Quote Originally Posted by ultraslab View Post
I have as my high end reels an exist, a stella and a Presso 18 that i think was the last one in japan when I bought it on the advice of Alphahawk. The Presso is on a level unlike any reel I've ever fished and I do not baby my equipment. I can not imagine going backwords at this point. Never convince me there is not a difference. If you haven't fished with one of the high end reels it would be hard to compare and before I went down this road I've caught thousands of mfish on Plugers and other American made reels but for me it was worth every penny and I would not give it up wiilingly for any price. Granted it's not for everyone but I'm a happy fisherman. Scott
Ok, Scott, I'll bite. You say the high end is so good that you won't go back. That's a strong statement. What is it that's so good, so different? All ears to anyone that can expand on this.

I have an Abu Garcia Theta 1000 coming in, looking forward to seeing if it's an improvement over, say, a Pfleuger President. I mean, so, I am catching big bluegill each day and usually, fishing for BG, catch a couple of bass. Two bass yesterday were 3 lbs each. A bass a couple weeks ago was 5 lbs. (I weighed them.) On the bass, the drag activated and worked as it should. On the bluegill, which is 95% of the catch, the drag usually does not get activated using 4-lb test line. I let the fish run because I enjoy that, so, I pump the rod high every so often, reel a little in and let it run again. A few times, and the fish is at the boat. I'm trying to envision what a high end reel could do to improve over the President. I'll know more when the Theta arrives! As for the Presso, yep, that's another step way higher.

I have plenty of fun with a President and a B 'n' M Sam Heaton 9 ft rod; the main reason I am trying higher end JDM gear is so that I can cast 1/64 oz farther. If I don't find JDM gear that can do that, hmmm...

To cast farther, 2-lb test line is supposed to help and I continue to try line lighter than 4-lb test (2-lb and 3-lb) and each time I try it, I don't like it. Including yesterday, when I lost two lures to a snag. With 4-lb test, I can often just bend the hook by pulling on the line. And the 2-lb is just so hard to handle! But I will try again.

As for the real light line, if I fished open water, that would be better.