Right now I am using a ultra lite spinning combo. 7 foot medium action ugly stick ultra lite. with a cheapy spinning shakespear reel for bass. On the other hand I have a thicker 7 foot med. action ugly stick with an abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 round reel. I find it very hard to cast light tackle with it so I mostly use it for catfish and what not where I deadstick. I am itching to fish bass with a casting reel and low on cash. So I am wondering if trading my abu reel (which is pretty much brand new) for a low profile casting reel is an option for me. Only concern id have is strength in the lowprofile casting reels. Could I still wrestle in a big cat or striper on one? The round reels just seem stronger and look it. So pretty much im wondering if I got a low profile casting reel I could go right from fishing bass to say striper or cat. "double duty".

they make plenty of low profile reels that can handle the biggest fish...there are a lot of reels with drags in the 10 -22 pound range out there

The round reel will work if you adjust the brakes. What model do you have?

if your tight on cash just keep what you got it will work fine for bass i have a few roundies that i use now n then for bass,but if anything if your def. set on getting a lp reel id look into the abu revos.cause they are comfy and easy to palm and can handle just about anything in the water,either the stx or the toro for hard fighting fish.

The round reel will work if you adjust the brakes. What model do you have?

abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 round reel, I have adjusted the brakes and do so when ever I throw a new lure. I dont backlash much, but its just akward to me for some reason casting that big round reel ha. Possibly because I have smaller hands.

I would keep the round reel, it's perfect for the Santa Anna River Lakes etc. type cat fishn. But if your headed to one of the reservoir's a fishn the rental boats @ El Cap, San V, Hodges and want to get into casting spinner's, worms, etc., then I would invest in one of the less expensive LP reels for that.

But I wouldn't trade or sell the Garcia Round reel.

Just my .02¢

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!