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Ken,s recent post about bale arm problems with spinning type reels, made me get out my two Mitchell 499 Surf casting reels.
These are just what he needs for offshore.

Has anyone ever seen this line recovery system before ?
It prevents the bale arm accidently closing, halfway through a mighty cast to the horizon, with a 6 oz lead weight.

I can see how not having a bail would be a sure fire solution to premature bail closing.

I'm thinking about ordering a new bail assembly for my reel (depending on what it costs) and removing the bail itself. I need to give up the accounting and go back to work in a machine shop.

It's called a manuel pick up conversion.
My Mitchell has one and I love it.

I don't have any bail problems with my reels.

Tin Can, I think you are on to something.

I don't recommend levelwind reels for everyone. But, after 30+ years of fishing with them, they work for me.

I just started using conventional reels about five years ago but the more I use them the more I dislike spinning reels.

Do you think you could throw a pinfish into the wind with a Calcutta 700?

They have their drawbacks. I always fish with the wind. However, I can throw a 1/2 oz. bait into the wind, if it's less than 10 kts. I'm thinking a Calcutta 700 might be a bit large for the flats.

I used a Calcutta 50 this past weekend. That's a sweet reel. But it's small. It's fine for trout, reds, and spanish. But Mr. Cobia would spool you in a hurry. The Cardiff 100's that I use do well. The Shimano rep says it's a Calcutta with a die cast frame and stamped side plate. I've been using mine for almost 3 years and they've been trouble free.

I think you need 25-30 pound line for those PC cobia. Got to be able to pull them out of all the rest of the boats.

Calcutta TE 700

The unique handle grip on the CTE700 was designed with two main goals in mind:
comfort and function. The grip is made with a soft rubber compound that does not become slippery when wet, allowing the angler to comfortably maintain his or her grip. The ergonomic contours of this handle not only allow the angler to grip the handle like a typical barrel grip for maximum torque, but also enables the user to utilize a two or three finger grip similar to one on a paddle grip to easily work top water plugs or rapidly gain line.


This one will do it!

If my bank would give me a decent interest rate on a five year note, the monthly payment wouldn't be too bad.

My son has one of these in a 500 series. Nice reel. You could probably do one of these on a 2 year note.

Cranfield, Had that manual pick up bail on both my Mitchell 302s back in the day when I was a "pier rat" at the Navarre pier All the regulars had that conversions and anybody that had the standard bail system was considered a tourist. But that was back in the late 70's and early 80's. I don't think I have seen one since then.