Got this for Christmas and took it out today for some crappie fishing. Spooled with 6lb Mr crappie throwing a 1/16 jig and bobby garland shad. Feels strained on the retrieve almost hard to reel. I can take a baitcaster apart no problems but have never messed with spinning reels. I know about the two bearings in the handle area and I'm assuming there are more on the shaft but it doesn't feel or sound like a bearing so what else should I be looking for?

Probably excess grease from the factory. Pull the spool off, pull the handle off, and see how much heavy grease is there. Take it all off with a paper towel (there will be plenty still there). See if that improves it. If it does but not enough, you can pop the main body side plate off with usually 2-3 screws. Same thing on the grease. 

I'd be looking for line tangled under the spool. Sadly I've had that happen more than once. 

Either use as is and see if it frees up or exchange it for another one