Super Tune Your Baitcasting Reels? 2024
bigbill reply :
Does anyone here super tune your baitcasting reels like change out the standard bearings for better quality bearings? Then polish this or that for better casting performance?
iabass8 reply :
site sponsor DVT does it. otherwise there are countless indepth articles via google that can give you a specific step by step on how to do it. I do change out some reels bearings and polish certain reels I use. not all reels need it but it never hurts.
bigbill reply :
I just ordered the ceramic bearings.
jtesch reply :
I change the bearings to Boca orange seals on all my reels. Some it really helps, some not so much
JeziHogg reply :
I haven't really noticed any difference on any of my GEN 3 Abu Revos
Long Mike reply :
As a hobby. Ghoti has become a master at super-tuning reels. Be sure to read the articles he has published in our "Articles" section of this site.
rippin-lips reply :
The 2 that I've swapped the bearings out on didn't get hardly any increase from it but I did see a little. Biggest gain was casting effort. I got more distance out of changing the spools but it wasn't cheap.
bigbill reply :
As an old gear head engine builder and drag car builder I'm interested in hopping up my bait caster.
JD96 reply :
Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.
Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.
Jrob78 reply :
On 9/28/2013 at 12:26 PM, JD96 said:Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.
Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.
Absolutely not true.
War Eagle 44 reply :
On 9/28/2013 at 12:26 PM, JD96 said:Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more.
Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain.
I disagree 100%. I've started to do a little "tuning" on some of my baitcast reels and I can tell a difference over the stock bearings while still using the spool brake. On 90% of my reels (Shimano's) I only use one brake block, I'm able to cast a noticeably farther distance using the one brake block and Boca Lightning 5's as opposed to one brake and the cleaned stock bearings. Nothing outrageous or anything, maybe ten to fifteen more yards if I'm really trying for max distance.
The biggest difference I can tell is in the effort it takes to make a "normal" length cast. Using upgraded bearings I'd say it's probably 25% easier to make "real world" casts. I know there are times when max distance is needed but I'm simply referring to majority of the time when max distance isn't the main goal.
I've just in the last two weeks started to polish some parts. I've done the spool shaft ends on a couple of reels, and the copper pressure plate that's under the cast control cap on my old Chronarch 101A. I actually think it really helped the 101A. Next time I take it down for maintenance I'm going to polish the inside of the pinion gear as well as the spool shaft. That's about all there is left to do to that reel from a performance upgrade standpoint as I've already installed a Carbontex drag, Orange Seal bearings, and ceramic line guide pawl.
All in all it's really fun tinkering with your reels, you should try it.
.RM. reply :
Super tuning a baitcaster will do nothing unless you can absolutely free spool your reel. If you use brakes whether magnetic or centrifugal all it will do is make you turn your brakes up more. Sounds better, might feel smoother, but no distance gain........ 
Are you kidding? 
Been super tunning since the very first article came out in the 90's,
thousands of super tunned reels under my belt and no complaints just smiles... 
JD96 reply :
People are so sensitive. Do y'all not see what I'm trying to say? The supertune will only make your reel faster and easier to backlash if you don't already free spool your reel. Yes it makes it potentially longer with no brakes but how could it
Make a reel longer without just reducing friction and needing to up your brakes to get the same control as before.
dodgeguy reply :
with centrifugal brakes the spool will spin longer as the brakes back off during the cast.
aavery2 reply :
On 9/28/2013 at 9:14 PM, JD96 said:People are so sensitive. Do y'all not see what I'm trying to say? The supertune will only make your reel faster and easier to backlash if you don't already free spool your reel. Yes it makes it potentially longer with no brakes but how could it
Make a reel longer without just reducing friction and needing to up your brakes to get the same control as before.
I understand what you are trying to say and understand your reasoning. But using that same logic would it not also be fair to say, "don't worry about cleaning those bearings, just back your brakes off a little more". There are many benefits to super tuning a reel, have one done by someone that really knows their business and see what you think.
bigbill reply :
Ok what's being said I understand. If we make the spool turn more free we then turn up the brakes to stop the over run. That the spool turning faster then the lure is going. Which turns into a bird's nest.
My question is why not back off on the brakes and apply our educated thumb sooner to control the over run so the birdsnest doesn't happen. I guess I need to re-educate my thumb brake.
But if I can make longer casts in the process then it's worth it.
Right now I think there is a fine line of adjustment between the friction knob and the magnetic brakes. I think there is a sweet spot that we can achieve. But once we fine tune it to that weight of the lure its set for that weight.
I'm just thinking out loud here. Looking for suggestions or corrections. Thank you. Bigbill
dodgeguy reply :
or you can buy a abu mgx and cast freespool or close to it all day long.mine casts further than any reel I ever owned.only need to turn on brakes with light lures or lures like spinnerbaits that have wind resistance.or you could go 1 step higher and get an mgxextreme. I wish I could afford one.
Mr_Scrogg reply :
Supertuning reels arent always to increase casting distances. So the whole "Its worthless, you turn the brakes up to regain control" bit is invalid.
You can also get better casting ability with lighter lures. More distance pitching, and a overall better feel.
But supertuning shouldnt stop at bearings. Drag upgrades are equally important.
rippin-lips reply :
Scrogg nailed it. I can cast a weightless wacky worm with my upgraded steez a good ways.
John G reply :
Jun Sonada with Japan Tackle talks about tuning your reel with a different spool on his website.
http://www.japantackle.com/Tuning_parts/Spool_tuneup.htm
BassCats reply :
On 9/29/2013 at 12:43 AM, dodgeguy said:or you can buy a abu mgx and cast freespool or close to it all day long.mine casts further than any reel I ever owned.only need to turn on brakes with light lures or lures like spinnerbaits that have wind resistance.or you could go 1 step higher and get an mgxextreme. I wish I could afford one.
Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?
Capt.Bob reply :
I have said it before, if you are not extremely efficient with a baitcaster a super tuned reel will likely cause you more problems, if you are efficient with your reel, and want more distance it will do that. But the most benefit you will gain from a properly supertuned reel is smoother cranking and drag, with less effort and more accurate cast and good distance, longer cast to those who have a well trained thumb is secondary.
John G reply :
I personally would like to be in the presence of someone who is a reel xpert, pun intended lol, when they cast just say.....a half ounce jig or a Texas Rig with no brakes on their Shimano. I would like to know how they do it without an immediate backlash. Depended on what Shimano I am using and the weight of the lure, I usually have either 2 brakes on or 3 brakes on. Casting unweighted Super Flukes with a Loomis MBR783C and a Shimano Conquest 100, I have 3 brakes on. If I change to a heavier T-Rig, I can drop down to 2 brakes. A 3/4oz frog with a Shimano Citica 200E on a Loomis MBR844, it's 2 brakes on. I have tried casting with no brakes and I have to apply a ton of pressure with my thumb that it totally negates the no brake setting and I end up with no extra distance at all. That said, I am not unhappy at all with my casting. I feel that I get plenty of distance for what I do and If I do any kind of improvements to my reels like my Citicas or regular Calcuttas, it will be ball bearing handles and knobs for smoothness and upgraded spool bearings for saltwater use and upgraded drags.
JD96 reply :
Who wants to supertune a Curado 200E7?
I am tricking the work horse out, putting it to "retirement" on a flipping stick. Hawgtech handle coming soon I believe.
Might at well supertune it since it'll be used for 99% pitching. All I want is a monster strong drag and a smooth retrieve.
Jrob78 reply :
On 9/29/2013 at 1:08 PM, John G said:I personally would like to be in the presence of someone who is a reel xpert, pun intended lol, when they cast just say.....a half ounce jig or a Texas Rig with no brakes on their Shimano. I would like to know how they do it without an immediate backlash. Depended on what Shimano I am using and the weight of the lure, I usually have either 2 brakes on or 3 brakes on. Casting unweighted Super Flukes with a Loomis MBR783C and a Shimano Conquest 100, I have 3 brakes on. If I change to a heavier T-Rig, I can drop down to 2 brakes. A 3/4oz frog with a Shimano Citica 200E on a Loomis MBR844, it's 2 brakes on. I have tried casting with no brakes and I have to apply a ton of pressure with my thumb that it totally negates the no brake setting and I end up with no extra distance at all. That said, I am not unhappy at all with my casting. I feel that I get plenty of distance for what I do and If I do any kind of improvements to my reels like my Citicas or regular Calcuttas, it will be ball bearing handles and knobs for smoothness and upgraded spool bearings for saltwater use and upgraded drags.
I'm right there with you. I've been using baitcasters almost exclusively since I was about 12 years old. There is no way in the world I would attempt a cast with no brakes and the cast control set loose. I hear people on the internet claiming this all the time, I flat out don't believe them. If someone could cast one of my reels with no brakes and light cast control, I would eat my words, I don't see it happening though.
John G reply :
On 9/29/2013 at 1:20 PM, Jrob78 said:I'm right there with you. I've been using baitcasters almost exclusively since I was about 12 years old. There is no way in the world I would attempt a cast with no brakes and the cast control set loose. I hear people on the internet claiming this all the time, I flat out don't believe them. If someone could cast one of my reels with no brakes and light cast control, I would eat my words, I don't see it happening though.
The brakes are there for a reason so you might as well use them. Using no brakes at all, it ain't pretty! LOL Instant birds next unless extreme thumb pressure is applied. I do keep my cast control knob just tight enough so there is no side to side spool movement.
Raul reply :
I can cast with no brakes and no spool tension without backlashing, don´t go around doing it all the time though because the conditions in which I can do so are extremely rare. Modern day reels are fine machines as they come out of the box and hardly need upgrades but if you want to, changing the spool supporting bearings and changing the drag pads are what you would want to increase performance.
Dodgeguy pointed out one of my thoughts, heck, come to my everyday lake and you will son find out that you don´t need no mile long casts and there ain´t no point in doing them, the only thing you´ll get is better quality hang ups ! but more freely rotating spool supporting bearings will help you to cast/flip/pitch better to the brush and timber. A smoother and more powerful drag will allow you to fight and avoid fish from burying into the bush/timber.
dodgeguy reply :
On 9/29/2013 at 10:34 AM, BassCats said:Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?
my patriarch is smoother but the mgx will definately outcast it.i like the mgx better because it casts better and is lighter but it is 150 bucks more.the patriarch is still a great reel for the money.
dodgeguy reply :
On 9/30/2013 at 3:01 AM, Raul said:I can cast with no brakes and no spool tension without backlashing, don´t go around doing it all the time though because the conditions in which I can do so are extremely rare. Modern day reels are fine machines as they come out of the box and hardly need upgrades but if you want to, changing the spool supporting bearings and changing the drag pads are what you would want to increase performance.
Dodgeguy pointed out one of my thoughts, heck, come to my everyday lake and you will son find out that you don´t need no mile long casts and there ain´t no point in doing them, the only thing you´ll get is better quality hang ups ! but more freely rotating spool supporting bearings will help you to cast/flip/pitch better to the brush and timber. A smoother and more powerful drag will allow you to fight and avoid fish from burying into the bush/timber.
i agree most of the time you don't need really long casts.it's more important with crankbaits than most other lures.
bigbill reply :
Ok I should get better using baitcasting reels before I make any performance changes. I ordered the cermanic bearings and the better discs for the drag. I'll be practicing bait casting up until the ice is on.
Bass Junkie reply :
C'mon guys, lighten up.... It's not even winter yet, get out and fish! We'll all be arguing about tackle for several months during that terrible situation called winter, let's just enjoy WHATEVER tackle we throw right nowOn 9/29/2013 at 10:34 AM, BassCats said:Better than your pfluegers you have harped on for sooo many years?
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On a cost/benefit basis I recommend the following:
1. Deep cleaning/bearing flush and proper lube
2. Carbontex drag upgrade
3. Super Tuning (applies only to reels with solid spool shaft)
4. Bearing upgrade
5. Spool change if casting unusually light baits
6. Handles etc.
There are a lot of variables that affect casting distance. If rod length, power, action, guide train, line used and conditions are all optimal, a bait of certain mass and aerodynamics will only fly so far regardless of spool speed. This why the biggest advantage of a well tuned and performing reel is ease of casting and the resulting accuracy. Distance is secondary in almost every circumstance except crank-baits.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've had most of my baitcasters supertuned (polished bearings mainly). Like others have said some reels it helps a lot, some not so much. The old Curado B is a long distance casting freak when it's supertuned and smoother than when they were brand new. I have noticed that several of them are a little noisier on the retrieve so if that would bother you then you might want to reconsider. A proper cleaning and greasing will help performance a lot also.
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