Bassmaster Bill

I agree with this. The Power Line has more of a braided look/feel to it while the Sufix looks and feels fused (smoother).

I noticed your last name is Crisp. Your family wouldn't happen to own the Crisp's restaurants around here, would they?

The Abu Garcia Orra SX is a great reel that won't break the bank. You can get them for $99. Pair it with a Bass Pro Shops XPS Bionic Blade and you have a good quality combo that weighs in very close to your price range.

This. +1

I o a lot of shore-bound fishing, so I strive for distance casting. After putting Quantum Hot Sauce on my reels, I'm able to get an extra 40ish% distance from them. My AG Orra SX will spit out around 120 feet of line on a 6'6M rod ( 1/2 oz spinner). Hot Sauce really does make a big difference. Rooster: Where in Kentucky are you from? I'm in Flatwoods myself.

I am using both Sufix 832 #30 (Dynema+Gore strand) and Power Pro (Spectra) and I can tell a difference. The Power Pro seems a little more 'rough' and I can feel is rubbing the guides when I reel it in. This, however, does not seem to impact casting at all. The Sufix 832 is much smoother when I'm retrieving with it.

Clayton, I say go for it! This reel is amazing...I'm really enjoying using it.

Just thoroughly degrease the spool bearings and apply some Quantum Hot Sauce. They will all go for miles on that stuff!!

Shimano, hands down!

You can get by with just leaving it on 10, however your cast distance will be decreased. When you get more experienced with using your thumb as a brake, you can start to back off of the magnetic brake in small increments and adjust it according to wind and cast style. Higher brake setting is recommended for flipping or pitching. The higher end Abu's (Orra and Revo's) have a centrifugal brake system that takes care of the backlash issue when the spool is spinning at it's fastest RPM (beginning of a cast). The higher end Revo (the SX, STX and Premiere models)combine both a centrifugal and magent brake system which almost completely eliminates backlashing. I personally have the Orra SX and LOVE it! I have no issues with backlashing, however I do have extensive experience with baitcasters and have my thumb very well trained.

I contacted Abu Garcia on this and here is what I received from the support rep: "Bill, we have been informed that some of the first ones had problem with the sleeve but this issue has been taken care of." I don't know how long mine was sitting in the tackle shop before I bought it last week, so I asked the rep what serial number strand has been updated and fixed. I'll post the info here as soon as I get it.

This is what worries me, not knowing if and when it's going to happen to me. I read on another forum where a guy had replaced the bearings with better ones that he acquired from an aftermarket dealer. I would love to find out where he got them.

Hey guys! I just picked up an Abu Garcia Orra SX from my local tackle dealer and I paired it with an Abu Gracia Vengeance 6'6" rod. I spooled it with 30# Sufix 832 low-vis green since I typically fish heavy cover / stained waters. I took the rod/reel out the other day and caught a few bass in the 2-5 pound range. The reel handled very well and casts like a dream. I had no issues with it at all. Last night, I was reading some reviews of the reel on BPS site and read where several people had issues with the reverse bearings going out on. Should I be concerned that I will inevitably happen to me? Should I start looking around for a superior roller bearing to replace the stock with?

I've been having great results from Berkley Gulp 7" turtleback worms in cherrseed and green pumpkin seed.

If it truly was 24" it was probably bigger than you realized. A 24" 5lb is one skinny fish IMO, either way nice catch! Yeah, it was 24"...I did have a tape measure in my box but didn't have my scales. It wasn't a fat fish but definitely wasn't skinny either.