OK, Boyz & Girlz....
I have fished manual pick-up for the last 38 years!!
(Yeah, I'm gettin' old)
One of the Rumer 401's that I fish with is 40+ years old..
..
I have caught more big Snook (30lb.+) and Cobia (65lb.+)
on these old manual pick-up reels. I have deep jigged and
sight casted with them as well.
The Van Staal might be a well constructed reel, but it
is full time anti-reverse, which is NO GOOD on a manual
pick-up reel... [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
You have to be able to back the handle up to be able to
pick the line off the roller then cast and pick-up with your
fore finger then reel in..
I also have old Penn 706's which are great for surf casting.
The RU's I have are mounted on custom built 8ft Sage Rods.
I will put them up against any Van Staal!!!!
Just my 2 cents worth..
See ya, Ken