Alvey reels

bear - never heard of them as i mostly use zebco 33 reels and have been very happy with them.

what other information do you have?

Picture is worth a thousand words.  Some interesting (different video).

http://www.alveyusa.com

I understand.  Using your thumb to trigger the line is different.

I have a lot of nerve damage in my hands and arms.  I was sort of thinking that it might let me transfer the casting load more evenly than conventional gear.  that rod is also very different, with the reel close to your body and a very forward front grip???

I presently cast a lot of spinning gear two handed, using my weak hand on the but to add last minute power.

Most of the beaches that I fish have that same "trough" where the fish seem to go on incoming tides.  Ocean fish seem more aggressive than freshwater, and it can be hard to sense the bit and set the hooks.  I plan on using circle hooks, they actually set themselves in the corner of the mouth.

Not sure about the bait.  Figure I'll take a bait store recommendation...but I do like digging my own sand fleas off the beach.  Give me something to do.

What test line are you using?  I'd figured on 14-15# with a long 20# floro leader?

BEAR

Sounds good.  thsoe are the models I was looking at.

On those swivels notes, I understand.  When I was a fishing equipment fanatic, I use to put the swivel in the drill press and sumerge in oil while leting it seat in.  Lot of time but never had a brass one that was "seated fail.  I have used the stanless ball bearing and had them fail, the shank pulled out.

Maybe the problem is quality control.  Testing them with a weight of a hammer might get the weak sisters out of our tackle boxes.

BEAR

Well Id think that a red brick witha a 3 foot piece of heavy wire, would approximate anything a fish would do.  Might want to try it 5-6 times rotating the swivel thru 360 degrees looking for the weak point?

On my heavy salt water (sharks/trolling) I use those pigtail snaps with beaded swivels.  Fast connection of heavy lines with my old hands.

BEAR

I love skate, delicious.  Caught some 3 weeks ago.

I clean and cook, wife loves them, but I never show them live/whole to her.

I figure my rig will be for blues mostly some snapper, maybe a redfish (aka Drum).

BEAR

Through the generosity of a forum member I now have a 65 alvey and just received a matching rod from Alvey.  Haven't had the time to cast it, but it looks impressive, can't wait.  Turkey season is in full session now.

WOW, there 1900 Yards of 15# test.  that is 1.1 miles of line????  I could only hope to have a fish run that much line off on me.  I pray for the day.

BEAR

I've fished 1000 foot deep off the humps in the keys,  so depth might mean more line for Peter's type fishing.

In all honesty, the most line I ever had a fish run was fishing the flats and got a 30# hog fish.  Couldn't stop him and he ran about 350 yards off my spinning reel.  I could see the bottom of the reel so I dug my feet into the sand and turned the drag to solid.  But that was just one time.  Bone fish will take a fast 100 yards but then you get control back, and every other run they make is smaller that that first sprint.

Fishing with 3# leader, I've had two trout this year take line, but that is rear thing to happen to me.

I remember in the '50s when I discovered Field and Stream, they always cautioned to have extra backing for when the big one is on and runs while the reel screams.  MY eyes got big at the excitement of that prospect.  I still follow that advise and use lots of backing; but really haven't seen the need for it in my fishing 'experiences'.  Can bluegills run the line off.

BEAR