Any opinions on these reels and the difference in the braking systems?

 

I owned a STX for a good month or so, and loved it. Extremely smooth, casting distance was very good, never really had any negatives about it. Although, some who have owned the older generations may tell you otherwise. If I am not mistaken, the Gen 2 was very popular with people, I am sure you could find one on Ebay for a decent price.

I own the rocket(as far as I can tell a red premier with 9:1 gear ratio) and a revo elite and I am a huge fan of the ivcb brake system, it's very user friendly and I hardly ever backlash.

I own a gen 2 STX. I like it a lot. Great casting distance, smooth retrieve, drag does a good job. I use it on my squarebill/lipless rod with 30# braid and I can chuck a 1/2 lipless crank forever. Its a pleasure to fish IMO

I have two STX's, a Gen1 and Gen2, both were bought used, but are in fantastic shape. When the Revo's first came out I had one each of the gen1 S, SX, and STX, I didn't like the SX, and traded it for another S, the STX I use to have was sold off to buy some thing else, but I always regretted it. My favorite reels are still my Shimano Curado 51E's, I might be buried with them LOL, but I do like Revos better than the 201D and 201E Shimano Citicas I used to have.

This depends a lot on your casting ability and style. Both of these systems work well but it will boil down to personal preference at the end of the day.

I have a gen 2 stx for cranking. Love it. Casts a 6xd a friggin mile. I bought a gen three and loved it for the two weeks before it broke

i have the gen 3 stx and love it, casts far and very smooth.. i read alot of people not liking the braking system on the premier , but ive never used it so i cant speak from experience