I've got a buddy that is considering one of these for his musky fishing. Any feedback on the quality of this reel?

I know I love the Curados for bass fishing so I bet they are great too.

Thanks!

I have that reel and use it for big baits.  It is an extremely high quality machine.  I've caught big muskies and big stripers on it and couldn't have been happier with its performance under stress!  I would highly reccomend this reel!

If its endorsed by BronzeFly it'll get my buy!!

I'm really not in the market for one, but it ryhmed. And I repect your opinion on equipment, BF.

It is by far my favorite reel. The 400TE has earned a great reputation with guys that absolutely torture their equipment. The Daiwa Luna and St. Croix AC 300 also score high marks and are excellent. I have all 3 reels and the Shimano 400 Te will be my next purchase. There are specialty reels like the Saltist and Trinidad that guys use to throw pounders(soft plastic baits weighing a pound )and double 10 bucktails which have tremendous pull on a reel. But day in and day out the best all around reel for musky guys will be the 400TE. Do a search on Musky Hunter or Muskies First websites and you'll see how highly regarded it is.

IMO you still can't beat the traditional Round Abu.

5500C3. The 55OOC4 is OK for jerkbaits since they don't have the pull of cranks/bucktails. The C3 is the better all around reel.

Abu reels are indestructible and the only reels I would trust Musky fishing. I've seen bass reels literally last a trip maybe two when throwing REAL musky lures.

I've got some of the older 5500c3's that I musky fished with probably 180 days a year for about 10 years and they were as good as when I got em new. Maintain them, change the drag washers once in awhile along with the levelwind pawl and they will last forever.

Only reason I quite using them is I got the newer reels with instant A/R

That reel is one of the best jerkbait, crankbait, Double Cowgirl reels ever. 

Have one, like it, but like the 400B more.