The black max is TRASH! cant cast for more than 25 yards after tuning and a pound brick tied on! get the mettle for sure. I've owned both, the mettle is decent for 60$.

any recommendations for line? fluro/mono? #test?

Where you fish?

Get a mettle. The black max abu makes now days is a total piece of carp.

I wouldn't pick either over a used Curado. I've played around with the mettle and it's not a bad reel.

Start with heavier mono line, 17-20lb. It's less likely to birds nest and when it does it'll be easier to pick out. The downside to heavier line is that one decent break off could leave you needing to respool.

aside from local creeks and ponds, lake lavon

.....double

15lb big game

H2O!!!!

Sounds like the mettle with 15-17lb mono would be my choice. If you wanted to try fluoro , you could get some 15# red label...

Just buy a Quantum.

Personnaly I don't know where all the black max haters come from, is it an Mgx? Not hardly but for the money it's a decent reel.

I've got 5-6 of them for back-ups/people fishing with me use etc.

Ive had no major issues.

I'd go somewhere that has the reels you want in question and hold them yourself.

You will find on forums there is a vast difference in personal taste on which reels are good and trash.

Used is also a good way to get a better reel at a lower price point, but you never know what you are getting, you might get one that needs a rebuild and then you would have been better off with an off the shelf silver/black max's or a mettle etc

H2o Mettle. I have Curado's, Citica's. and Daiwa Alpha. While the Mettle may not be my "go to" reel I have no doubt if I had bought it before the others it would be the one I would use as primary. BTW, I too went from spining to baitcasting and all my baitcasters are left retrieve. I am a natural 'rightie' but the left hand is so much more natural as the retriever except when off shore fishing for really big fish.

own 2 black max's. love em, especially for the price. had zero problem's with either of mine. i have heard good things about the mettle's as well. for me i have had good lauck with black max and would only buy a black max as i feel it is the best bang for your buck out there. only exception would be if i had to have a 5-1 or 7-1 reel cause the cheaper reels don't offer that option.

I had a Black Max. It made a semi adequate marker buoy weight.