Here's a product review someone posted on Cabelas website:
GREAT REEL, September 24, 2007
By MLBSR from Malibu, Ca.
"I have been using one of these for the past month and it performs flawlessly. Very good build quality for the price. The 5500 size is a big reel and works well for surf casting. I use mine around rocks and it's fast enough to get the lead off the bottom before it has a chance to get stuck. The only negative about the reel is that it wiggles around a bit on the retrieve because of the material that the body is made of. But I have landed several 10lb. fish and it fights great, with an excellent drag. The only other comparable reel series to the Emcast is Daiwa's own Emblem Pro, at twice the price. And I think the handle on the Emcast is the best one on any saltwater reel."
I probably could have written that myself if I had a chance to use an Emcast for a month
I use the Emblem Pro myself in the Canal for plugging and light jigging. If the Emcast as half as good, it's still a pretty good value for $60. The Emblem Pro is probably the most widely used spinning reel nowadays for Canal plugging. Many of the old timers have switched to it from conventionals. The Emcast handle fits the Emblem Pro and many prefer it.
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