LB

Good luck, it's a great pass time l have been doing it on and off for 50 yrs you will get a lot of help here on SOL, where in NJ are you? Testing homemade plug fish gives it a lt's a great hobby and rewarding.

Sand will do that with any reel. fine sand would just wash out. That's why l like MPU bail problems gone my VR150 & 175 have no bail. Take the reel in the house and wash the reel under running water and work the bail, and look to see if the bail arm is cocked [riding more on one side], bail wire could be not set right that could be part of your problem when you get sand there.

That would make a great gift, and work well with 8'6" rod.

l was going to post almost the same picture.

This was one of the great games, spent many hours playing this game when l was younger in the 50s. along with Lionel trains.

My wife picked this up at a yard sale, to add to my stuff. I know what it's for what are your thoughts on this?

You might want to look at the new SaltX2 line of reels, SS gears like the VR-VS reels there sealed. they won't brake the bank, l don't about the reel foot size.

l see two knives, today they would be calling in a swat team.

Crystal clear great shots

Easy fix, just keep wetting the bags they will get hard as a rock.

Check all your bearings.

You left out the VR, there are four spinnig reels that that he made, the VR is almost a clone to the Zbass at half the price, gears are almost identical to to the ZB ease of maintenance just like the ZB no other special tools need other than the wrench that is included when you buy the reel, it's a good starter reel and it could be keep for a live time if maintained l know mine is not going anywhere, if you feel you want to go up the lader you could recoup 2/3 of what you payed for the VR if keeped in good shape and move on to a ZB or just keep the VR as a back up. The VR reel if money is a problem, you have the looks ease of maintenance functionality and waterproof.

VR is a fully sealed reel and it can take a beating l have two VR175 & VR150, VR150 is my go to reel most of the time, and sits good on my 9 & 10ft and also on my 11 surf rod, there is only one seal that is different in the VR as opposed to the VS and that is the spool shaft seal VR uses a cup lip seal, the VS quad seal either will do it's job and either one could fail. For a Zbass you have to go deep into your wallet it's a great reel US made, VS is just behind it price wise. As for self service it's on par with Zbass, with VS some special tooling is needed to get to the man seal to remove the pinion, with the VR the wrench is in the reel box should you buy the reel and want to service it yourself. If you can change a tire and change your oil you should be able to service the VR reel, gears are on par with the VS, main and pinion are both Stainless Steel and just as beefy as VS and parts are available, l own both VS and VR reels and self service both. My VR is going l think 5 years without any problems my VS100 is 26 years old, VS150 is 8 years old.

SO FAR I HAVE WATCHED OVER TWO HOURS OF VIDEOS AND I DON'T SHOOT BLACK POWER, BUT I DO LIKE OLD RIFLES AND SOME OF THESE RIFLES CAN SHOOT. THERE IS NO B/S JUST FACTS. https://www.youtube.com/@capandball/videos