please share your experience with this reel

its highly regarded by the guys on 'walleyecentral' forums

im generally an abu garcia guy and most of my spinning reel experience has come at the hands of shimano.

these are the models im considering
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

im mainly looking for these traits in a size 25 or 30 reel...

low gear ratio, under 6:1, i want it for everything from small panfish plastics to trolling 15 ft deep cranks----advantage pflueger president

lots of high quality bearings (stainless if possible) ---- advantage pflueger president, due to number

value-quality/durablity/price---- they are about even price-wise and i trust all 3 companies---advantage none, its a wash

decent FRONT drag- im not the biggest drag guy as i like backreeling on spinning rods, but i dont turn backreel on until AFTER the hookset IF it feels like a good fish. i need enough drag for absorbing bites while trolling. i also prefer front drags to rear because i feel that front drags require less engineering/more even drag distribution due to not having to run the length of the reel for the drag pin----advantage abu garcia (imo, carbon matrix >>> felt washer)

aluminum spool- probably gonna run 8lb fluorocarbon on this reel being as i plan on using it as my 'if i can only have one rod' setup, but i want it to be able to run braid if i land a couple spare spools. advantage---again, a wash

weight- in the size im looking at they are all between 9 and 10 oz. advantage----again a wash

id like to hear positives/negatives/your thoughts.
thanks!!

My son has a 3 year old Pflueger President. Generally does not get hard use but has been to Q one time (one week of very hard use). Still smooth and in my opinion, worth the couple bucks extra over the Browning Medallions that i bought.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

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.

I have 2 of these and they always come with me to Q.  Never had a problem.  They cast very smoothly.  Not sure what line I prefer on them, but they are legit.