Piscifun Alijoz Baitcasting Reels 5.9:1 LH

**Update after first season of use (freshwater only): Reel still works as well as the first time out. Casting distance is not great, that spool just doesn't like turning. Fished fine in 30 F degree weather up through 100+ F degree weather. Fished fine in wind, rain, and hail. Lots of power when reeling in fish. ******* Preface: Three stars does not mean a bad product in my book. It means that it is an overall, perfectly ok product. Got this for an entry level small swimbait (1-3oz) reel. This is my first Piscufun reel and normally I would get a name brand reel but 300 size baitcasters are pretty expensive and until I decide if I like this technique, I didn't want to invest big money (for me) in something like a Tranx or Komodo. So for under $100, I figured I would gamble on this one. Haven't fished it yet but will update after using it for a while but so far: Pros -Packaging was good, just like any name brand reel. -No play in the spool. -The spool has a little peg thing on it to keep your line from disengaging from the spool. I think I like that better than holes in the spool or using electrical tape. -Rubber traction pad on the thumb switch which is a nice little touch that I will certainly appreciate in the rain. -Drag washers are carbon fiber! Assumed they were going to be felt at this price point, so bonus! -Main gear is indeed a big brass one. Machining quality seems fine. Cons -Some play in the power handle. -Out of the box free spool is poor. With brake setting on zero, the spool only spins five or six times when I flick the spool. *Note: Oiling the bearings really helped the free spool time but it still isn't great. -It is a little geary feeling and I can hear the reel when turning the handle. I'm going to open this thing up and see how much grease is in it. *Note: Opening the reel and lubricating it with grease and oil really helped the smoothness. There was grease inside but the care in its application was lacking. -The anodized metal on the spool is red like it is supposed to be but the spool tension knob and colored inlay on the reel body are a pink/magenta color. See attached image. -When I tore down the reel to grease and oil it: --Found brass metal shavings on the handle hardware stack from the star drag adjuster, none inside the reel though --The bearings were pretty dry so I needed to add oil. -The included parts diagram doesn't clearly show you the orientation of the parts, so if you lose track of which direction some of the bushings or similar parts go, then you're in for some lengthy trial and error to get the reel back together. Other -Star drag adjuster is plastic. That might be a pro or a con depending on your application. -Note: the metal nut inside the star drag is brass and also seemed to be the source of the metal shavings I found. -Some of exterior plastic parts aren't fully finished in that there's mold lines and plastic burrs on some of the parts. These aren't parts you touch though so it's not a con, just something to be aware of. Also, there are some tool marks on underside of the reel from the factory assembly process as well. -Unsurprisingly at this price point, there is a lot of plastic on this reel but it seems to be metal in all the areas that would actually be under load. So no harm no foul, less to corrode for you saltwater anglers. -Abu Garcia Reel Grease is compatible with the factory grease; there was no ill effect when mixing them. -Standard nylon/plastic cogs for the worm gear line assembly. Tolerances look fine. Was scared they would be reel destroying cheap metal.