Eagle Claw Skeet Reese Victory Pro Carbon 2000 Spin Reel

I was looking to add another rod/reel for a 4th of July trip coming up but failed to find the time to hit BPS and Cabelas, so I hopped on Amazon to see if they could help me out. Normally I go straight for what I know, which for the last 10 years has been Pflueger; Current arsenal consisting of a couple Supreme XT's and a couple Presidents. As partial as I am to the Supreme XT, I just bought one a month ago and had wondered if I should drop another $150, so I got to browsing. I stumbled upon the Skeet Reese VPC, a reel that I had previously read a review on. I decided to do a bit more searching for reviews but came up empty handed. There just wasn't much in terms of hands on experience; The type of review that helps me open my wallet. I was a bit hesitant as recently I ventured into an Okuma Helios with high expectations but was let down; Just not my cup of tea. Amazons price on the VPC though, in the $90 range at time of purchase, was enough encouragement for me to take the plunge... I'm so glad I did!I find this reel to be good to excellent in most areas. I paired it with a 13 Fishing Omen Black, 6'7" medium with an ultra fast action; My current rod maker/model of choice. The VPC is smooth, the construction is excellent, bail and spool fit and finish are very good and ready for braid, perfect gearing, not to mention a great overall look. I typically fish 30/1500 size reels and this one, though just a bit larger, is still comfortable. For those that like to use the handle to close the bail, you'll find it near effortless and very consistent. I did some minor testing of the drag and found it to be above average for its size. There is only one cavet in my eyes but it is nothing to unnerving... I find the handles angle and length to be a bit awkward but after a bit of use it starts to feel normal. My only issue here is when I jump reel to reel, the change in geometry is a bit uncomfortable at first. A few casts and the sensation goes away; I'll update as I get more use out of it.Overall this reel is a winner. At the $150 retail I have seen these at, I believe there is more bang for the buck out there. At $120, this reel is priced right and is a good bang for the buck. Under $120 (and in my case under $90 :) this reel is a steal... If Amazon gets them back in stock at the same price point, I'll definitely be picking up another for myself and maybe a couple as gifts. If you are looking for a 5 star reel at a slightly higher price point, I encourage you to take a look a Plueger's Supreme XT model; Another great bang for the buck and a reel I find to be basically flawless. At a lower price point, Plueger's President model is the best value in a spinning reel period.Happy fishing!