Rare Find at Tackle Shop

Rare sight at Local tackle shop

Reels like these are not going stir up much excitement for the younger anglers when they see it at tackle shops. However to some of us, seeing this reel displayed at a tackle shop bring back memories. To me these are the reels that I told myself that I wanted to buy when I grow when I am much younger, at a time where money is hard to come by. Of course by the time my economic situation improves, these reels are already out of production and out of stock at tackle shops.

Make in Japan no less

A couple of days ago, meet up with a fellow fishing friend to simply just visit some tackle shops and to catch up. At one of the tackle shop, notice that they do have some old Shimano Bantam reels on display. Of course I take a longer look at these reels as you seldom see them around anymore. Then he pull out this reel out of the display cabinet, and ask 'You interested?'. Of course I am, but I need a quick check on the schematic to confirm this is on the wormshaft system before confirming my order.

This purchase really make my day, make that a week or even months. It is like you fulfill one of your childhood dreams, making good that promised you made yourself many many years ago.

The reel itself have nothing much to shout about given the technology advances in the fishing reels over the years. But it still holds it charm to a certain group of anglers, maybe for whatever reasons, would love to get their hands on reels from a bygone period.

If you love reels like these, grab the last few pieces from Deep Sea Sport Fishing tackles, on top of the Symetre, there are also the Super Ship Navi and Bantam BC reels. They are available at a very reasonable prices, and for once, this is really 'While Stock Last'.

New toy - Shimano Aernos 2500 FA

Fresh Out of Tackle Shop

Frankly I cannot remember when is the last time I walk into a tackle shop to buy a reel. Those budget Shimano reels have serve me very well indeed over the years, of course I do give them some care like giving them a shower after each trip and service them once in a while.

When the Shimano Aernos FA series is launched in our sunny island, I didn't pay too much attention to it as I thought this is the previous version of Aernos getting a color facelift. I do have an older generation AernosXT C3000 reel, and am not too impressed by it.

Comes with Reel Package

While doing some research and downloading schematic drawings for some reels, I chance upon this reel again and study it more in detail, oh boy the specs does look impressive. After getting some help from local anglers to check the pricing, I did ever declare that at this reel is one of the Best Value for Money reel at present.

So what prompt me to buy this reel? First off, as you can see from the picture, it comes with a spare spool with the reel, and the impressive bearing count. More importantly, this reel have Ball bearings where you wanted it most, namely two for the Drive gear, one for Pinion gear, one on the roller, and one on the Eva handle. It would prefect if they can just add one more for the oscillating gear. And of course to put my money where my mouth is, since it is such good value for money, I just have to buy it.

Shimano Slade 1000FB

Got this reel at the Shimano Fun Fishing Day 2010, I think this my prize for the Fishing Game.  I always wanted to get a 1000 sized reel, so this comes at a good time, but with the AX 1000FB I got at the same event, all of a sudden I have two 1000 sized reel.


No idea what to do with this reel, although it is well built with Aluminum body, but the specs is pretty pathetic, 1 x bearing and 1 x Roller bearing. After thinking for a while, I decided to use this reel 'as it is', which in my term totally unmodified, with all the with lithium grease inside the body. See how good does this 'Entry Level' reel last, how much abuse it can take as I intend to use it for almost everything, from very light bottom fishing to maybe luring.

Shimano AX 1000FB

Got this reel at the Shimano Fun Fishing Day 2010, I think this my Lucky Draw prize.  Thinking of selling it away, but notice that the spool use the AR-C design, which suppose to cast better.  So decided against selling it and upgrade it with a few bearings, think I will use it for light luring.

With it's graphite body, it could be light to pair with a noodle rod for some half beak fun. Most likely, I will spool it with some 4lb or 5lb braided lines, as most Shimano reels at 1000 size are rated at about 2kg drag.

Reel Schematics

Well, Google is offering so much more then just Gmail and Blogger. Let's not waste what others they are offering me, thus I put up some of the reels schematics I have on my HDD. So far I have upload these schematics, will add on when I have time start scanning and upload the rest.

Since I have upload it and might as well share it with anyone who might need it. Will simply update this posting by adding more links to the schematic I have uploaded.

Schematic
Penn SS7500 / SS8500
Daiwa Freams 4500J
Daiwa Sealine 30H
Penn 920/930/940
Penn 140L, 146L
Tica Cetus SB500


User Guide - Not useful, but might just need it
Penn 555/545/535GS 525Mag
Penn 920/930/940
Penn SS Series

Shimano AernosXT C3000

When I first purchase this reel, I am thinking of using it with the noodle rod. But upon setting it up, I found it is too heavy, upset the entire balance of the Silstar Teal noodle rod.

Kept in storage until now, spool it up with Surecatch 14lb braided and going to pair it with the Genesis Assasini 7'3 rod. Try out the balance, it feels great.

Finally this reel will see daylight again. Back into 'Active Service'.

Penn 930 - Second Reel

Purchase this reel as I didn't want to use the Penn 930 that my dad pass to me earlier. So chance upon this on the web and bought it.

Hopefully one day my dad and myself go fishing we can use the same model reel to fish.

Still use this reel when I go for light surfing and kelong. Cast knob have been lost on the kelong and replacement part is bought thru the web.

Shinamo Chinumatic 1000XT

Bought this reel from my fishing kaki Nesasi together with some lures. This reel have a very unique feature as the handle bar moves when line is being pull out on drag.

Japanese use this to target CHINU, Black Sea Bream (Kurodai), thus the unique feature of this reel.

Very light reel, with 2 extra shallow spool included in the package.

Daiwa Sealin-X 50HV

This is my jetty reel, the only jetty reel I owned. Big Powerful but average casting distance, use it at BJT and Kelong only.

Bought it 2nd hand from a fishing kaki.

Daiwa Grandwave Z30

This is one of the fav reel of surfcaster in this region. Sadly Daiwa no longer produce these beauty.

I bought this from the internet who sell it off at quite a steal compare to the price others are calling for.

Never use this reel at all although it is sold as a 'Used' item.

Kept in box and papers. Don't think I will ever use this reel.

White Rabbit WR-F 3003

Purchase this reel for one reason only, 2 LED will lit up when you start to spool the reel. Sort of a 'Blink Blink' reel.

Roller bushing been change to bearing.

Use it only one at Sister island outing. Been in cold storage since.

Shimano Alivio 2500

Nimo help me to purchase this reel and also did a bushing-bearing upgrade as well. Think he change the roller and handle bushing to bearing.

This reel is used exclusively for noodle rod, as I spool it with a mixture of 6, 5 and 4 lbs superlines. Furthermore just recently change the drag material to greased cork, thus making it more suited for UL Noodle rod usage.

Status - Always in 'Active' service.

Update - Drag Material have been changed to Teflon, new drag should last a long long time.

Daiwa SS700 (Japan)

This reel is a classic, even till today, anglers have been singing praises of this reel. There are 2 different country it is produce, Japan and Thailand. Both are sought after, but the Japan model are higher prized as it is no longer produce in Japan.

Purchase this a while back, but no idea why I bought it then as I dun need it. Recently did a bushing to bearing upgrade on the worn gear and use it for luring.

Back in 'Active' service after a long period.

Ofmer Axis 6

Bought this reel as I do not have any small reel after my Globe500 is damaged beyond repair.

Small light-weight and a pretty decent drag. Use this reel when jigging for bait fish, and for UL fun luring and half beak hunting with Noodle rod.

Since the day it is purchase, it always have been in 'Active' service.

Upgraded the roller bushing to 2 piece of flanged bearing.

Pioneer Prestige Premium PR-4000

Got this reel for my wife, as I have 2 spool also from a Pioneer reel that is destroyed, that fits this reel perfectly. So all in all there are 4 spool that match this reel, load it with different poundage line for different application.

Reason why I got this for my wife because she complaints that whenever we go fishing together, once in a blue moon anyway, she have to use MY tackles. So bought this exclusively for her. But alas, she don't enjoy fishing, so instead of letting go to waste, I use it for light shore fishing.

Current in 'Active' service, quite a lucky reel for me....

Pinnacle Vision VS10

This is a gift from a 'friend' but we drifted off due to some differences.

Use this for light shore fishing, but now use it for doing 'Hole Fishing' on kelong.

Pinnacle Inertia ISF40 (Sold)

Bought this reel when I wanted to try out using Noodle rod. I pick this reel simply it matches the color of the Silstar Teal rod I am using with the correct line capacity.

When I got an Shimano Alivio 2500 for noodle rod application, I no longer need this reel and thus sold it off.

Penn 7500SS

Purchase this reel after a long period of pondering. Then my dad have already stop fishing completely, but I wanted to buy an old school reel for him. Know that this reel is a classic reel so decided to buy for him. Sadly, by then all the reel of this series are already Made In China, thus I have to get this brand new set off the internet, but without the box.

After I got it for dad, he say he didn't want it and ask me to keep it for myself. Now keep in storage, hope one fine day I will pass this to my children when we go fishing.

Schematic here

Shimano MIG Z-0

Dad pass on this reel to me, however during the 1st time I uses it, I notice something is wrong with the drag. As I am then on a kelong, I didn't check till I am back. There's only one washer and one worn out drag material left.

I did a major service on the reel and kept it. The box and papers are not with the reel.

Daiwa Sealine 30H

This reel is my dad usual offshore tackle, he pair it with a matching Daiwa Sealine Boat rod. He pass on to me when he have to stop fishing.

I use this reel for a while for surfcasting, but didn't like the feel of the reel with my surf rod. Since then, it have been stored in it's own box after a major service and oiling exercise.