Well, here I am, 2 hours after the initial post, and my schedule for tomorrow now has "Return Reel" added to it.
I used 6500's for my driftboat plug rods for years. I want to go a step above that now. I was taken with the looks of the Calcutta, but wasn't that the one that runs about $250-300? Apparently, Santa didn't think I was *THAT* nice of a girl this year.

Also, what I'd really like is a reel that is suitable for saltwater, but still light enough for steelhead. Santa said the Calcutta would probably get ruined in saltwater. Hmmmm....Penn International?
Thanks again.....especially the part about the "free-wheeling"......now I remember using that rod/reel out silver fishing a couple years ago. It did EXACTLY that....free-wheeled unexpectedly. It acted like the gears couldn't engage. THAT was why it was set aside for so long.
Diana