Sougayilang Trolling Reel, Level Wind Fishing Reel, Conventional Reel for Salmon and Catfish

Solid real have no issues with it my second bait caster I couldn't cast the first one I ever touched to save my life but this one makes it easy and casts a good long way with a 3oz weight and 30lb line on a 8 foot med/heavy pole

I ordered this reel for bottom fishing on the Oregon coast and in Baja, Mexico. Lots to like straight out of the box with a few small negatives. The good stuff:1) Metal where I didn't necessarily expect it at this price point (~$35.00). Left outer frame, spool, star drag, reel foot, and handle.2) Low (3.8/1) gear ratio to grind fish away from the rocks.3) Level wind so I can focus on reeling and not thumbing the line across the reel spool.4) Handle turn engages the drive from free spool. I can still engage the drive manually, but I don't have to with this feature.5) Capacity is just what I was looking for (30 lb test/220 yards).6) Two handle position holes. One is standard (pictured) and the other is for a wide handle radius for maximum power (the open slot in the photo).7) A substantial drag washer set. Very nice when you are working a stubborn fish.8) A clicker is included for trolling (alerts). I don't plan to use this for trolling but for those who do, it's a good feature.Here's the negatives I see:1) If I hold the spool still with my thumb there is a bit of play back and forth and side to side in the handle. Nothing to cry about, but not crisp and tight.2) The handle has one grip and a counter balance on the other side. When I crank the handle fast it is clear that the counter balance is not a perfect match. Not a deal-breaker, but....3) I can feel the gears mesh as I turn the handle. The description says "machined brass gears". Either the fit is not super tight (see above) or it needs a bit of reel lube. I will be adding a bit of lubrication before fishing this reel.Overall, a really good reel for the price and easily worthy of four stars.

Well made

I had to wait an extra day for delivery. Upon receipt and inspection, it is an aesthetically pleasing reel. It appears well-made and sturdy. However, I immediately started looking at the box and realized no instructions came with this reel. I also realized that the reel itself was free in the box. There was no packing tape, no bubble wrap, no instructions (again), and finally, the item looked as if someone else had returned it and their complaint department boxed it up and shipped it to me. As for the reel itself, the brake does not work. The spindle itself does not tighten at all. Without the instructions to be sure, I cannot use the reel. Very disappointing as it looks really cool. If the company reaches out, I may give them another shot, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll be returning it tomorrow.

I must be doing something wrong because every time I cast it the line becomes a tangled mess. I still give it 5 stars because it is high quality and super durable. I just think that the issue is my not understanding the differences between this reel and others. I will be watching youtube videos to figure it out though.