WestSlope

I think braid with a mono "shock leader" is the benefits of both. You can run a heavier mono leader and still get the casting distance, line capacity and manageability, and consistent, low-stretch hooksets.

Arlo, I PMd you about selling em. I really would be happy to get em to someone that will appreciate em. They are lefties though.

Not sure if you got one already but I recently had issues with an MB. It is the only Lews I've had issues with (out of about 10 reels) but I got some gnarly grinding going on with it just recently. Out of nowhere it started making terrible noise on cast and retrieve and felt like it had rocks in the gears. I had caught some nice fish out of grass with that reel so I had pulled pretty hard on it - not sure if that is what did it. After turning the reel handle backwards about 10-15 degrees the grinding went away. I no longer trust the reel or its twin I was using for topwater; which is a bummer because up to that point I absolutely loved those reels. I plan to stick to the Super Dutys in grass from now on and I'll just use the MBs for loaner reels...