Paul...
Yeah.. I'm a yuppie all right...
Watch that step... :D
It's a doozie...

if you need one for the weekend, i can bring one down for you. i have a couple laying around somewhere.

Eben:
I don't own a 704 that has a bail. I think the conversion kit is $5. Well worth the money

I nominate Uncle Crafty's post as best post in this thread. Complete with Silver Van Staal helmets and Van Staal pointy sticks. :D :laughs:

This is America, fish whatever reel you like. Drive whatever car you want. And you can do your thing whenever or wherever you like. Just please remember to pick up your trash. :)

Ed

I often fish a Calcutta 400 - one of the pricier conventionals but not in the same league pricewise as a TE or a VS for spinning. IF I could afford one I would probably get a VS for serious spinning. UNtil then, probably sometime around 2019, I'll be sticking with my sub $200 reels and for spinning, I might trick out a few 706 Penns (I have some ideas in mind :hihi: ).

BUT we all have our spending "things". We all probably spend more on fishing stuff than we really need and we all complain we still don't have enough. I do know some sharpies that were fishing VS since they first camw out and they swore by them then and they swear by them now. And status has nothing to do with it. Being able to get consistently dunked and banged around with lots of drag screamers in between is why they like them.

Anyone want to get into the 706ZX Reconditioning Biz :D ??

Oh yeh, Hey Flap - I guess most people don't use conventionals up your way (at least levelwind ones) because getting sand in the worm, etc. You can also fish lighter lines and use smaller reels. The sharpies getting away with 5500SS reals and the like up there could be undergunned down in RI/Block/LI. Structure (read obstacles) is different and IMO requires an upgrade in gear. Tuned up 6500 Abus is really the bottom on conventional gear and it goes up with the occasional squidder, Abu 7000s, Calcuttas, 965/975 and on the spinners, 704/6, 6500SS is usually the baseline.

YES!!! Talk to me baby, I'm thinking of starting a reel repair shop, might as well fix tackle.

No John, we use 'em. Lately though the mid priced spinning reels have been of such good quality and rugged enough to handle most situations and plug sizes that a conventional reel and rod has taken a back seat. As a matter of fact on my way home today I am stopping at a local shop to pick up a new Cabo conventional with level wind to replace the old Quantum IR420CX for which I cannot get parts for (Specifically the handle assm.) I gave me a good nine years though but I beat the living crap outa it.:D

Newell
 

i don't see any metion of newells. Now THERE are some conventional reels. Gotta know how to cast a conventional but they will stop a Bus

Newells rock...
but I prefer my squidder :smash:

Paul, box is mt

Hmmmm, how much you want for my 420 Iron? That was actually a very nice, no hassle real - other than ZERO parts availability... I gave up after a couple weeks calling shops for a pawl cap.



Fishpart - we'll talk :D

Anybody look:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: at the Daiwa Saltiga's yet?

I have two and love them so far.................:happy: :happy: :happy: they are actually less (if you know where to look) than the new VS reels.