back quite a ways. It's now 60 nm from the nearest harbor (Monterey) and these northwest winds are not going to help matters. Still, Thursday is 4 days away. A lot can happen in 4 days. And with this El Nino, there is no telling how long the albacore might stay within range.
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Northern California Albacore, 9/19/09
It was about time! Guys have been catching albacore here in Northern California since July and I've been tied to the dock! You know, wife, kids, in-laws, work! All of the usual excuses that keep you off the water. Well, my brother wanted to go so I made some phone calls, rounded up a last-minute crew and had everyone ready to hit the road at 3 AM.
It was about time! Guys have been catching albacore here in Northern California since July and I've been tied to the dock! You know, wife, kids, in-laws, work! All of the usual excuses that keep you off the water. Well, my brother wanted to go so I made some phone calls, rounded up a last-minute crew and had everyone ready to hit the road at 3 AM.
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In Northern California, we have several fatalities among fishermen every year. Each time a report comes out in the newpaper, I take a look at it and ask myself, "How could they have come out of this alive?" In nearly every situation that I've read about, I believe that these guys would have survived if they were wearing a handheld VHF radio and a life jacket. A local US Coast Guard officer that I know recommends an EPIRB as your first piece of electronic safety equipment, but one crew several years ago perished with a properly functioning GPIRB in the water. So, as a boat owner, what are you going to do?
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I get this question quite a bit. The "maximum drag at strike..." specifically applies to lever drag reels, but all reels have a functional "maximum drag." A maximum is the highest number of pounds, but what is functional? Going back to some previous discussions, let's just say that I am looking for a maximum drag with 10% start up or less. If the drags are too sticky or if they are locked down, I am just going to call them "non-functional." Let's look at the different reel designs.
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