I tried for five years to find a reel manufacturer that could top a shimano. I bought every brand under the sun. This was simply to be different and not use shimano like everyone else I knew. Now guess what..... I had a hard time selling all my random brand reels so that I could change everything over to shimano. Now all but one of my reels are shimano. I also done the same thing with my rods. Now everything is shimano and loomis. At least now I know.