It probably depends on what you fish.
My fly fishing is 100% steelhead and browns on Great Lakes tributaries. I need a drag for those steelhead so a reel has some value beyond holding line for me.
I happen to like the Lamson Konic series for such work.
yep. I have 2 lamsons over 20 years old I fish a lot in salt water
A lot of reel for the money
