Would someone explain "bearings" to me please?

[Moby Dick]

I think the whole point of this was lost in the scrum.

Moby, I've sold fishing supplies at a fishing store for two years (five years ago) and have been fishing my whole life. Here is a list of spinning reels to look at and why.

Under $20: Quantum Optix (good for light to ultra light tackle, ie trout and panfish) It's cheap and the drag isn't that great, but who needs a 'great' drag pulling around ten inch trout. I've caught an exorbitant amount of smallmouths on my 15 and 20 series and as of yet it hasn't locked up on me.

20-$40: Shimano series (used to be Symmettre and Sahara models, it sounds like Colby could answer this question) Solid drags for the cost and smooth long-lasting operation. (Pfluegger has it's place here and so does the Mitchell 300 series)

40-$70: Shimano takes it here again. Slightly better everything and a proven choice in the north west. I'm sure Colby knows the model names here. (I use Abu Garcias)

70-150: Quantum, don't believe me ask KVD and many guides here in the north west.
(Don't overlook Pflueger's and of course the high end Shimano's. Cabela's has some really nice reels in this price range as well.)

Over $150: I think you're getting what you pay for and any where you look from Daiwa to Penn to US Reels you will get a solid reel.

My two cents and it wasn't meant to be confrontational, just informative.

Personally I've used Abu Garcia, for the most part for 13 years. I like them because they are under $100 and I get about five to ten years of use depending on my abusiveness. I've got one that I've had the entire 13 years and except for the pieces I lost during annual lubing it still works as it was intended. It's landed pike, bass, trout, catfish, walleye, fresh water drum, etc etc (no steelhead or salmon) because they will smoke it, I'm almost certain. I just couldn't do that to the old girl, she's been through a lot. The point is, buy a reel and test it.

Lastly,

Plueger, shimano and high end quantums have very smooth bail mechanics. Best way to know for sure is to test them. If they won't let you test it at the store go somewhere else. Good sales men/women put the product in your hands. One should never use the reeling force to flip the bail; not only does it induce line coils it can cause bail failure from constant leverage induced friction. Simply flip the bail with your finger after the cast. You'll increase the life of your reel.

FISHRUN !!! You are my hero !!!! Thank you sooo much for that comprehensive and extremely useful info. That was VERY helpful, and seriously, I appreciate your effort a lot. Of course "good " bearings are better to have than lousy bearings, but I am not sure that the mod's defensive/argumentative post to me was helpful. It had no bearing shall we say on the bale flip issue lol. Ur pal, marie

 

[CFishRun]

My last post on OFF. Thx everyone for the info. I've tried to assist people but never got any good response to it so....to all that post informative comments; thank you.

Jeff

 

[TTFishon]

My last post on OFF. Thx everyone for the info. I've tried to assist people but never got any good response to it so....to all that post informative comments; thank you.

Jeff

So being called a hero isn't a good response? See ya.

 

[troutdude]

My last post on OFF. Thx everyone for the info. I've tried to assist people but never got any good response to it so....to all that post informative comments; thank you.

Jeff

Where the hell did that comment come from?

 

[CFishRun]

oops....read into that completely the wrong way. Yikes........!!!!!!!!! I am sooo sorry.

One more comment due to my embarassment. A soap box moment.

I fear that society is becoming erovocably cinical due to internet blogs and posts on any number of websites. In person most people wouldn't ever speak to another human being this way. It's sad really, that a person would have to re-read a post so they could find the under-riding, unapologetic negativism behind the words. Every comment on Yahoo and Consumer reports simply degrades the one before it. The corruption occurs when it reaches posts like this. Yes, I read into the comment above and saw something as a personal attack (I apologize and I don't exactly know what I saw, even after re-reading it). But it does outline a problem: Why did I have to look for a negative slant? Read any post above, from pages one through four and you'll see nothing but personal attacks and negative attitudes. I believe this forum was created to gain knowledge, assist the unassisted, pass on information and above all celebrate the outdoors. Please keep it that way.

Again my apologies,

Jeff

 

[CFishRun]

My last post on OFF. Thx everyone for the info. I've tried to assist people but never got any good response to it so....to all that post informative comments; thank you.

Jeff

My apologies that was stupid and irresponsible, please see above.

 

[Moby Dick]

Where the hell did that comment come from?

I hope that I didn't say something that was mis-understood. I thought CFishrun's post was fantastic and a real labor of kindness to me, and thought I made that clear. I even printed it out to use as a "go by" when I go to do my hands on checking in the next few days. So if I need to clarify, I really appreciated his comments because they were thorough yet concise, objective yet fused with his own practical experience.

Maybe there are things I dont fully get yet here since I am not accustomed to this type of public chat. Thanks all again, Marie

 

[GraphiteZen]

Ok, now I will ask that we stay on topic.

 

[halibuthitman]

so your basicly calling it the internet telephone-tough guy syndrome? fishing and the gear that goes with it is so vast that everyone is gonna bump heads often, and often very stupid things are said on forums.. or someone refuses to accept an answer and keeps asking over and over and over, the author of the post is ultimately responsible for this ones gruffness, the question was asked and then it wasn't even the real information they were searching for and all in all the real answer for finding a reel that dumps the bail smoothly was to get off the old porn machine and go to a store and turn the handles on 20 reels.. simple.. so the real damage the internet is causing here is laziness and the search for artifical expirence trying to find something that is very personal and finicky.. by asking a bunch of shade tree specialist... I think she got what she paid for here- Glad you decided to stay

 

[colbypearson]

"so your basicly calling it the internet telephone-tough guy syndrome? fishing and the gear that goes with it is so vast that everyone is gonna bump heads often, and often very stupid things are said on forums.. or someone refuses to accept an answer and keeps asking over and over and over, the author of the post is ultimately responsible for this ones gruffness, the question was asked and then it wasn't even the real information they were searching for and all in all the real answer for finding a reel that dumps the bail smoothly was to get off the old porn machine and go to a store and turn the handles on 20 reels.. simple.. so the real damage the internet is causing here is laziness and the search for artifical expirence trying to find something that is very personal and finicky.. by asking a bunch of shade tree specialist... I think she got what she paid for here- Glad you decided to stay"

first order of business, HALLELUJAH^

second order of business



OK, i edited my posts so for "goodness" sakes lets get on with it if you still want to run around the thread like a bunch of "not so smart people" be my guest its so immature that people are still "making a big deal" over two " stinking " words, i honestly can't believe this..... if you had read what has been said in the last few ponds then " shush up please" lets get back on topic...........

the words ignorant and uneducated cuased this whole thing, i feel like im in the first grade people if your gonna go on for pages about those two words you must have grown up in one sheltered world your all way to sensistive i misworded it and the tone couldnt be sensed through the computer...

i can think of a lot of words a whole heck of a lot worse than that....


out of all this i have concluded

BEARINGS=DRAMA

now please for the love of "gosh" can we please get on topic or *forever hold our peace* i apologized and i made sure this post was "worded" in a way we can all understand and not take offense to........

 

[halibuthitman]

the topic has been answered to the point of being beat to death.... arguing is all thats left dad, and btw.. I agreed with the origanal wording-

 

[colbypearson]

the topic has been answered to the point of being beat to death.... arguing is all thats left dad, and btw.. I agreed with the origanal wording-

im glad somebody did its the 20th century people... to everyone else i got two words for you "GROW UP"

 

[troutdude]

oops....read into that completely the wrong way. Yikes........!!!!!!!!! I am sooo sorry.

One more comment due to my embarassment. A soap box moment.

I fear that society is becoming erovocably cinical due to internet blogs and posts on any number of websites. In person most people wouldn't ever speak to another human being this way. It's sad really, that a person would have to re-read a post so they could find the under-riding, unapologetic negativism behind the words. Every comment on Yahoo and Consumer reports simply degrades the one before it. The corruption occurs when it reaches posts like this. Yes, I read into the comment above and saw something as a personal attack (I apologize and I don't exactly know what I saw, even after re-reading it). But it does outline a problem: Why did I have to look for a negative slant? Read any post above, from pages one through four and you'll see nothing but personal attacks and negative attitudes. I believe this forum was created to gain knowledge, assist the unassisted, pass on information and above all celebrate the outdoors. Please keep it that way.

Again my apologies,

Jeff

Thanks for the clarification Jeff. I too, have noticed a lot of negavitiy lately. It's really sad, that this has happened. I hope that it gets back to it's root valued too (sharing knowledge, helping one another, etc).

<sorry for the hijack>

 

[troutdude]

I hope that I didn't say something that was mis-understood. I thought CFishrun's post was fantastic and a real labor of kindness to me, and thought I made that clear. I even printed it out to use as a "go by" when I go to do my hands on checking in the next few days. So if I need to clarify, I really appreciated his comments because they were thorough yet concise, objective yet fused with his own practical experience.

Maybe there are things I dont fully get yet here since I am not accustomed to this type of public chat. Thanks all again, Marie

Not you Marie, rather a comment that Jeff made (see post above). Thanks.

 

[Raincatcher]

Awwww...group hug.....c'mon everybody..... :lol:

 

[colbypearson]

Awwww...group hug.....c'mon everybody..... :lol:

im headed on out to arizona in 48 minutes :yay: :tongue: :yay:

i really dont want to have to check back into this thread again, be back in a week

 

[GraphiteZen]

What are you doing in AZ?

 

[Hawk]

Thar be biggun Bass & crappie in Alamo Lake,AZ. Big Striped Bass in Lake Havasu & the CO River.
:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Growbug]

I am not gonna comment at all on the back and forth over what amounts to nothing.

I will focus on the original questions.

MAIN POINT - WHAT IS A BEARING??
[Mechanical] A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement
What that jargon means is that there are little parts of machinery in your reel that stop the main spool assembly from rubbing on the main body of the reel. These are small balls in a little race track that the two surfaces (reel body and spool) move on top of. The balls roll inside the track and provide a big drop in friction and wear.

So.. what is the difference in number and type.
Would you prefer something that has these bearings made from wood or stainless steel? Obviously 3 steel bearings would be better than 20 wooden ones.
Yes it comes down to the quality of the small parts.

Flippin da Bail

My preference is to NEVER close the bail by turning the handle unless i absolutely have to. I have a habit of closing it with my winding hand by palming the bail back 'shut'.
The act of closing the bail by rotating the handle causes a lot of internal parts to snag each other, this is how its designed. Closing the bail manually will extend the life of your reel.


-----------------------
edit
before anyone says anything... no, I do not currently know of any manufacturers who use wooden bearings. I was just making reference point.

 

[Throbbit _Shane]

Thar be biggun Bass & crappie in Alamo Lake,AZ. Big Striped Bass in Lake Havasu & the CO River.b
:lol::lol::lol:

Colby is going to be fishing Havasu during his winter vacation. Lucky guy!