The Seagulls Here Are Getting Out of Control...

Here's to a great weekend!

Problems with the Daiwa Emcast Sport

A cautionary tale... and a possible fix.

I'm not usually one to complain about gear. I understand that everything has limitations , and I understand that anything put through the abuse of surf fishing will eventually succumb to salt and sand. That's a part of the game , and one I've grown to begrudgingly accept. Maybe this post will serve as a fix for anyone who has waited too long for warranty repairs , but didn't address the problem fully when they should have. Certainly , if you have a problem with your Daiwa Emcast Sport , send it in ASAP , rather than putting it back together and hoping for the best. I dropped the ball on this one folks , and now I have a rather expensive paperweight.

I've had this reel since they first came out , and I liked it at first , but now that the honeymoon is over (read: limited one year warranty from the date of purchase) , I must say it's been a big disappointment when compared to Daiwa's other reels. I think some of the problem may be due to the fact that this is a very large reel. Daiwa really tried to make it affordable , and it was at $69.99 , but as is often the case , quality suffered or at least seemed to suffer to my untrained eye.

The first year I had it , I was on Hatteras Island and at Virginia Beach fishing for drum , catching huge skates and rays. I did the same thing a few months later in the surf on Assateague and Chincoteague. Big barn door skates are like hooking into a tank - just a long , steady pull , with no head shaking , no jumps , and very little in the way of speed , but they are powerful fish just the same. You're hard pressed during any fight to keep the fish from burying up in the sand and refusing to move. Putting the heat to the large flatfish causes extreme pressure on any reel - making the frame  flex and causing undue stress to gears , and additional wear on the drag washers. These reels probably weren't designed for this type of fishing.

What happened? During the last fight in the surf , a shim or spacer under the worm gear that makes the line wind levelly (is that even a word?) , popped out due to the frame flexing. You'll see it in the picture below , it's a rectangular piece with a horseshoe shaped notch in one end. That piece is supposed to go under the worm gear and act as a bushing or something , keeping the gear lined up. All I know is the reel goes all to crap when it comes out.

The Villain in our little story.

My Hero!

First I put the shim back where it goes.

Then I added a small , but long , machine screw and nut with a lock washer.

A better view.

Then I trimmed it.

Looking good , so far , right?

Nope. I've put the shim back in three times previously , and it has popped back out every time. I waited too long to add my fix , and now the gear itself is damaged. At first I thought it was just the small bolt I added interfering with the gear , but it's not. The shim stays in place now , but the level wind feature is shot. That brings me to a hard decision : do I try to track down a gear and waste more time trying to fix a reel that quite possibly has a bent frame , or do I just replace it? I'm leaning heavily towards the latter , since this is mainly a loaner rod

I don't blame Daiwa for this entirely , but I will say they should beef up the design on these reels or do away with the shim thing entirely. I'm sure it would have held up to smaller fish , but really I prefer my reels to be nearly indestructible.

**Disclaimer : This was a last ditch attempt to save a broken reel that was no longer under warranty. If you choose to modify your reel , you assume all responsibility for any damages that occur and any modification will almost certainly void your warranty , if it is still in effect. Daiwa will be your best bet for having your reel repaired.**

Have a great week!

Outwood Sports

Summer is fast approaching here in the Northern Hemisphere , and with Summer comes hoards of pleasure boaters. What's a fisherman to do? The answer for many of us is to retreat from lakes and streams during the day , and fish at night. Fortunately for us , times have changed and there is a ton of great gear out there to make nights on the water easier. Gone are the days of having a lantern on deck , blinding you and providing minimal light.

Outwood Sports carries a line of Petzl Head Torches that I just love! They are designed to provide you with the best in hands free lighting , making it easy to cast from boat or shore. Petzl Head Torches were originally made with climbers and spelunkers in mind , but I've found that they are invaluable on the water at night. Those of you with any familiarity at all with climbing gear will know that climbing is a demanding sport requiring the toughest , most dependable gear. That's what I look for in my fishing equipment , too.

I actually never thought I would get as much use out of a hands free light as I do , but in truth it makes things so much easier. Everything from tying knots , to baiting and casting is just easier when you don't have a small flashlight clamped in your teeth. That's why I'm happy to say that companies like Outwood Sports that strive to carry the most up to date gear at reasonable prices have been a boon to me as a fisherman.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a hands free light today!

Have a great weekend!