suggestion on spinning reel...

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Slingah

go for the spheros...most bang for the buck....

What Slingah said.I been using the 8000 and have basically beat the you know what out of it.Still working fine.

[fishweewee]

What MikeP said.

Penn Slammer 440 (or smaller) is a super nice reel for the money. Why do I like it so much? I can't put my finger on it, but one thing that comes to mind is durability (not a lot plastic).

After fiddling around with all sorts of fancy and pricier foreign made spinning reels, I find myself coming back to Penn.

[luds]

I would check M&D's first for the Stradic but if that doesn't work out you could open a Cabela's Visa Card. I think you get something like 25-30$ in Cabela's points that you can use toward your purchase. You could also do this for the Spheros. My buddy has a smaller size Spheros and loves it.

[Bronko]

Shimano speros 8000 is my advice. Under a hundred bucks if you scour the net, and a nice reel for that money. No complaints at all.