Shimano inventory

[locolocal]

Can anyone tell me which retailers in the TC have the best inventory of Shimano rods still available? I'm looking for a couple of specific spinning rods, and have been struggling to find them.

Looking for the CSS-66MH.

Might have to go to Owatonna.

[Deitz Dittrich]

That should be a pretty popular rod, but to save yourself some time I would start onthe phone... Call all the regulars.. Gander, Capra's...and Cabelas.... Good luck finding it. Also, Shimano is comming out with a new rod at the end of this year. Very nice!.. Its an IM9 rod blank, and will be called the Crucial.

[locolocal]

Thanks Exude - ended up making the drive to Cabela's.

The Crucial sounds interesting...is it going to be a replacement for the Compre?

[Deitz Dittrich]

NO, The compre will still be available. So will the clarus. The Crucial will somewhat replace the Shimano V-Rod which they stopped making last year. The Crucial will be in the $130-$140 price range...

Did cabela's have the compre rod and exchange it for you over the counter?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Local-

I'm guessing that the one that you got 50% off was the 2003 Compre...Which was still an awesome rod.. They did make some changes to the 2004 line of Compre, slightly more sensitive blank.. Fugi Concept spacing on the guides, and a higher grade cork. There were no changes that I was aware of for the 2005 Compre rod series.. I myself have about a dozen Compre rods.. very nice rods.. I am really excited about getting my hands on the new Crucial...

[locolocal]

No, I went down to purchase two new Clarus', not to exchange.

I picked up a MH 6'6" Compre jig stick earlier this year and really like it. Light weight, good feel and solid backbone. Can't beat 'em for the money. I bought it from a local retailer at 50% off, so I thought they were maybe discontinued.

[locolocal]

Exude-
I don't know if this is within your realm of expertise, but do you have any of the Sahara's spooled up? I've noticed a bizarre (like muffled unlubed gear teeth) noise coming from the reel when I quickly retrieve my bait.

Is that the liquid drive factor?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Its possible that your reels just needs to be cleaned... I only have one sahara, and have not noticed that noise that you are talking about. But then again, I dont retrieve that reel very fast either... I'll try it when I get home and see if I notice it...

[locolocal]

Hmmm, I just bought it this past off-season, so I doubt it needs a cleaning. Must just be the sound it makes.

[Deitz Dittrich]

It is still possible.. they use a heavy greese in packing called cosmoline(speeling probably way wrong).
If it colleted dust in the gears, its possible it could still need cleaning...

Like I said, just a thought... Or like you said.. it could just be the noise that the fluiddrive II makes...