I too used the Slammers as my go to reel for years and dunked them. I broke them down to get them dried up, tried all different lubes and had the white metal main gear replace a few times. When I was deep wading I always tried to keep it out of the water. Liked a bail.
I figured that since I enjoy surfcasting so much- I would get a better tool- one that I did not have to worry about being under the water. So I live 5 miles from the ZB location- when they were assembling the reels there . Called up and went over there -met Wendy and Tim ( Robs son) super nice to me- and ended up getting a 2.5 with a bail.
Love the reel and especially the drag. Whole other world than the Slammer.
Manual bails do not flip closed on casts anymore. That is ancient history. I do not know why that still gets brought up. Never will happen on a ZB, a bailed VS or a Saltiga. What could happen is that you destroy the bail on a rock . Yes that could happen. But I like a bail-
If you like a bail- stick with the bail. Rob
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