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I note that several threads discuss bearing performance. This post is not to disagree with anyone but just to give my experience, for what its worth.
I was one of the early proponents of ABEC 7 and Rocket Fuel. The bearings would perform extremely well after an upgrade. I found that the rocket fuel had to be replenished during a long day of casting or the bearings would start chattering. Also, the reel became so fast that I found myself slowing it down with the brakes so that I could make casts both upwind and downwind reacting to movement or sounds on the water without backlashing. After much experimenting and thousands of casts, I came to the conclusion that bearings in the ABEC 5 or so quality and the oil that comes in the box from Shimano gave the best long term performance. Some brakes were needed but long casts could be made downwind and shorter but non-backlash casts could also be made upwind. It should be mentioned that the rod being used has a big impact on your casting effeciency for the same lure weight, as does the loading procedure you use(overhand/sidearm etc). Normal downwind casts regularly unspool half the volume of line on the spool. Beyond that you tend to lose touch with your lure(using mono), expecially on topwaters.
In summary, I have quit using RF. I use either ABEC 5/7 depending on costs. I beg Shimano for some oil every year and so far they have been very cooperative. I can't even imagine a reel that could possibly perform better than the Shimano baitcasters.
I was one of the early proponents of ABEC 7 and Rocket Fuel. The bearings would perform extremely well after an upgrade. I found that the rocket fuel had to be replenished during a long day of casting or the bearings would start chattering. Also, the reel became so fast that I found myself slowing it down with the brakes so that I could make casts both upwind and downwind reacting to movement or sounds on the water without backlashing. After much experimenting and thousands of casts, I came to the conclusion that bearings in the ABEC 5 or so quality and the oil that comes in the box from Shimano gave the best long term performance. Some brakes were needed but long casts could be made downwind and shorter but non-backlash casts could also be made upwind. It should be mentioned that the rod being used has a big impact on your casting effeciency for the same lure weight, as does the loading procedure you use(overhand/sidearm etc). Normal downwind casts regularly unspool half the volume of line on the spool. Beyond that you tend to lose touch with your lure(using mono), expecially on topwaters.
In summary, I have quit using RF. I use either ABEC 5/7 depending on costs. I beg Shimano for some oil every year and so far they have been very cooperative. I can't even imagine a reel that could possibly perform better than the Shimano baitcasters.