...I have one...one time a "Red Oil" came and I tried to use my thumb to stop him from running off...painful...do not recommend. The spool guard does not allow you to stop the line easily. Also the spool is too deep for thin lines creating a lot of wrinkles. Fly line do not have that problem because leaded lines need more room for housing. Try the UK center-pin reels instead. Youngs makes very good ones but very expensive...and not intended for salt water.