20# is plenty. I've seen some monster fish come in on 20 pound test, but if you don't like it get some 65-100 pound braid.

Pro Angler reels pretty well smoke the Abu line of reels,their rods are equally awesome with the "meat chunks" exceeding 45lbs
I also agree,20/30lb Trilene is plenty for whipping big cats.

They don't in my use, I love the rods, but give me abu any day----

yep pro angler rods are awesome but the 2 proangler reels I've seen have broken in some way.

There is a reason the pro angler reels are not made any longer.

The 4 I have are several seasons old,seen year round action
and havent failed me yet. Cant say that about the Abu's,I have 12 of them and none I have purchased in the last 10 yrs has lasted a full season without needing a worm gear or something.I service my reels 3-4 times every year

Catboss, were the Abus the bcx model? If so try you a 6500c3. Will be the best switch you ever made.

been reading up on them 6500c the last hour or so as well as the hot rod tuning some have mentioned.
Didnt find anything on Youtube about the 200yd casting stuff,an Abu that could send a 8-10" shad out to an honest 100yd from the bank would be pretty slick IMO.
None of my reels are bcx

I've 2 6500 and a 6600 but I like my 7000's better. I put a power handle on one of the 6500's and I like it a lot better now.

I have one of the gold pa reels and it was a good reel until yesterday when i was reeling in a bluecat about five pounds and i heard the gears grinding, i had to pull the fish in like it was a giant tuna, pull up on the rod and reel down, after doing this for a couple of minutes i finally landed the fish and checked the drag to make sure it wasnt tightened down too much and i could pull line out just fine, the reel is now on my shelf with a sign that says out of order and ready to be picked up by the local trashman. What a shame because it casted real nice and had a good smoothe retrieve, i thought it would be a decent reel for the price. Could be a good reel for channel cats but i wouldnt use it for blues.

I've got an 5000-C,6000, and 6500KC3. My 6500 flies so smooth stocked on a 7'8" rod and its perfect for any fishing you like. Just buy another rod.or the same reel for the types of fishing you plan on doing. Good luck!

Does not say how far but you can see its a really long cast. Look up pendulum cast and you can see a lot more cast.

http://youtu.be/0_NnmzQIMvQ

I'm wantin em for fishin blues and flatheads now and in the winter but I'm Goin to college in the fall down at Galveston and want to use them for the surf as well

The 7000 are a great reel and i can cast mine well over a hundred yards

They would work great for the coast to