Sorry if this is thread jacking but what about the Mitchell 308 reels? They felt smooth and sturdy but I've never heard anything about them
Daiwa, I have several of the exceller & capricorn style models from several years ago, at the time their price point was $70, I'm not sure what model now would correspond to these but they have been great reels. I have one of the mitchell 308 bought right when the came out a few years ago, not even close to the daiwas, mitchell drag adjustment feels cheezy, not crisp like the daiwa, also mitchell 308 is a 2000 size reel and still weighs more than a daiwa 2500 size.