I have the 700S (no level wind). I don't use it because even my hands aren't big enough to palm that pregnant left plate and have my thumb span across the spool to level the line properly
It also feels awkward on a thin butt graphite, altho I'm sure the level wind model would work better on a thicker E or S glass rod. I also have the 700 TE, which is narrower, but sits higher on the rod than an Abu 7000. I tried it last summer on both my cut-down 2F S-glass and my Arra 126 1MH. It is a nice, tough reel. It's also difficult to service, even to oil the bearings, because there are 3 small, non-captive screws inside (after you take the left plate off) you have to remove to get to the bearings and the brakes, and to remove the spool. At 4.7:1 retrieve, you notice the difference between it and a 5.3 model Abu when you have to hump the jig over the face of the ledge in close. The regular 700 is a lot easier to service---three captive, slotted screws on the right plate similar to those on an Abu, and the brakes are on spindles attached to the spool, which pops right out after you remove the right plate.
I put 80# Power pro on mine, which is overkill and probably is a reason I was disappointed in the casting performance. I would say, give it a try with 65# PP and it should perform as well as it would with 50# Spectron.
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