I have a friend who is looking to buy a new rod. He wants the GLoomis SUR1023S and wants to fit it with a Shimano Sustain or a Finnor Ahab. What size reel would be good for that? Anyone have stuff to say about the Ahab or the Sustain or the rod?

Put a Shamano Sustain 4000 on the same rod last year. So far, it's worked out great.

How about the Daiwa Z series? Those look like good reels too.

The Daiwa Regal Z is a piece of junk. The Emblem Z is a better reel. The Daiwa Tournament SS II reels are new this year, but the older Tournamnet reels were excellent.

The Shimano Stradic 4000 costs $100 less than the Sustain. Finnor reels--at least the top of the line Ahabs, which are the only one's I'd condider--weigh substantially more than any of the other reels mentioned. With braid, the Ahab 8A should be enough reel to match with that rod.

So Ditch, either the Stradic, Sustain or the Ahab 8A?

The cool thing about the Emblem Z is the spool isn't deep but it's a little longer. You still get the good line capacity, but you get a good cast too.