I am about to get one but if someone has had a bad experience I would like to hear about it.

(It is the international bait caster reel 975 with a lever drag)

I do NOT plan on using it for surf casting..this will go on a light-ish st. croix casting rod for use from a boat.

If you perfer some equivelent...please let me hear it.

I used one once last year livelining buckeyes for bass to the mid 20 pound range - I liked it... But thats all the experience I had with them...

I have two 975 star drag levelwinds. They were a great reel for about 6 months, then problems. The level wind pawls wear faster than in any other level wind I ever used, and the free spool button has a nasty habit of popping up on the cast.

I don't know whether the LD model has the same problems. They probably have neither of those two problem areas to begin with, now that I think of it.

One good thing about the regular 975, the star drags are awesome.