P.S. It's fishing guys.  Lighten up.  I think we all like to hear different viewpoints from all walks of life.  It helps us paint a picture that's relevant and useful to each and every one of us.  Pointing fingers and getting upset over things impairs the free flow of information, which results in an incomplete picture.

10-4

If you wish to ban me for my opinion, 'tis up to you.

If they did THAT, they'd have to ban everybody because opinions are the only thing flowing around here.  

If you wish to ban me for my opinion, 'tis up to you.

If they did THAT, they'd have to ban everybody because opinions are the only thing flowing around here.

Very true.

Of the reels I've owned and/or used, I like very much what I see with the 800 series. The extensive use of aluminum - body, side plate, rotor, bail asembly; an extra thick heavy duty bail; two bearing that keep the spool from oscillating under drag; extensive use of brass internally; carbon fiber drag system, etc. I bought this reel based on the reviews of people who use it - hard. The 804 seems to be a very highly regarded reel for inshore and striper fishing - tougher fish and rougher environments than that reel would see on a bass lake. Do a search on the forums at StripersOnLine.com or TackleTour.com. I'm not alone.

I'm not sure how someone can draw a conclusion about an entire line of reels by saying "not quality made reels" when they have experience with one (which apparently broke), under what has been described hard and abusive use. That measure wouldn't pass in a high school science class.

Like I said, I don't know Randall. No doubt he is a fine fisherman and fine man. But my experience with the reels, and those of many others - who use them much harder than I do - are diametrically opposed to the assertion "not quality made reels."

Maybe "BS" was too harsh. Perhaps I would hve been better off, and more accurate, saying that he had insufficient experience with the reel to draw such a condeming conclusion.

I think the lesson learned here is that if you started out with this statement, none of this would have happened. I think the key takeaway for all of us this: Be very careful in how you phrase things. There's a fine line between calling somebody a liar, and questioning their reasoning.

It's all in how you phrase things.

Well said.  Bravo!