I have just recently purchased the shimano Cronarch. This reel is the best thing I have ever spent money on! Very smooth casting, it just makes fishing that much more enjoyable for me. It maybe a little more money but is well worth the investment! You will be able to see that on your first trip out with it!!! You have to look at it this way, fishing is an expensive sport ( or I should say steelheading ), that's a fact. Spending $200.00 to $500.00 on a nice setup for you may sound like a lot of money but add in all the money you spend on getting to and from fishing and what is just in you vest, will supprise you! Now ask yourself this, add up the money you would spend on getting into another sport and you will see the difference. my $.02
tight lines!!