[QUOTE=Uncle Jesse;4471 I'm going fishing for the enjoyment and it more fun and cheaper than a head doctor.[/QUOTE]
Jesse,
Ya got that right!
aa
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[QUOTE=Uncle Jesse;4471 I'm going fishing for the enjoyment and it more fun and cheaper than a head doctor.[/QUOTE]
Jesse,
Ya got that right!
aa
I purchased a multi-piece March Brown rod a few years ago and took it as THE rod for a trip to a salt marsh. The tip on one broke while lining the rod. Never got it wet and brought no other rod to fish with. Sent the rod back and it was replaced. Stupidly did the same thing, brought out the replacement as THE rod and, on the first cast the tip broke. No fishing that day either. They replaced again and sent an additional lower end rod as an apology. No problems with rod #3.
Lesson learned: always bring a backup of critical gear.
On the Bauer Reel: several years ago someone from there contacted us about being a Sponsor. JC was working at a local fly shop which carried them and he really went over it..he found several things he didn't like, including a spring not made from stainless but some cheaper metal which was rusting in the reel (brand new). He said it was a disaster and we explained the problems to them when we turned them down. Eventually it was sold to a company in WA state which was going to up grade it substantially with the help of Jack, (darn can't remember his last name, but the owner/creator of Charlton Reels) I think under the Solitude name. If you know what has happened on that one I'd love to know. I know they had real problems because they didn't get any blue prints or schematics when they bought Bauer....
Your story is one reason I have gone to using mostly click pawl reels. Simple. Effective. Durable. I have click pawl reels that are over 75 years old and are still landing fish.
For trout reels there is nothing I like more than click pawl Hardys... and I have a ridiculous number of them, perhaps 35... But there is absolutely no substitute for quality drags on salmon and saltwater gear. Just the sheer number of times big fish will eat a knuckle on a spinning reel-handle. A friend from CameraLand in NY was fishing silver salmon with me and the cork drag washer on a big Hardy failed suddenly... Doug's knuckle took off the reel handle as it was spinning... A better drag would have prevented that... as would an understanding of how to palm a reel!
There are lots of reels that will work and last for salmon without real drags, but the other issue is plain old fatigue. If you are landing your 25th salmon of the morning you may be getting tired and may not pay attention. That and the fact you raise the odds of a bad moment when you fight that many fish in such a short period.
Ladyfisher
I will let you know what I find out when I call this morning.
thanks
art
So, after speaking with Bauer they need to replace parts to fix a brand new reel. They did not realize the machining specs were off and the clutch does not engage in RHW mode.
They chuckled at the suggestion to fire their technical writer... it was John Bauer, and he continues to run the place. I do not know if that has any relation to ownership or not, but he probably has most of the specs in his head.
They assure me it will be flawless on return.
art
My worst high-end gear experience was back just before I got into fly-fishing. At the local auction house there was a huge auction of firearms with a small amount of fishing gear included. I found a rod and reel in what appeared to be perfect condition, so I decided to bid on it, but when it hit $45 I dropped out since I was completely unfamiliar with brands and values...its was a Sage rod with a Sage reel. I'm not sure what it was worth, but someone went home happy with $45 well spent. It wasn't me. :oops:
It still haunts me. The horror.