I have used mostly Shimano and Daiwa and like their quality. However, the Pflueger Patriarch XT is one beautifully built reel and I am definitely tempted.

If they'd just get off their butts and offer it in 7.1:1 I'd be all over it.

only used abu n shimano baitcasters, abu didn't perform as well as shimano, but recently went with a daiwa baitcaster n have a good feeling about it once spring comes around

3 STX, 2 Premier a Winch and a Toro -- no surprise who my vote went to

Second place is to Daiwa for my 2 Zillions

Shimano can bugger off.  Even if they do get off their butts and make all their reels available in LH retrieve, they'll still have a ton of ground to make up in my eyes

I don't use any of those listed so I'm going to add my own. Okuma VSystem spinning reels.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

Team Daiwa gets my vote, too sexy not to.

There is a pretty large tackle shop in central Ohio and the guy that runs it bases his opinion of the best rods and reels on customer satisfaction (returns and such) rather than sales. He told me once that he doesn't have any more trouble with Quantum or Pflueger than he does with the Shimano, Abu or Diawa equipment. I guess that is a pretty good source.

For me I use Revos and Curados with Revos being my number one choice I will buy a couple more Premiers before the spring season.