Straight out of the box, this looks like an absolute work-horse of a reel. The Opera incorporates all of the features you would expect from a reel incorporating 'freespool' into its name. Aimed at the specimen angler more than anyone, this reel features an anti-reverse switch, 
located at the front, a freespool switch at the back, a line clip and a superb aluminium spool that has been designed to get your lead and bait to where you want it. The handle is wooden and the arm is able to fold down by simply pressing a button.
The main spool is aluminium and line is layed on exceptionally well. Another feature to this, is the fact that taking the spool off the spindle reveals a number of washers. These can be removed so as to give different variations on line lay, from flat, tapered bottom up and tapered top down. All three functions performing very well and working as they should. Why you need all of these functions is something beyond my scientific expertise, but I know that having the line tapered top to bottom gives less friction when trying to acheive distance.
The drag is set at the front for those hard fighting fish, with the freespool tension being adjusted using the dial at the back.
My only quarm with this reel is the spare spool which is made from graphite and not aluminium.
Overall I am extremely pleased with this reel and I believe that it is capable of giving many more years of valuable service and with a price tag of only, £29.95, who can complain?
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