So I just bought a Piscifun Alijoz 400 (now called the AlinoX) and before I put it into use, I cracked it open to see what needed to be done.....
Here is what I found....
As you can see, the location of the grease (at least they tried?) is essentially non functional. The main gear is completely dry and the pinion only has grease on the yoke slot, but the gear itself is also dry. The drag washers have some grease on them, but they are made of some weird material that seems like it is/was "dusty".
I won't detail everything, but in addition to the grease, the ball bearing don't seem like they were lubricated either, so they got some ReelX. I'm stripping out all this crappy factory grease and properly lubing it with Penn grease and ReelX.
Good Job! This is exactly why The Boss has drilled it into our minds that ANY reel (budget, high end, whatever) needs to get a good pre-service right out of the box. Worst case you just opened a reel and verified all is good and put it back together. But all too often best case is it gives a opportunity to "optimize" the reel and correct deficiencies such as what you found. Ultimately, all of our reels are hand assembled, and I suspect in some cases it is just some assembly line worker trying to meet a quota and bang out as many units in the shortest time possible with a minimum of rejects, so it is reasonable to assume that attention to detail isn't going to be at the same level as many of the folks on this site. - john
Yeah, mechanically this reel is sound. It has plastic in places that I would rather metal, but in general it is good. Having a backup ratchet for the anti reverse bearing is good. The drag is good sized, but the material is a bit of a question. I'm going to get the demensions and see if I can get carbontex from smooth drag or just cut from a sheet. Certainly worth the $130 I paid for it.
No matter the reel maker, you can't trust the assembler's at the factory.
I bought an expensive surf-casting spinner with sealing gaskets. Checking it, they did so-so on the grease dispersion, but someone got the body gasket out of alignment and pushed the screw in anyway, almost cutting the gasket in half. They also left the screw pretty loose. Too bad, there was a nice groove all around the gear-box for the gasket to fit into, maybe not an easy feature to build into it?
Got a new gasket for free from the company.
The assemblers probably have either a quota(units/hour?) or get paid for # of reels assembled/shift.
Like my ford tractor mechanic friend says about modern tractors
"What you have there is $20 worth of scrap metal" or in this case plastic...
Quote from: jgp12000 on April 09, 2026, 08:34:33 PMLike my ford tractor mechanic friend says about modern tractors
"What you have there is $20 worth of scrap metal" or in this case plastic...
The reel is fine. The lube is shite though.
These are pretty good reels. Basically Daiwa and made in the same plant. At least a third of the price of most comparable reels.
I found the same ref lack of grease. Guys have complained about the thumbar sticking and thats usually the cause
Quote from: Lunker Larry on April 09, 2026, 08:37:16 PMThese are pretty good reels. Basically Daiwa and made in the same plant. At least a third of the price of most comparable reels.
I found the same ref lack of grease. Guys have complained about the thumbar sticking and thats usually the cause
Exactly. The lube on the thumb bar mechanism is lacking.
I have a kast king Zephyr never opened its prolly same way...
Quote from: jgp12000 on April 09, 2026, 08:54:10 PMI have a kast king Zephyr never opened its prolly same way...
If it's like minde, same deal.
All finished. Much smoother and oil in the bearings has this thing freespooling forever.
That's a win. That's one of the reason's this site exists. - john
The squall II casting special was much better lubricated, but i added a touch more grease to the main gear, pinion and to the jack and yoke. Put some Cal's on the drag discs. Those discs looked identical to the ones in the piscifun, so that makes me happy for that reel. Both ready for duty.
How the Piscifun Alijoz 400 working for you ? How does it cast ?
Quote from: quang tran on April 11, 2026, 02:26:53 AMHow the Piscifun Alijoz 400 working for you ? How does it cast ?
I haven't fished it yet, but there is no mechanical reason why it shouldn't be excellent. I've had an Alijoz 300 for a couple years and it's great. No complaints, but it needed a pre use service also.
At one time, I did some part-time work for an older guy who was a friend. He worked side by side with me —- because he needed someone reliable to do some of the heavier work.
He had 320 acres of almonds and Thompson Grapes.
I just replaced and replanted older trees that fell over during heavy winds. Pulled wire, dug holes, staked new trees, gave each 5 gallons of water to start, chain-sawed old trees into firewood, etc. Just basic stuff that was needed.
Don had an older Dodge pickup with a tool box in the bed. He also always carried 2 shovels and one hoe. These were old tools, but were made from top quality steel.
At the end of each day of work, he would rinse off the tools in water —-then spray the steel with WD-40. Also about once a month, he would take his angle grinder and put a 60° sharp edge on the shovels and hoe. When I asked him why he did this —- he just replied that he didn't have to work as hard as his tools that way.
The first half of his working career, he was a master carpenter —- the second half prior to retirement, he farmed.
Maintenance is key, and it should be done by the operator —- whether it is a shovel or a reel. Then, you know it was done properly. We can trust what people do or say —- but verification is the next step.
Good post, MolBasser! Thanks.
Best, Fred
Quote from: quang tran on April 11, 2026, 02:26:53 AMHow the Piscifun Alijoz 400 working for you ? How does it cast ?
A lot of Muskie guys have bought these reels and they've been holding up pretty good. You always have some that say a reel is junk but overall they've been standing up to the heavy baits we cast.
They are a very smooth reel and cast a mile.
Don't know if they're still doing this but if something breaks they would replace the reel with a new one with proof of purchase since they do not have a parts inventory. Makes sense as it is probably cheaper than developing and managaing a huge parts development and supply.
Thank Larry If It work it count and 3 times cheaper than Daiwa or Shimano ,I'm betting on 1 on Ebay
Quote from: quang tran on April 12, 2026, 09:53:49 PMThank Larry If It work it count and 3 times cheaper than Daiwa or Shimano ,I'm betting on 1 on Ebay
Just make sure to open it up and lube it properly and you will do well.
"A lot of Muskie guys have bought these reels and they've been holding up pretty good. You always have some that say a reel is junk but overall they've been standing up to the heavy baits we cast."
The stuck free spool button is 100% a lack of lubrication issue. When you open up the reel and see how the parts work, the issue becomes obvious, and it is a simple fix. If that is the only complaint, then this reel is a cheap winner.
If you are not using high drag and winding under high load, I could see these budget 400 reels potentially working out as well. The difference between premium and budget in low profile levelwind reels is not so large.
Those brass gears and that pressed on cast aluminum (I presume) gizmo to hold the eared drag washers on the Piscifun does not impress me. That Piscifun Alinox 400 has a listed max drag of 35 lbs, which seems laughable, and even more unrealistic than what the equivalent Daiwa (22lb) and Okuma (30 lb) models list on their specs. Shimano lists 18 lbs for the high speed Tranx 400, which is more reasonable. So I am a bit suspicious about the Piscifun if you push it, but then most folks don't.
The sad truth is that as much as I enjoy fishing them, none of the large saltwater low profile baitcasters are that well built. They are all just beefed up bass reels, not a redesign. This means that is not that tricky for an Piscifun and similar brands to make a competitive product to the high dollar big name offerings. Having said that, a reel is only as strong as the weakest link, so if you are pushing the reel towards its limits, I would expect these budget reels to fail first, and fail at the spots where the big name brands have beefed up the design with hardened stainless gears and large diameter nested drag washers.
I do quite a bit of fishing with my low profile Daiwa and Okuma 400s with the drag buttoned down in the mid to maybe upper teens. The reels can handle it, but they don't like it, and it shortens their lifespan. When I move the drag to 11 on the Spinal Tap scale to stop a big snapper or yellowtail, you can see my face all scrunched up and flinching. I am kinda waiting for that zing-kapow to happen. So I am even more wary of competing products that don't have the stronger parts.
If you do catch a bunch of bigger fish at high drag settings, I am curious as to how well it holds up for you. Durability is a big challenge for this entire class of reels.
-J
I agree with jurelometer 33Lbs drag is a joke . I already bought it waiting for shipping ,10 lbs drag is the most I can expect on all level wind reel . I used Kastking Zephyr and notice the gear quite strong compare to Daiwa or Shimano .Will try it out this Summer
Quote from: quang tran on April 12, 2026, 09:53:49 PMThank Larry If It work it count and 3 times cheaper than Daiwa or Shimano ,I'm betting on 1 on Ebay
Don't know ebay prices but they go on sale regularly on Amazon. Amazon Canada has them for $119.99 down from $149.99. They come in right and left handled. First one I bought was $111.99 a while back.
I pay a little higher but free shipping
Quote from: quang tran on April 13, 2026, 09:43:28 PMI pay a little higher but free shipping
;D ;D Dominick
Quote from: jurelometer on April 13, 2026, 05:53:50 PMIf you are not using high drag and winding under high load, I could see these budget 400 reels potentially working out as well. The difference between premium and budget in low profile levelwind reels is not so large.
Those brass gears and that pressed on cast aluminum (I presume) gizmo to hold the eared drag washers on the Piscifun does not impress me. That Piscifun Alinox 400 has a listed max drag of 35 lbs, which seems laughable, and even more unrealistic than what the equivalent Daiwa (22lb) and Okuma (30 lb) models list on their specs. Shimano lists 18 lbs for the high speed Tranx 400, which is more reasonable. So I am a bit suspicious about the Piscifun if you push it, but then most folks don't.
The sad truth is that as much as I enjoy fishing them, none of the large saltwater low profile baitcasters are that well built. They are all just beefed up bass reels, not a redesign. This means that is not that tricky for an Piscifun and similar brands to make a competitive product to the high dollar big name offerings. Having said that, a reel is only as strong as the weakest link, so if you are pushing the reel towards its limits, I would expect these budget reels to fail first, and fail at the spots where the big name brands have beefed up the design with hardened stainless gears and large diameter nested drag washers.
I do quite a bit of fishing with my low profile Daiwa and Okuma 400s with the drag buttoned down in the mid to maybe upper teens. The reels can handle it, but they don't like it, and it shortens their lifespan. When I move the drag to 11 on the Spinal Tap scale to stop a big snapper or yellowtail, you can see my face all scrunched up and flinching. I am kinda waiting for that zing-kapow to happen. So I am even more wary of competing products that don't have the stronger parts.
If you do catch a bunch of bigger fish at high drag settings, I am curious as to how well it holds up for you. Durability is a big challenge for this entire class of reels.
-J
Every company lies about drag pressure. Every, single, one. The weak link of the piscifun is the gear train. All brass. It won't hold up to season after season of yellowtail, but that is not what it is built for. If some aftermarket SS gears were made and put it, it would compete with any other low profile.
Also, I don't get the slam on low profile reels, as all reels do essentially the same thing. I mean, they aren't made, nor advertised, to land thousand pound marlin. They do what they are designed to do.
Quote from: MolBasser on April 14, 2026, 03:45:08 PMEvery company lies about drag pressure. Every, single, one. The weak link of the piscifun is the gear train. All brass. It won't hold up to season after season of yellowtail, but that is not what it is built for. If some aftermarket SS gears were made and put it, it would compete with any other low profile.
Yeah, agree with you on drag rating. A reel rated for 30 lbs of drag should be able to be set to 30lbs on a full spool and pulled until empty more than once without any adverse effects. Many more reels would fail this test than would pass. But I think that these low -profile ratings are exaggerated more than most. I just bought a Penn Fathom 15XN two speed lever drag with the same max drag rating as the Alijoz 400.
If these reels are not built to withstand multiple years of use on species like yellowtail, Piscifun probably shouldn't put it in the product description - from the Piscifun site:
"[...] has a maximum Drag Power of 38 LBS making it suitable for saltwater scenarios where large bait and big fish are targeted."
And
"Suitable Fish Species:
Musky, Northern Pike, Redfish, Snook, Tarpon,
Yellowtail, Bass with Large Swimbaits（Striped Bass, Black Sea bass"
Source: https://www.piscifun.com/products/alijoz-400-baitcasting-reel-saltwater-bait-clicker (https://www.piscifun.com/products/alijoz-400-baitcasting-reel-saltwater-bait-clicker)
QuoteAlso, I don't get the slam on low profile reels, as all reels do essentially the same thing. I mean, they aren't made, nor advertised, to land thousand pound marlin. They do what they are designed to do.
Regarding my "slam" on low profiles. Don't get me wrong, I do like fishing them. The larger saltwater versions are marketed and frequently used for the type of fishing that I do. And now there are 500 sized models with essentially the same design, marketed for even larger fish.
Many buyers either don't have the opportunity to get many hours in working the reels at higher loads, or target species that don't put as much load on the gear. There is a big difference in pulling a bunch of 20lb yellowtail off the rocks vs chucking plastics for calicos or redfish. But a subset of us do have the opportunity to work these reels hard. IMHO, they fail in multiple ways sooner than they would if the reels were designed from the ground up instead of being a beefed up bass reel.
I did a whole thread on a 400 series Komodo over a span of five years with higher loads usage here:
https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,30706.msg357468.html#msg357468 (https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,30706.msg357468.html#msg357468)
I like the Komodo compared to the competition because it does not have a disengaging levelwind, making it a more versatile reel and less subject to wear on the levelwind assembly. But it has its problems. Some unique, and some shared with other brands.
If you look for posts by Cor, you will find some nice writeups on the Shimano Tranx under higher loads over time.
I wouldn't be surprised if your Piscifun holds up OK relative to the competition if not pushed too hard. I am looking forward to seeing an update after you get some time on it.
-J
Literally every crap reel you can buy would hold up just fine if you don't push it too hard and rinse it frequently. Personal opinion: What matters is how they perform when you abuse them. I've never been one for the "fancy" but I buy quality stuff so I don't have to be careful with it.
I'm looking forward to hearing how this one does when you put it through it's paces.
Piscifin? I've heard of them. That's not the case for a lot of cheap reels these days. Kastking is another name that pops up in the maybe-not-so-bad category.
Way back when, Penn reels were sort of like an Ocean City reel, but Penn had adopted short-cuts in design and manufacture that made them less expensive. Penn were the original maybe-not-so-bad fishing reels.
Quote from: oc1 on April 15, 2026, 05:39:36 AMPiscifin? I've heard of them. That's not the case for a lot of cheap reels these days. Kastking is another name that pops up in the maybe-not-so-bad category.
Way back when, Penn reels were sort of like an Ocean City reel, but Penn had adopted short-cuts in design and manufacture that made them less expensive. Penn were the original maybe-not-so-bad fishing reels.
I have a couple kastkings that I got on a lark because they were very cheap. Same deal with Piscifun. The design and engineering is just fine, parts quality is "ok" and quality control during assembly is ####.
I agree that these will never compete as "regular" or "Hard use" tools, but that is NOT what they are advertised for. As for Piscifun their whole schtick is family fun. Catching a few yellowtail a year qualifies for that, and I have zero doubt that this reel could catch a yellowtail. I caught the yellowtail in my avatar on an Abu 6500C3 and the Piscifun has bigger drag discs........
Nowhere will you catch me saying that this is a top of the line reel, but for the price it is just fine and for most inshore duty (which is what I bought this for) it is perfectly fine. Especially for me who is religious about rinsing, keeping clean and regular lubrication, it should last a reasonable amount of seasons.
The difference between a Alijoz and a Tranx is minimal at best. The tranx has a SS pinion, that's about it, I think. And maybe a completely metal yoke.
I will say this, the cheaper chinese reels are built (not designed) to fail. To make it work reasonably you need to put in WAY more effort than the typical person who would buy this type of reel. Which is unfortunate because it fosters the sense of disposability which is ruining the world (shakes cane at cloud). The fact that they basically don't have a parts department and choose to replace a reel rather than send parts or repair it is a bit of a bummer.
I just opened up my 1985 Abu 4600CB and it was in perfect shape, so that made me feel good. I bought that reel right when I graduated high school to fish the Boundry Water Canoe Area. That reel has some stories to tell.....
My son and I have two Piscifun Chaos 50 round Baitcasting reels that we use for carp and catfish. They typically sell for $45 or so. They aren't exposed to salt water, but they are exposed to lots of rain and dirt splashing up on them from the rain when they are in rod holders, as well as landing numerous 10 - 25 lb carp and 8 - 14 lb channel catfish. The reels have gone through two seasons so far and I have to admit that they are a joy to use. They cast well, the drag feels smooth and strong, and we have had no issues with them. I am going to service them for the first time soon. I'm curious what they look like inside. I didn't open them up when they were new (Now I know better :) ).
There aren't really many fish in fresh water that can stress a reel, so cheaper reels seem to do fine, as long as they aren't total crap.
Quote from: oc1 on April 15, 2026, 05:39:36 AMPiscifin? I've heard of them. That's not the case for a lot of cheap reels these days. Kastking is another name that pops up in the maybe-not-so-bad category.
Way back when, Penn reels were sort of like an Ocean City reel, but Penn had adopted short-cuts in design and manufacture that made them less expensive. Penn were the original maybe-not-so-bad fishing reels.
Good point.
Okuma is another, more recent example of a company that managed to extend beyond budget fishing gear into premium stuff.
Down at the local casting pond, the tournament casters were fooling around with a 5 wt fly rod outfit from one of those better-than-junk budget brands (maybe KastKing? It could have been a Piscifun or MaxCatch). Rod, reel and line. I took a few swings and I thought that it cast really well. If you could get past how gaudy it looked, you could do a lot worse for a lot more money, at least in terms of casting performance. Most people will not use the gear enough to wear it out, so a bit less quality is not a bad tradeoff for saving a lot of money.
I don't think that these emerging brands are quite there yet, but as the legacy premium brands produce more throwaway gear of declining quality, that gap is starting to look kinda narrow. It all comes from the same factories, with the same basic design. The extra price for a legacy brand can buy us a bit more in the quality of the components and the overall quality control process.
For the more demanding situations, I am still skeptical about these better-than-junk products for now.
Quote from: MolBasser on April 15, 2026, 03:54:44 PMI have a couple kastkings that I got on a lark because they were very cheap. Same deal with Piscifun. The design and engineering is just fine, parts quality is "ok" and quality control during assembly is ####.
I agree that these will never compete as "regular" or "Hard use" tools, but that is NOT what they are advertised for. As for Piscifun their whole schtick is family fun. Catching a few yellowtail a year qualifies for that, and I have zero doubt that this reel could catch a yellowtail. I caught the yellowtail in my avatar on an Abu 6500C3 and the Piscifun has bigger drag discs........
Nowhere will you catch me saying that this is a top of the line reel, but for the price it is just fine and for most inshore duty (which is what I bought this for) it is perfectly fine. Especially for me who is religious about rinsing, keeping clean and regular lubrication, it should last a reasonable amount of seasons.
The difference between a Alijoz and a Tranx is minimal at best. The tranx has a SS pinion, that's about it, I think. And maybe a completely metal yoke.
I will say this, the cheaper chinese reels are built (not designed) to fail. To make it work reasonably you need to put in WAY more effort than the typical person who would buy this type of reel. Which is unfortunate because it fosters the sense of disposability which is ruining the world (shakes cane at cloud). The fact that they basically don't have a parts department and choose to replace a reel rather than send parts or repair it is a bit of a bummer.
I just opened up my 1985 Abu 4600CB and it was in perfect shape, so that made me feel good. I bought that reel right when I graduated high school to fish the Boundry Water Canoe Area. That reel has some stories to tell.....
Agree with most of this. One quibble is that the Alijoz is advertised for hard use, although I agree that this is not the target market.
The old ABUs had an advantage in that they were extremely well designed and manufactured. They can punch a bit over their weight class, even if they are lightweights from a prior era.
You can always get more drag with more clamping force on a star drag. How the rest of the components manage that extra load from the higher drag is what matters most.
In terms of the difference being minimal, that is harder to say. I don't think visually comparing the components is enough. For example, is the spool shaft the same diameter? Is it from the same grade of stainless with the same tempering process? Is it going to flex under load before the Tranx? Maybe it is the same, or better, or worse.
A reel is only as strong as its weakest link, and I believe that is the increased risk with these budget products. It just takes one small design or manufacturing screwup that might not be obvious, and you have a paperweight. That is why I am looking forward to seeing reports like yours, especially when there are some miles on the reel. This is the only way we are going to find out.
Thanks again for starting this thread!
-J
Quote from: jurelometer on April 15, 2026, 04:57:23 PMIn terms of the difference being minimal, that is harder to say. I don't think visually comparing the components is enough. For example, is the spool shaft the same diameter? Is it from the same grade of stainless with the same tempering process? Is it going to flex under load before the Tranx? Maybe it is the same, or better, or worse.
Thanks again for starting this thread!
-J
Fair points that I failed to consider properly, specifically the spindle....
Its all good. We will see how this reel holds up.
Quote from: jurelometer on April 15, 2026, 04:57:23 PMDown at the local casting pond, the tournament casters were fooling around with a 5 wt fly rod outfit from one of those better-than-junk budget brands (maybe KastKing? It could have been a Piscifun or MaxCatch). Rod, reel and line. I took a few swings and I thought that it cast really well. If you could get past how gaudy it looked, you could do a lot worse for a lot more money, at least in terms of casting performance. Most people will not use the gear enough to wear it out, so a bit less quality is not a bad tradeoff for saving a lot of money.
-J
It seems that the fly rod market is a whole different animal in the world of fishing tackle. The high-end models have past $1,000 now. That comes out to about $250 per ounce. Less than the price of gold but more than silver. Does anybody think that a $1,000 fly rod performs twice as well as a $500 fly rod? Is it twice as durable? Twice as pretty? It's irrational and fickle.
So I wanna be clear that I've definitely been known to gamble on cheap knockoffs on a lot of things. And I've had a lot more wins than losses doing so. I think the reason I personally wax poetic on quality is that reels are such an unnecessary item. I have NEEDED alternators, etc and not been able to afford a factory replacement. So I got something that would most likely do the job just fine for as long as I need it to. But I don't NEED another inshore baitcaster.
I currently want one. But I don't need it. So I'd rather find a quality one used if I need to save money, because if something is wrong I can most likely repair it. And find the stuff I need to do so.
But again, that's just my opinion on something that for me is a passtime. A commercial fisherman may disagree with both of us
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on April 15, 2026, 07:03:53 PM... is that reels are such an unnecessary item.
I read that last part and it sounded like reading it with my wife's voice. ::)
my two daughters always take my abu Garcia Toro Beast 60 over any other reel for light jig fishing or even bait fishing for triggerfish, but I only have one saltwater lowprofile reel, it would be nice to get this Piscifun reel which is almost the same size of the toro Beast 60 and compare them on the battle field.
Quote from: steelfish on April 15, 2026, 08:13:29 PMQuote from: JasonGotaProblem on April 15, 2026, 07:03:53 PM... is that reels are such an unnecessary item.
I read that last part and it sounded like reading it with my wife's voice. ::)
my two daughters always take my abu Garcia Toro Beast 60 over any other reel for light jig fishing or even bait fishing for triggerfish, but I only have one saltwater lowprofile reel, it would be nice to get this Piscifun reel which is almost the same size of the toro Beast 60 and compare them on the battle field.
Lol.
That would be interesting to direct compare.
Quote from: oc1 on April 15, 2026, 06:41:11 PMIt seems that the fly rod market is a whole different animal in the world of fishing tackle. The high-end models have past $1,000 now. That comes out to about $250 per ounce. Less than the price of gold but more than silver. Does anybody think that a $1,000 fly rod performs twice as well as a $500 fly rod? Is it twice as durable? Twice as pretty? It's irrational and fickle.
It is sort of like wine. It is possible to find good and bad wine across the price spectrum, but the odds are stacked against you at the low end and in your favor once you get a tier or two past the bottom end. And once you get into the decent stuff, twice the price ain't gonna be twice as good.
For lighter duty freshwater use, if you pay a $100, you have a very good chance of getting a pretty good rod. For bigger saltwater fly rods where both durability and castability have to be acheived, you usually have to crack $300 nowadays.
I got to try someone else's Winston Air 2 Max(USD $1300) on a roosterfish last year. This is the most expensive fly rod that I have ever tried. It was an unusual rod in that it had a fairly moderate action but still could load up well and fire a tight loop, making it well suited for the guy with the
floppy less-crisp casting stroke common with freshwater fly fishers. It actually is a bit better rod for a big segment of the market. Not twice as good, but noticeably better. Maybe worth it if you enough money, and the rod is a match for your casting style.
Me? I personally prefer the action and fish fighting abilities the old TFO TiCRX rods that I can pick up on the auction site for less than 1/6 of the price of that Winston. Maybe I just have cheap taste :)
-J
Quote from: jurelometer on April 16, 2026, 06:08:43 AMIt is sort of like wine. It is possible to find good and bad wine across the price spectrum, but the odds are stacked against you at the low end and in your favor once you get a tier or two past the bottom end. And once you get into the decent stuff, twice the price ain't gonna be twice as good.
I like this analogy. I also think about a friend of mine who is waaaaaay into golf. Even basic clubs ain't cheap, but then when you get into cu$tom fitted $ets it becomes $$$$$. And he openly admits that for "Joeybagodonuts" it probably wouldn't make a difference, but for someone like him (twice a week, 7 handicap) that it can be a beneficial improvement.
So, if I understand Jurelometer (while wearing my tweed hat and Orvis vest), in a highly technique specific application (like fly fishing - I WAS paying attention during your Saltwater Flyfishing techniques seminar) there would there be an advantage to having a custom rod tailored to an individual person's style? I know it wouldn't make any difference for me (my Silaflex Perfexion and Eagle Claw rods mated up with a box of Pflueger Medalists are waaay beyond my abilities). - john
Yeah, both those last two posts.
Quote from: Brewcrafter on April 16, 2026, 04:43:07 PMQuote from: jurelometer on April 16, 2026, 06:08:43 AMIt is sort of like wine. It is possible to find good and bad wine across the price spectrum, but the odds are stacked against you at the low end and in your favor once you get a tier or two past the bottom end. And once you get into the decent stuff, twice the price ain't gonna be twice as good.
I like this analogy. I also think about a friend of mine who is waaaaaay into golf. Even basic clubs ain't cheap, but then when you get into cu$tom fitted $ets it becomes $$$$$. And he openly admits that for "Joeybagodonuts" it probably wouldn't make a difference, but for someone like him (twice a week, 7 handicap) that it can be a beneficial improvement.
So, if I understand Jurelometer (while wearing my tweed hat and Orvis vest), in a highly technique specific application (like fly fishing - I WAS paying attention during your Saltwater Flyfishing techniques seminar) there would there be an advantage to having a custom rod tailored to an individual person's style? I know it wouldn't make any difference for me (my Silaflex Perfexion and Eagle Claw rods mated up with a box of Pflueger Medalists are waaay beyond my abilities). - john
What I meant in this case was that Winston managed to create rods that were not necessarily the very top performing in more skilled hands, but rather a rod that was high performing for a broader range of skill levels. These rods might also be desirable for a skilled caster that still prefers a slower stroke. They use super high grade cork and other premium components, and ended up with a high end niche for themselves in a very crowded marketplace.
There are tons of rods across the spectrum with fast to ridiculously fast action. You can get more distance and more line speed out these, but a lot of fly fishers dislike them because you get less feedback from the rod loading up unless you are putting some muscle into it and your timing is spot on. It reminds me of hitting a baseball just right, so I really like a fast rod, within reason.
A skilled practitioner will cast about the same with a bunch of different mid tier to top end rods, but will probably have a preference, which I think is more about enjoyment than performance.
I do not think that there is a performance benefit in custom building a single handed fly rod unless you want something special in the grip.
And matching the fly line to the rod is more important than the minor differences in similar rods.
BTW, many fly fishing nuts will disagree with my assessment on rod price/performance, with more of a preference for the premium brands and a higher minimum base price point.
-J
I realized I finally have the right analogy here. It's a Honda or Toyota vs like a Hyundai. Yeah they've come a long way. And they have specs and lists of features that match or compare to their higher priced rivals. Some have even been pretty respectably fast, ESPECIALLY for the price. And some folks have been really really happy with them. There were Hyundai faster than my old FA5 Si.
But are they the same? How many of the faster ones more than a few years old do you still see on the road? Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with riding in a Hyundai with a smile in your face. But I'll take an old Honda over a new Hyundai, personally.
I hope I'm not coming across as a jackass. We all have our own things where we do and don't splurge a bit because we want to. I'm personally quite fond of rewrapping cheap rods. I like em. That's enough for me. I don't begrudge others any tackle choices
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on April 16, 2026, 11:18:12 PMI hope I'm not coming across as a jackass. We all have our own things where we do and don't splurge a bit because we want to. I'm personally quite fond of rewrapping cheap rods. I like em. That's enough for me. I don't begrudge others any tackle choices
It's a good chat. No worries.
Interesting. Video put out by Shimano?
I guess I'm dumb. Was there 10 brands in all that, that I shouldn't buy? Every brand no matter the model they make? Wasn't Shimano included at the end, but just the Stella models as the greatest ever? Lot's of pictures/video's in there that don't seem related to the info. being talked about. Gotta rewatch it.
For me it comes down to parts availability. Something will fail, it will happen, but can you get the parts to fix it? With a Penn, I know I can get the parts or at least get it to the factory to get it fixed. Otherwise it is just another throwaway reel. :d
Quote from: oc1 on April 15, 2026, 06:41:11 PMIt seems that the fly rod market is a whole different animal in the world of fishing tackle. The high-end models have past $1,000 now. That comes out to about $250 per ounce. Less than the price of gold but more than silver. Does anybody think that a $1,000 fly rod performs twice as well as a $500 fly rod? Is it twice as durable? Twice as pretty? It's irrational and fickle.
Of course not. It's the world of diminishing gains. A $1000 reel might be 10% better than a $500 model. Comes down to whether you care about that 10%. From experience though, once you've had that 10%, it's hard to go back.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on April 17, 2026, 06:40:16 AM
What the heck, that entire video is AI generated slop and makes no sense. Half the images in it are like some sort of fever dream of a reel engineer who got drunk and crashed their car on the way home.
Quote from: boon on April 23, 2026, 01:40:23 AMQuote from: Midway Tommy on April 17, 2026, 06:40:16 AM
What the heck, that entire video is AI generated slop and makes no sense. Half the images in it are like some sort of fever dream of a reel engineer who got drunk and crashed their car on the way home.
🤪😂. True dat!
Quote from: boon on April 23, 2026, 01:40:23 AMQuote from: Midway Tommy on April 17, 2026, 06:40:16 AM
What the heck, that entire video is AI generated slop and makes no sense. Half the images in it are like some sort of fever dream of a reel engineer who got drunk and crashed their car on the way home.
lol. That's what I thought but couldn't think of a way to express it.
I got the alinox 400 send to me about a month ago , just open it for inspection . there are some white grease on it . Look like silicon grease about right amount . For salt water I prefer blue grease and thin down a bit with synthetic oil and more grease on gear ,It have 2 big drag washers with no grease , I prefer more smooth drag than heavy drag so I put some grease on them . There are some grease a spool shaft that we don't need and seem no oil on spool bearings .Also add some grease around edge of cover to reduce salt water get in
Over all the reel quite strong with brass gear , alluminum frame , machine screws ,strong anti reverse dog ,410g weight is about average for 400 reel size
I give it 6 months, if used regularly in the salt, before that magnet plate is a swollen brown crusty mess :(