Looking to get one or the other for the upcoming salmon fishery @ Grays Harbor. Any thoughts from users as to drag durability and over all function, reliability? Yeah, I know the 1000 is no longer made but I've got my sources.... One other question do either of these reels come with a direct-drive option?.....c/22

I've got the Bantam 1000 Plus - it has a button for the direct drive option. This reel works great, but as you stated is no longer made (replaced with a reel with a line counter that has the direct drive option). The plus originally sold for about $100, now a mint reel on e-bay is $200.00.

chrome/22 I have both 50's and 1000's they both work great....never a problem and the direct drive
on the 1000 is neat with a big king at the net.

C/22, both reels have the same drags, just do you fish with primarily with double action reels? I do and have a hard time finding them AND/OR do a converion. You can convert the Bantam 50. You could even change out the bushing in them and have ball bearings and you'd be suprized on how well one can birdnest with the reel. John's up at Everret can do the conversion. Was doing a lot for a while, but all my friends have the conversion so don't know the prices of the parts. Also check with the availability,if I didn't buy him all out, he may have to order. :p

Robert

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"DO THE WILD THANG"

P.S. the best thing about converting a 50 is that you CAN keep the bait clicker feature and have the same features of a 1000.

Where is the direct-drive switch on the 1000 plus?

I've run the 50's for many years as both my WA salmon reels as well as for first-run kings on the Kasilof.

Overall, I've had very good luck with them. My only complaint would be the soldering of the reel foot to the cross-bars on the bottom of the reel: I've had these connections fail twice (this has been through several thousand angler days with the reels) and it makes life REALLY interesting trying to play a fish!!

We did get both fish though

Notice the foot still on the rod and the reel in the young fella's hand

Bob, that looks like it whould add a little excitement too the fight! A couple of questions: Is anyone running power-pro braided 20-30 lb. on these reels as a main line to a mono leader, Bob what do you run on your boat? And anyone else out thier thier ever lose a reel-seat or other parts in the heat of battle?....c/22

Well c/22, I haven't had any of my Bantams break off yet, (yes Bob got me looking at all my reels), but I use my reels to take up line and not a winch like a 4x4. The slider switch is located on the R/H front of the cover and is out of the way as not to accidently go into the off position into directdrive. New or used its been the best d@mn reel for the salts I've owned, next to the Penn 109's. Bought enough 1000's and parts to keep me happy till I die or when Chinooks are only seen in encyclopedias and history books....

Robert

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"DO THE WILD THANG"

chrome/22 I just got back from 13 days at Astoria.... did very well on kings from 10#-45# and were runnin 50# power pro on two and 30# fireline on two and 20# Izor line hi vis on two...
all work very well..... only had 2 fish saw off between the hooks usin 40# maxima ultra green leaders..... no main line brakes at all.

I'm running 25 lb. fibreglow on mine ... I've run 30 before and they held up as well as anything I've ever fished. I now run 40 lb. for our second-run fish and the Bantams don't have the capacity, so I fish ABU Big Game 7000 CL4's and love 'em ... but they'd be a little big for most of the king fishing I do ...