Hi JB / Rusty,
Maxima deep green is about my favourite, so bloody strong that even 30lb BS is so difficult to break when you are badly snagged.
I have been using 40lb Andyline for a few years now, and it is not half as good. Lost some very big fish on it while trying to power them before they went over the lip of the rapids.
Yes JB the 7000C is the best of the lot. It is a 3 bearing model, and casts as smooth as silk > 50 meters without birds nest if your casting drag is set right. The 7000 does not have any bearings, only bushes, and falls slightly behind in the casting department.
Most times we move from chilwa to a fist size ball of ragi, and forget to reset the casting drag. Sure way of inviting the birds over for the weekend
Nothing worse if it is getting dark and you can't see your reel too well. I'm ok now that i have a headlamp

but it can be a nightmare otherwise.
If you can find one for under 5000.00 bucks you are lucky Rusty, but it lasts you forever. My 7000 is almost 15 years old. And it's in use on every trip 90% of the time i spend on the banks. Still as smooth as silk, with no play any where.
Just a few words of advice about this reel if you plan on buying one.
1. The screw that locks the main nut and the nut itself need to be checked and tightened carefully after a battle.
2. Use only a drop of oil in the 2 bearing caps if the felt pad in the caps are dry. Nothing more than a drop.
3. Never use any oil on the drag washers. They must remain dry (Refer the Abu Garcia for Do's and Dont's.
4. Open and clean the reel if dust and sand has entered it on a fishing trip.
5. Take care never to put it directly on the ground to avoid dust entering.
6. A 2 or 3 day trip with the reels lying outside will definately attract dust, which will need cleaning.
7. Take a good look at the exploded veiw of the diagram supplied with the reel, (also available on their website) before attempting to open the reel.
8. For the first time, open it in the presence of someone who has serviced the reel before, or you are very likely to screw up on the order in which the felt and drag washers are to be placed, and ruin the reel or even worse loose a big fish.
I have seen this happen to a friend of mine. The reel started giving line in jerks and the hook popped out. The main gear which was of brass had turned blue after this episode.
I too lost a big fish on this reel because i used oil on the drag washers unknowingly (Happened because i used too much oil in the oil caps which spilled over from the shaft onto the drag washers). Line paying out in jerks was the result. Got the info from Pat and set things right.
Hope this info is useful to you guy's. I was planning on buying a cheaper reel, but Bobby's post made me realize that there is nothing better for the job at hand.
