To Mag or not TO Mag, and If you do where do you go? :)

[kmw21230]

My first reel was the slosh 20... very nice reel.. Purchased a 525mag a week ago, and let's just say I'm a new fan of Magged reels.. So I starting doing some research on possibly my next reel... I was soon scratching my head wondering how in the heck does a rookie decide.. What I'm referring to is the conversion kits.. I can buy a reel ( 30 slv) from Digital Dagger, and purchase a kit, or Hatteras Jacks or even Hatterasoutfitters.. They all sale aftermarket converted reels\kits.. Are all conversions created equal? Help me understand please. :)

[Digger]

Well you will find this answer kinda normal for me. Because this is a depends kinda question. JAM has a situation that truly calls for the Mag type of break. My answer is learn the reel and learn how to tune it, Learn the oil's route a well as line level balancing and all the little stuff(break blocks) that affects the reel.
Believe me you are not done learning on that 525MAG, she has a few surprises down the road for you once those bearing begin to break in. I own one of the most unmanageable 525MAG's out there(thanks Salty) I have learned alot because of it. I have the HO upgrade and it is still to fast, I handed it to a very experienced caster and he said it is to fast after I installed the Ho upgrade. I told Tres(owner of HO) the problem and who said it was to fast (his eye's looked like sunnyside up fried eggs). He told me to try these oils(they don't drip) but that did what I needed and then some, now I need find a bottle that I can mix the lighter oil with and thin it out a little bit(hey a custom oil for my reel, oh by the way the oil I'm thinning is almost a custom oil since it is only available at one shop). I don't want to scare you. But try and learn the basics.
Oh a side note if you are looking for a heaver combo to fish AI. The Cape Point or OM Heavy would do fine(same blank different dressing) with the 525MAG. Would be a good choice. Learn to use it. Then if you want more look into the custom world. I own two custom's; One made by Carl Overman back in the 1970's(125yards with a Jigmaster w/aluminuim spool and a 8oz and a 4oz tied together with 6-7 inches of line in between) and a Breakaway 1418/2 the 11'9"(what a fishing rod, Not a heaver but a very enjoyable rod to fish everywhere with) built by Bill White. These 2 rods are my favorite pieces of fishing tackle. The 1418 is where the 525MAG is mounted. Good luck. Oh I believe you can find a good builder with what has been posted. I.E.Buy a used Clye rod vs new ? mark I would take the used. Enouf said. if you want a OM give Randy a call.
The real question is what is the application? That is what is the builder or designer trying to do with their design? That is a loaded question. The best answer I have is undersatnd the market they are trying for and work from there. Again good luck.

[zeke33]

There are a lot of very good reels out there. I don't own a magreel. I'm sort of partial to Penn reels although I do own others. I'm in favor of KISS.

[rattler]

i have slosh 30s...mags help in the wind...have them both ways(magged and not)...also have a 525mag...just my preference

[Seapuppy]

I use Penn 545's for fishin' for drum on the shoals.They hold almost 400yds. 25# mono,plenty of line for a big fish & if you have to back up a good ways you still have lots of line still on the reel..Last sat. I had a dude try to cast it & he birdnested it bigtime every cast,but could cast his 525 without any trouble.Are the 525 reels just more "user friendly" or does it take time to learn how to throw a 545? The 545 has cyntriphical brakes & can be fine tuned by the tension knob.What type of brakes does a 525 have other than mags?
they must be 2 totally different animals...
Pup

[Digger]

I throw a 555GS and the brakes are fine in it. Now if you are throwning with the reel being wet the brakes will not work and it make a huge difference if the spool is balanced or not. I also have the525MAG which throws just fine. Now there are tuning options with any reel that can make them lean in one direction or the other. Buying a mag kit is a expensive option that may be better achived or not by other methods.