Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Man this is my idea of a good time. Most of my actively-used fleet are old reels. It's not so much that I like em because they're old, it's more because these reels offer unbeatable value.
My bass reels are mostly old Daiwa SM-2 series and Px-33SHs that I upgrade to PT-33SH spec. I upgrade them with cf drags and replace bearings as needed. Biggest PITA with these is when the pinion bearings let go, but there are still some floating around out there -- for now.
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Decent largemouth caught on a frog. A well-tuned PT-33SH on a Lunkerstik is hard to beat for a frog setup.

Another decent lmb, this one on an SM-2A on an old early graphite pistol-grip rod that the manufacturer info is too faded to make out. This is my favorite shore fishing combo, and it is a sniper at throwing things like jig and pigs and senkos into holes.

Most of my spinning reel work is done by Daiwa SS Tournaments. This was a 5lb lmb, the SS 1300 on an old Berkley Bionix rod made short work of her! Note the Luna in the background on the Falcon rod. I picked it up as a parts reel on ebay years ago due to levelwind issue. It was $45. The issue was that someone had knocked a dent in the groove the line guide rides in and it would grind at that spot. I opened it up with a flat head screwdriver and it's been fine since!

My oldest kid several years ago, got him started with the Cardinal 4. Don't shoot me but they aren't my favorite, just something about em. Of course that hasn't stopped me from stockpiling every example I could find for under $30 at flea markets etc. over the years.

This old True Temper combo was $4 at a yard sale because as the guy said, "This old thing won't catch fish anymore, it's just for display". Just a cleaning was all it needed. It was my summertime truck rod for a couple of years after, and of course the nut that holds the bail on fell off. Odd-sized nut, so now it is on display

This is my favorite float fishing combo, Daiwa GS-10 on an old Fenwick Spin/Fly travel rod, 7ft-6. Will sling a slip float rig a mile, and perfect action for live bait!

Did this yesterday. First fish on this reel, its revival story will get its own thread later. Great little reel.

On a remote camping/deer hunting trip with a buddy, I was throwing a crappie jig trying to make some catfish bait and this guy hit. Mini-Mite was up to the task!

Thanksgiving 2020, nobody made plans for the big day so we went to the beach. A big noreaster blew through that Wednesday night, and Thursday early AM we had a huge whiting (sea mullet, virginia mullet, northern kingfish) run. I must have caught 100 in 2-3 hours, many 2x at a time on a double-dropper rig, most on this old greenie Penn 710.

Metals combo putting in work on the beach. Daiwa SS 2600 on a Tiralejo 8ft rod. Good size spanish on Ocracoke that morning. No birds working, saw some glass minnows jumping and cast into them. Paid off!

Good sized pomp (2.5 lb), caught on the combo right behind me -- Carolina Cast Pro 13 ft rod with an old Millionaire reel I tuned up. Upgraded bearings, CF drag, power handle from a Shimano TSM that I made work with a dremel. Great casting combo and the power handle helps a lot. Only problem is I have to bungee the handle to the rod when casting (I use silicone wire ties) so the inertia of the handle doesn't knock it into gear on the cast. The 'notching the button' trick that works for Abus does not work on this reel.

Should be adding some pics of catfish caught on all sorts of old junk since my boat is set up now. 14 catfish combos in the shed, I'd say most of them are silver Daiwa spinners.

706 one of my favorites

Slosh Is that green shakespeare reel a 2200?

If so, I just got one & like more than a Mitchell 308 & great photos!

Quote from: work2fish on March 16, 2026, 01:25:22 PMThat's a lot of fun and successful fishing reflected in those photos, bja105! I've been intrigued by the 350 and may try one after I get done with the 180s I'm currently working on. Those are nice carp! Is that Pflueger Alpine a knuckle buster? I've been thinking of trying one of those as well, maybe a Penn 78, for some old school carp fishing.

The 350 is just like a Surfmaster or Beachmaster, except the Level Line feature. I have one with a plated brass spool and one with a plastic spool. I cast the plastic better, but I don't really power cast with these old reels. I think a conventional is a perfect Carp and Catfish reel. Set the rod in a holder, clicker on, freespool.

The Alpine is a knuckle buster. The drag is the leather pad. That fish was from Lake Arthur last Summer.

Slosh that is a great post of old reels getting it done!!!! - john