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I've got a Shimano Baitrunner 4500 that I like quite a bit. We'll see how it holds up as I've only had it a few months, but it's a versatile reel for sure. It casts fairly well, the drag's smooth for the most part, and I love the baitrunner feature. I use the baitrunner mode all of the time, and not just for sitting baits on the bottom with a sinker. The best example is eeling. You don't need to freespool; you set the baitrunner drag as low as possible, cast out reel in slowly, and when you feel the hit, you can flip the baitrunner switch to let the fish run with the bait. Great reel for around a hundred bucks.
I also have a Penn 4500 SS that I like for throwing bombers and plastic. Good drag, and the reel is as tough as nails. I'd recommend it as well.
Lastly, I just won an Okuma in the MSBA tournament, and will be giving it a little test drive over the next couple weeks. Looks alright to me, but it also screams durability issues.
I think I'll be steeping into the conventional arena come Christmas time.
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