Thread: Time To Upgrade

Got some on the water time with the new 23 Vanquish 3000C and 2000S today.

Initial thoughts form use:
These reels are artwork in form and function. I am quite pleased thus far. Super smooth, effortless to reel (unless it’s really cold, more on that later) drag is great with no surging or stutters and a great sound to boot. The slow oscillation feature is brilliant for those of us who use fine JDM braid, this feature allows a nearly perfect line layout on the spool that really cuts down on the “digging” in that braid can do to itself when fighting a fish or getting snagged etc. The improved line layout really does improve casting distance too, got to think on the “why” of this. I have thrown 1.5 gram jig heads and micro soft plastics a lot in the last 4-5 years on the 610 Luna with this exact braid I have on now with the 2015 and 202 Luvias models and never have I cast as far as I did today, so that’s something unexpected I am happy about. The real test will be next time out and I have a 1gram jig head on the 6’7” Eradicator, it already has impressive casting distance, hoping to see a nice improvement there too.

Rod Pairings:
Between my Dad and I there are 12 rods available for me to saddle this new 2000 Vanquish on to that it is or might be appropriate for. to save a boring read, Ill say that all but the rods at each extreme end of size/weight in that dozen this reel felt perfectly matched to. The 510 Eradicator on the low end I believe REALLY REALLy wants a 1000 size, and the 755, while it fished fine today with the 2000, the 3000C just felt better on it. The 822 Lunakia was great with the 3K size but it REALLY REALLY wants a 4000 on it as light as these buggers are. The sweet spot for the 2000 was the 63 Majorcraft Finetail Banshee UL of my dad’s up to the 610 Lunakia and FInezza Prototype, with the 6’7” Eradicator being smack in the middle and quite well balanced.

I did not think I would care for the knob on the handle of the 2K, its long and very slender, almost cylindrical, but after fishing it today I wish all my small spinning reels had this type knob on them, its great. The t-type knob on the 3K is going bye-bye as soon as Hedgehog has the Shimano aftermarket knob I want back in stock.

Today’s trip was below the dam at KY lake and then on to a small local county park. No fish below the dam but did get a good test of the 3K on my 822 and 755 Lunakia as far as functionality goes. Down at the pond I did get into some fish however. Several stocker trout, a few bluegill, 2 little baby ditch pickles and a decent for that pond RedEar that fought like it was May. All great fun on the 610 Lunakia and the new 23 Vanquish 2000S.