I've been using one of these reels for a few months now and the verdict is still out for me. As Graham states the line lay is superb. The reel is also very smooth in its operation which includes the clutch. I do however have a few niggles: <ul>[*]With the spool line reducers fitted, both spools then hold a different line capacity, which doesn’t help when trying to load the spool correctly including backing i.e. wind on 100 yards of braid followed by backing, then wind the whole lot onto the spare spool.[*]I find both handles (single and double) are on the small side and it does not aid the 'cranking' of the reel when playing good fish or continuously winding in heavy feeders.[*]Despite landing some nice Barbel with the reel, during one particular session on the Wye, I found when attempting to play fish hard with the anti reverse engaged, I would gain several turns of the handle only for the anti reverse not to engage and the gain was lost. This did only happen occasionally but was disconcerting none the less.[/list]
Currently I'm at the stage where do I buy a second or do I opt for a pair of Shimano XTEA's even though I hate rear drag reels (snatchy clutch syndrome)?
Neil