Stop talking about the Japanese versions of the baitcasters, guys, you are screwing up my Christmas wish list!
Someone posted a link to the Scorpion specs a while ago.....Jigman was that you? Got that link handy? Thanks
Remeber that if you are driftfishing and making cast after cast after cast, then you should want a reel that is:
1) Smooth casting and able to cast light weights
2) Lightweight (unless you've got arms like Timberman
)
3) High speed retreive of at least 6:1
The Chronarch SF would be my 1st choice (I can only imagine the Scorpion versions are even better, wow!). Second choice would be the Curado BSF. I have beat my Curado BSF reels to hell and they keep on ticking after hundreds of fish. The Chronarch seems to be a better performer, however, it doesn't seem to take the abuse quite as well as the Curados.
Abu's are bulletproof for the most part and so are the Calcuttas. I own several, however, they have taken up permanent residence on the reel seats of my plug rods. Why?
Because they don't have the high speed retreive that the Curados and Chronarchs do! You can get away with a 5:1 retreive for most salmon driftfishing applications as you can bear down on the drag and put some muscle to 'em, but you will miss a lot of steelhead if you can rip that extra line in from the benefit of a 6:1 or 6.2:1 reel.
Remember that any of the Mg reels (magnesium spool, frame, etc.) need to be used in freshwater and freshwater only. Apparently Shmimano will void warranty if these reels are used in or near saltwater areas because Magnesium and salt don't mix. Considerably lighter, Magnesium component reels are nice if you don't live next to Puget Sound like I do or if you fish freshwater (not even brackish) water only.
Something else to think about is that when you beat your Shimano reels to a pulp, send them back to Shimano and you might be surprised when a shiny new reel arrives in its place!