I plan on doing a bearing and drag washer upgrade to this Bantam 200, using bearings from Boca, and washers from SmoothDrag....question is, would replacing the white nylon spool bushing, with a bearing, make a marked difference in the perfromance of the reel, or is this just spending $$$ un-necessarily? My plan is to put this reel to extensive use during the upcoming winter steelhead season....thanks
likely no, though it is sometimes done. the spool will never come under so much load that a third bearing would be needed.