Dennis so far I'm impressed with the Johnny Morris Signature Series reel that I bought earlier this year. It's was a little more than the old Curado's I have, but it fishes/casts right along side them and is a tick or two smoother.
MY ABSOLUTE MOST FAVORITE REEL OF ALL TIME was the previous generation Curado Super Free ("olive" metallic colored with drilled gold spool). I don't know why Shimano felt it necessary to replace that reel.
They were PERFECT imho. I also like my previous generation Chronarch (metallic white) but I honestly don't think they were worth the extra money over the Curado SF. The plain jane old Curado 100 and 200s were good lil reels for the money as well. For bottom bumpers I likewise got the Castaic SF and a Scorpion Metanium (Japanese market version of the Chronarch SF with a Castaic style release mechanism). The Castaic SF is just a Curado SF with a different release mechanism and Shimano still builds them. I might have to get a few more!
Dennis along those lines as well, the Pflueger Trion, Presidential and Premiere are awfully good lil reels and not quite as expensive as the Shimanos.
Dennis you DON'T have to spend megabucks to get the best. You know me and know that if they truly were worth that much more I'd have a boat full of them, but the Calais and other $300+ reels out there do NOT out perform the reels we're talking about, not for the price difference IMHO. Like Jimmy said, they are heavier and that's ALWAYS been a consideration for me. After a day of chunking and winding the extra weight DOES show up in my forearms and hands. Didn't used to, but once I turned 30 it started, now @ 36 it REALLY matters. :embarassed (I guess by the time I'm 50 I'll have to pay someone to cast for me!:cuss) Heavier reels likewise throw off the balance of todays high end, ultra light (physical weight) rods. A 10-12oz reel doesn't feel very good on a 2-4 oz rod.
Fish with ours a few times and you'll see!
