I remember the older phleuger reels being fairly cheaply made but the rub on there newer stuff is that they are much improved. I haven't heard anyone complain about them.

Bear in mind the more ball bearing the heavier your reel will be.

I generally fish a little bigger reel than smaller.........especially so since I fish mono. I dislike the tight coils that happen when mono gets packed on a small spool. Plus your casting distance is greatly improved with a bigger spool........not to mention how quickly I can take in line on a hard charging fish.

I am opposite of db (of course I am  ;) ) and run my trolling line with a fairly tight drag which is front mounted. Does anyone remember the old zebco Cardinals? I loved those reels and they had a rear drag, but since I generally locked it down it didn't much matter.

I read somewheres that the rear mounted drags are at a disadvantage physics wise. But that was 20 years ago much has probably changed. It has been that long or longer since I fished a rear drag.

Does anyone else find it odd that International House Of Pancakes IHOP has the worst pancakes? Very strange world that we are living in. If you want really good flapjacks get them at Perkins.......clearly superior.