Only One Reel

[Rivverrat]

Well for those interested here's an update.
I shipped  my Andros 5N to Okuma on 1/22. Reel tech Ronald Almanzo received my reel on the 26th. I spoke with Mike today I was told they basically rebuilt this reel. New spindle, pinion gear & more.

I was dropped off last year on a 12 day remote trip when the e clip that holds the belleville washers in place broke. Being the smallest on hand & my go to reel on this trip I was very upset. There was an old generator there that I began looking at & ended up liberating an e clip from the throttle linkage that fit the spindle of my Andros. But this e clip would not clear the clicker gear that goes on top of it. Taking my knife I removed enough material from the clicker gear so the e clip would clear....HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!
Any way my fix caused to much end shake or side to side play in free spool. The short of it is, even though I told them what I had done they replaced the $40 clicker gear, spindle & other parts at NO CHARGE!

I was also told by Mike that the early model Andros cannot be converted to the A-Series. He said the spool is different along with the frame I think.

We'll wait & see if the resistance issue has been resolved. When I get the reel I will report back on this & every thing that was done....Jeff

[tristan]

That sounds like good service!    Hope everything is tight and right when you get it back.

- Tristan

[Rivverrat]

Received my Andros back yesterday the 3rd. Very quick turn around. The reel is noticeably tighter with less play in the spool when in free spool. I have not had it apart since getting it back. Iwas told they replaced the pinion, spindle, & some other various parts. There was no paper work stating exactly what was done.

The issue of resistance in the handle while still there is not at the level it was prior & it stays at the same level with no variance. Very unlike it did before. OH! Almost forgot the free spool is noticeably better.

I am still unable to fish it at the claimed 15 lbs. with out a slight increase of resistance in the handle. Pretty much what every one else speaks of who has these reels.

My take on the Andros, original series is this, for a reel this size they inspire confidence in how solid they are built & feel in the hand when cranking hard. I have decided to fish mine with loop to loop connections. Allowing me to fish 30 - 60 lb. test & easily change it out as needed. I will fish this reel with 12 - 13 lbs. of drag at strike & when a fish calls for it just bump it up.

Has any one had any luck bumping the the at strike level up on the original Andros?  Being able to make 15 lbs. at strike or a lb. or two above this would be fantastic.....  Jeff  

[Keta]

My very limited experiences with the customer service people at Okuma has always been great or better.

[SoCalAngler]

Has any one had any luck bumping the the at strike level up on the original Andros?  Being able to make 15 lbs. at strike or a lb. or two above this would be fantastic.....  Jeff  

Jeff I have not played around with the Andros 5's but I know people that have and what your seeing in drag pressure is pretty much all their able to squeeze out of them.

Many people bought them here in So Cal wanting to fish 40 lb test, and you can and few still do, but most now use them as 30 lb test reels and look at other models to fish 40 lb on.

[Rivverrat]

Is the A series Andros any more capable of bumping up to 50 lb. test ?

[SoCalAngler]

From what I understand, again I don't own any or have fished them, the 5 A's get right around the same drag pressure and as I have stated in other threads stopping power is only half the battle. I hate to say this but I think your asking too much out of one reel to cover the range of the fishing your looking to do with it. Like 20 lbs of drag but able to cast light baits and still have the power to move very large fish to the boat (a fish big enough to tow a small boat), thats asking alot....a whole lot. A more suitable reel in the Okuma Andros lineup for 50 lb would be a 12II or even maybe better a Andros 16II. At that drag pressure you may even want to start to look at the Makaira line of reels.

[Rivverrat]

SoCal, thanks for the reply.    I'm off my original topic now regarding the Andros. My Andros will be doing light duty. I do not have any plans to fish this reel above 12-13 lbs. of drag all the time. I'm now looking at using my Andros 5n  in place of my 6500 Ambassedeur. I was just wondering if any one had any luck improving it slightly.

I'm also starting to wonder if I might not have been happier purchasing a Torque 15 lever drag?  Slightly bigger reel but the drag is more capable. Im going to see if I cant come up with one to use before I decide. I'm not giving up on the lever drags yet.

[johndtuttle]

SoCal, thanks for the reply.    I'm off my original topic now regarding the Andros. My Andros will be doing light duty. I do not have any plans to fish this reel above 12-13 lbs. of drag all the time. I'm now looking at using my Andros 5n  in place of my 6500 Ambassedeur. I was just wondering if any one had any luck improving it slightly.

I'm also starting to wonder if I might not have been happier purchasing a Torque 15 lever drag?  Slightly bigger reel but the drag is more capable. Im going to see if I cant come up with one to use before I decide. I'm not giving up on the lever drags yet.

For the light casting and drag requirements you are talking about the Fathom 15 LD2 may be your best alternative. I will state unequivocally that your drag requirements and lack of handle binding will be met.

There is not a smaller more powerful reel made and the only others in it's class would be an Avet Raptor SX or an Accurate Dauntless 400n.

However, for your fishing I am quite tempted to believe you have gone off the deep end as you are trying to fit reels to your style that are not required or necessary or remotely ideal.  I for one would not be taking an LD reel into the Amazon, and expect the casting and drag performance you are expecting, for any species.

A Penn Torque 5 is not "too heavy or bulky" unless you are a secret agent smuggling it in the false bottom of your suitcase. It will cast far easier, make far more drag, fish heavier braid and be more reliable. I have back pack traveled throughout the back country of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica with nothing more than a large day pack for 10 months for my entire kit. Any notion you have about the draw backs of it being larger than an Andros 5 will be made up for by it's performance.

You are missing the boat my friend and overlooking the perfect tool. A small, top end spinning reel is perfect for what you need. Nothing better is made for casting light weights and making big drag. My impression is that you are letting pre-conceived bias rule your decision making.


regards

[Rivverrat]

johndtuttle, To start I readily admit a bias for conventional over spinning. Agree with your points made about spinners. Staying strictly to the topic of my post your reasoning is even more valid.
But keep in mind while this post isn't so much about what I want, as it is seeking & attempting to find out  whether or not there is something out there that will fit & work well doing it. The answer back is, it's not really possible. I will say you have caused me to look again harder at the Torque Spinner for going after catfish.  

Our load out, individual pack weight is approaching 100 lbs. 75% of that weight is made up of stuff that is used daily or through out the week. The other 25% is dogmatic. It cannot change in any way for the better. Space is limited in the extreme.

I have to have strong justifiable reason for taking any reel & fishing isn't one, by itself that justifies it. The spinners do not fit the other reasons that have justified my bringing a reel.


Thanks for your reply, Jeff      

[Rivverrat]

Another update on my Andros. I've put a few hours on this reel using it at a power plants
hot water outlet & also throwing it in the yard for practice to get familiar with a new St. Croix rod I put the Andros on.

The first thing I noticed upon getting this reel back from Okuma was that it was noticeably over all much tighter than before. As I continued using it since getting it back I noticed it was casting much better. It was not bad prior. Also the resistance in the handle has diminished to a level to where it is a complete non issue with drag at 14 lbs.

I mentioned the casting performance improving, I hardly ever make use of any cast control system on any reel. I never have on my Andros. But the spool on my Andros was starting to get away from me a bit when throwing light jigs rigged with shad strips.

I don't know if this was because of grease in the bearings being thinned out with use or just what has caused this. Not complaining it's a good thing. But I did for the first time make use of the cast control.
I'm kind of anxious to take a look inside to see what they did. I wish I had done this  when I  received it back before using it. I have become very fond of this reel & rod combo.....Jeff

[Rivverrat]

Another report on my Andros......Been fishing & casting this reel since getting it back from Okuma. The function of this reel is nothing like it was when new it has increasingly got better with use. Surprising since Ive not had it back long.
This reel will now go over 15 lbs. of drag with very little resistance felt in the handle. I have checked my drag numerous times, I even checked my scales with weights.....I thought something was wrong.

When I sent it back I stated I purchased it based on their claims of it being 50 lb. class reel. I dont know what they did but I couldnt be happier with its performance casting & the drag capability.

I took a quick look inside nothing stood out I did not remove the spindle. I do agree with SoCal & some others that this is at best a 40 lb. class reel & a good one at that.

Are the spool bearings on the Andros open or shielded?

[Rivverrat]

Just checked Alan's tutorial. One side is open.  

Is there a better 40 lb. class reel? Im not looking . Just wondering out loud. Very pleased with My Andros.