Bought a new set up- Buyers Remorse

[JF660R]

Ok, so here is another what rod/reel set up thread.

What I've already got:

1) Favorite ML w/ Pflueger President dedicated to Ned / finesse stuff. 10lb braid to fluro leader. -Like it

2) Ugly Stick MH spinning that's getting a Pflueger when they're back in stock at BPS if they're still on sale from Cabela's for $40. Has 12lb fluro. Been mostly dragging a wobble head with a 3.5" craw/ creature lately but does whatever. - It's alright, not a forever thing.

3) Lew's casting reel on a Lew's MH Speed Stick with 15lb fluro. Pretty good. Use it as a do all. Basically never gives me any backlash or tangle issues. Hard hook sets leave me thinking the fluro is too stretchy. This is why I was looking to add another setup, more dedicated to jigs and such. 

The  new set up:

Favorite White Bird MH casting w/ a Revo SX and 40lb Spider Wire Glo-vis braid.

Initial impression, the Favorite MH is softer than the Speed Stick MH... immediately started thinking about swapping the reels over.

Second use, I started having issues with hard casts. Would jerk to a stop mid air. Not so much a back lash as overrun and dig in... I couldn't really say if this was more a reel or a line issue. Or my issue from only ever using the fluro...but with the braking turned up this far I really wasn't impressed with the casting distance. Today I returned the Revo.

I've done enough reading to convince myself that a Tatula would be a better choice. 

Once I obtain a LH retrieve Tatula CT (which BPS doesn't have) I am undecided which reel should get the braid and go on the Speed Stick for mostly jig duty. And which should get the 15lb fluro and go on the Favorite for blades and maybe cranks.

 

[Sore Thumbs]

If the line is digging into the spool then I would say it's a braid issue. Braid is terrible about digging in if you put too much pressure on it. You might fidget around with the brakes and drag settings before you make a decision. If that doesn't work try different kind of line (mono,flouro,copoly etc..) Good luck. 

[nomolites]

The Revo SX is a good reel; if set up properly they cast smoothly.  I don't run anything heavier than 20# braid and have no issues; it is either a set up issue as ST suggests or have something to do with the 40# line on the small spool and the fact that on long casts you are  unloading it or did not have tension the line when it spooled up at some point.

Mike

[JF660R]

The more I read I think some of the issues were:

Too much line on the reel.

Rod too soft / lure too heavy (too much whip) ramping the spool speed on release.

Casting too hard. Didn't really know that was a thing. I often rip the Lew's setup hard as I can...

Anyway, I'm not upset that I'll be getting the Tatula instead.

I am constantly changing my mind on how I plan to rig them.  Ones gonna get the 40lb braid and go on the Speed Stick, and the other will go on the Favorite with....15lb fluro again...but not sure which.

It's easy to see how so many people end up with so many rods and reels.

[Sore Thumbs]

Gotta agree with Nomo on this one. If you are using 40lb braid you need a heavy action rod. It would be more of a flipping and pitching setup though. 

[dblades]

Actually 40 lb braid handles better for me than the smaller stuff on a BC. 

[abkeenan]

With the new technology of reels these days you should never have to use a FULL FORCE MAX EFFORT cast. Might have to put a little extra oomph on lighter baits or if you are really wanting to get a crank/winding bait out there (usually mid to deep cranking). I use Tatula's most of the time and I would say a 50-75% effort on the cast gives me all the distance I need. Especially on jigs/soft plastics where you don't want 70 yards of line out and especially on fluoro/mono. If one does pick it up all the way at the end of the cast, makes it a little hard to get that hook into them with the stretch combo'd with that amount of line out. 

[Bushbeater]

I love my Tatula Ct and that's all I'll buy from here on out. As for the Revo, I don't have any but I do have 2 of the BPS Pro Qualifiers and believe it or not, the parts interchange with the Revo. When I had to make repairs I used a Revo Pawl and Worm Gear.

[abkeenan]

1 hour ago, Bushbeater said:

I love my Tatula Ct and that's all I'll buy from here on out. As for the Revo, I don't have any but I do have 2 of the BPS Pro Qualifiers and believe it or not, the parts interchange with the Revo. When I had to make repairs I used a Revo Pawl and Worm Gear.

There is always a lot of hearsay about the Korean factories that are kicking out a few of the major brand of reels. I have HEARD that BPS, Abu and Lew's are all made at the same factory. Whether that is true or not I have no idea. But a lot of those reels do have a similar look, feel, design and build to them.

[rps]

I recently bought the Lews Custom Pro Speed Spool SLP. While I do not fish heavy braid, I highly recommend the reel for distance and control.