I did have mine serviced and it helped quite a bit. They are still perfectly useable reels and why I am a big Shimano fan. My buddy had a Lew's, I need to check with him what model so I can price it out, but knowing him it was the most expensive thing out there.

Okay fellas, thank you for some great recommendations! It looks like I can find some good options in the $150-$200 range, and I will look for sales. I pretty much figured this would get me in the right area, but wanted to hear some thoughts from some gearheads. BTW - I absolutely murdered the LMB up the San Gabriel from Lake Georgetown Saturday. Water was in the 70's with the sun shining and muddy water. They were hanging tight to stumps and a few were on the bottom in the middle of the channel in 8-10 feet. I absolutely hate Lake Georgetown, but my wife actually wanted to go fishing so I figured I would go get her on the prespawn whites. We caught a few of them as well, but the LMB bite was too easy, honestly easier than the whites, so we just kept catching them. Started out catching them on a Roadrunner, because we were fishing for whites, then switched to a Rapala Glass Rap #5

Check out Landbigfish.com Go to sale items Daiwa Tatula SV TWS 150 Casting Reel 25% off $165 and the 70 size reel 30% off $160 Very good reels for a great price.

+1 on the Daiwa SV. you will not regret it

Stick with Shimano, the SLX DC will cast a country mile.