and why...?

Welcome to the forum!

Any Abu's from the 6000 series on up in my opinion. And why? Line capacity, gears, gear ratio, bait clickers, drag system, construction, parts availability (when or it necessary). Made to last!

+1 on Abu Garcia! I like the 7000-10000's! If you are a spinning reel guy then I would go with the Penn 850ss - 950ss

+2

penn reels imho are better than abus if fishing from the boat bank a shakespear tidewater these reels are generally going to last for years and years without breaking down as well as when they do finally give in and tear up it is just as cheap to buy new ones as it is to fix them whereas with abus they are too expensive to try and replace and usually like with anything else when 1 thing breaks low and behold the rest is sure to follow suit in a matter of time

Penn makes the toughest spinning reels around but I have yet to see any baitcaster or conventional reel out perform the Garcia!

+1 on Abus.

+1 Abus, have 12 fixin to have 15

+++, Provided they're made in Sweden. I don't have any 7000 series yet but I'm sure I will in the future.

They're probably not the best, I have no idea which one would be the best, but the one's I prefer, I'm a bang for buck kinda person who doesn't have to have the best, but don't want junk either.

I think the best catfish reel on the market is the one you are the most comfortable with and confident in. There are many good reels on the market today and there is a wide range of prices on them. If you get the best you can afford and are comfortable with and confident in it what more do you need. I have many Abus and Penns on my boat and they both serve their purpose very well. I have tried several others and they all had their good points and bad, just like Penn and Abu. If you want to spend big bucks then go get you an Avet and it will handle ANYTHING freshwater can dish out and is smooth as silk on top of that. But who wants to spend big big dollars on equipment when you can get very good equipment cheaper and still afford to go fishing. Just my 2 cents.

Backlashing aside, what Abu's cast furthest? (I'm on the bank).

Or whats a good size Abu for bankfishing?

with a long rod, say 11' or longer i would go with a 7000 for the line cap ... rods 7-10' a 6000 should be plenty ... as far as which abu cast furthest, that would prolly depend more on yer rod & what kinda line you use

A little pricey, but these outa drag old big boy outa the stumps.40actual#of drag!
http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csrAvet.htm

I never did like the reels with no line guide. I like my Garcia 7000iC3 high line capacity reels. They're about a 3rd of the price of those avets, but I have never had problems with them and I use them on 12' rods

I prefer a reel with levelwind as well. If you want 100% the best reel try the big Shimano Calcutta. The one that is about same size as abu 7000. The will outcast a stock 7000, the have a better drag and hol enough line. The price is ridiculous but you did not state a price range. For the money it is hard to beat the 7000. The Penn309 is good too but a lot harder to cast and too low geared for me.