steelhead_stalkers said:
I would love to see you back reel a steelhead without drag!
I've caught some pretty big, fighting fish without using the drag. But, if you followed my "Clueless is Port Orford" thread, you'll know I haven't had as much as a nibble from one of those beauties. Yet.
Good advice and point taken! Last thing I want is to finish my 10,000-cast initiation and then blow my first steelhead because my ego is writing checks I don't know how to cash. I might have to rethink my "strategy" and turn on the anti-reverse...
colbypearson said:
I have had the President XT, and it was included in my "All my Pfluegers pooped out on me" statistic, maybe a bad egg.
I believe that a big problem with the Pflueger President XT's is that it's nearly impossible to open them up to clean and change the gear lube/grease. I like those reels, and I've abused them mercilessly without problems, but one of them's going to fail me at the worst possible time. I just feel it.
I don't dislike Shimano reels and have never had a mechanical problem with the Symetre or the Saros I use. The one gripe I have with Shimano is that they spend outrageous amounts on sponsorships and advertising, IMHO, and recover those costs with the MSRP on their reels.
Gander Mountain has some of the old Shimano Symetre FJ 4000 reels in stock for $79. These are the all-metal version. I have the 2500FJ and it's a workhorse.