finally, a shimano BC ...

took a very long time before finally springing for a second hand boxed set
with my friend's help ... took me a few instalments to finally lay me hands on it
weighs/feels about the same as my ABU Inshore .. so the weight doesn't bother me

 behind that spool, the words 'free spool' are etched or stickered onto part of the foot 


i was looking for line to spool it with and dropped by Red Hot on a whim
Sam of Red Hot suggested i try DUEL Hardcore line supposedly designed for multipliers/BCs
can't find this particular line in their product line up though
1 spool is just enough to fill the antares V.2's spool almost to the brim 

 

i'm glad i tried it ... had no idea bout the reel's character 
smooth and fast start up when brakes are totally off
overruns occurred repeatedly until i opted for 3-on, 3-off on the reel's SVS
even so, i consistently achieved similar distances as with a 1-on ABU inshore or 2-on orra inshore using the same lures 
seems to throw lighter lures easier than the ABUs 
... then again, some have learnt to use the ABU Inshore for light luring 
that level ... is way beyond me
despite the antares V.2's saltwater usage, its gear ratio is ill suited for deep divers
great for topwater, shallow cranks, soft plastics and the occasional light (for me, it's <10g, >5g) lure with a suitable rod, of course 
other shimano BCs? 
considering the caenan, old curado, old chronarch, pre-2014 calcutta 100XT, 50XT, pre-2014 conquest 50/100
and a nicely priced used Tatula ... on geng niaga pancing


the zerek amazoniac arachne is a tempting rod with blue accents and an in-between 4-15lb rating instead of the run of the mill ratings 
at less than rm250 it sure is tempting and sure enough, when i returned a week later, it was gone

guess i'm a sucker for blue accents, spiders, exposed carbon weave and xzoga-like python-wrapped blanks ;)