Its on Shimano's site now. 2500 size spinning reel at only 7 ounces! With some of these superlight spinning reels coming out it seem there is pressure to make the rods even lighter to balance. However looking at the ESPN bass fishing show I was stunned at how many of the pros broke their rods on just this ONE show. Have we reached the point of diminishing returns on the "lighter, lighter,lighter"? Getting reels that weigh 7 ounces that can land 10 pound fish means the rod , in order to balance with the reel, has to be even lighter and thus more delicate. The fish however stays at 10 pounds!

errrrrr......is there any reel site similar to Rodbuilding.com but dealing in fishing reels where I can read about this cool new reel? heheheheh

I'd lay the blame of broken rods on improper use and technique rather than the lightness of the rod itself. 'Horseshoe' any rod, compress or flatten-out the hoop/diameter of the blank, and you roll the dice. I think the pros are guilty of over-straining rods because they are being dramatic for the cameras, highsticking fish into the boat, getting aggressive when hung up. And you never know how much their rods get knocked around off camera!

This is a good reason to use lower modulus blanks or blanks with thicker walls if a rod is going to be used as a hoist, dredge, or towing bar. Of course, this adds weight, but you gotta pay the piper at some point.

Lightness of the rod/reel has nothing to do with breakage. Think about it...does a naked blank (as light as it gets) get any stronger because you put guides and a handle on it? Don't think so. (You just have to put on guides and a handle so you can use it.)

With the proper line rated for the rod, a sharp hook with the appropriate wire diameter, and taking up slack by reeling or quickly wrist-popping the rod, a fish can be hooked surprisingly easily. No need for over-the-back jerks like you are trying to throw a Sumo wrestler.

I don't see any reason a rod should break, even an ultralight ultralight, on a ten pound or thousand pound fish if using good technique. You may get spooled, but the rod won't break if you know its limits.

I am excited to see the lighter reels, too!

Just my two cents

Les



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2009 01:02AM by les cline.

That reel looks cool but I wish it had the "T" handle like the 3000 and up has.
If you respect the limitations of any given blank it shouldn't break, but at some point all levers will break.

IMHO, rod weight on bass fishing rods, is overrated. If I build two rods, one weighing 3 oz, another 3.5 oz, same length, then add a 7 oz reel with line and 1/2 oz lure I doubt that anyone could tell the difference between the two set ups. As Les suggested, the lower modulas or thicker walled rod will give you the extra strength but the price to pay the piper will be chump change. Nor would balancing be an issue with the extra .5 oz. I have "repaired" several out of balance rods and they were out of balance due to being overbuilt, double foot guides all the way with inches of extra thread wrap and epoxy, not because the reel was too light.

Lighter reels are good, as they make for a overall lighter rig.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT

What does the weight of the fish out of the water, have to do with the same fish's weight and power in the water? I assume he weighs next to zero in the water as he is neutrally suspended in it. You can move a huge ship at the dock by just stepping on the mooring line, that's how we snugged up the mooring lines in the Coast Guard. Remember the old Ford F series commercials?

Spencer Phipps Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Remember the old
> Ford F series commercials?

Nope. What was it?

Ray
You may not be able to feel the difference between 3 and 3.5 once rods with all other things being equal.
But I can guarantee you, the guys I build for can and they will flat out let me know it when they do!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2009 06:58AM by Steve Gardner.

Les, you are right on! We just has a customer break a G. Loomis C723-GL3 Med Hvy Fast, by lifting a 6 lber over the side of the boat. The fish was flopping while the rod was being bent into a horseshoe at neck level of the angler! Some people don't deserve to get a great rod into their hands. I agree, hish-sticking a rod at the speed of sound will bust them right and left!!
All I fish with for spinning reels are Stradics! Can't wait to see them. The color is sure different! Any links out there, let us know!
Kyle Robinson



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2009 09:27PM by Kyle Robinson.

All the data on the new Stradic CI4 and the new Core (LP baitcaster) is on the Shimano website.

Ray, I don't build bass rod. But I'll tell you that .5 oz is a clearly noticeable difference for what I build. I tested two rods recently that were 0.3 oz different. The felt difference was quite significant. (I started writing 'huge' but thought you'd think I was exaggerating.) I could clearly tell that the lighter one was 'just right' in the balance while the heavier one (a foot longer) was out of balance and took a fair bit more effort. These were both sub 2 ounce rods by the way. The lighter one really just felt effortless compared to the .3 oz heavier unit.

Mo