Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Fall 2014, Page 13

Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Fall 2014, Page 13

Shimano line, you can pay different prices for equal retrieves.”

Mah reviewed gear ratios saying, “A higher speed reel is going to pick up more line per turn, thereby making it a faster reel, meaning it will retrieve more line with the same amount of turns of its handle than a lower gear ratio reel.”

After this review in gear ratios and line pick up, Mah related the inches per turn (IPT) to spinning reels. “A spinning reel’s pickup is directly related to spool size,” he continued. “If we look at a 3000 Symetre FL (6.0:1) for $99 and a 3000 Stradic CI4+ (6.2:1) for $239, we will see that they each retrieve 35 inches of line per crank, because they each have a 3000 size spool. This means the added cost doesn’t necessarily get

FALL 2014

you a faster reel; so if you’re not getting more line pick up for the more money, you might wonder what you are getting. The increased price covers the cost of the higher end materials.”

MATERIALS MAY MATTER

Mah explained at the higher price point, the reel

frame and spool of the Stradic is

crafted from Shimano’s

next gen CI4 material,

making it 250 percent

stronger and 20 percent

lighter. The material is

also absent of any metal,

making it rust proof and

increasing its longevity.

“Strength, durability

and weight are the

features that you pay for,”

he said.

To Mah, one of the

most important features

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