Mitchell is not only one of the oldest makers of reels in the world, but they haven't slipped much from their perch either. The visible 8 ball barrel chamber under the spool looks super cool when reeling. Multiple discs help keep everything tidy so you spend more time actually fishing rather than getting untangled. I've had about 3 of these and they absolutely crush smallmouth and shad. Maybe its that gear ratio. Either way. Thjs is the PERFECT way for someone trying to upgrade their gear without having to take out a loan. You'll see just how much more user friendly your whole rig is. (These still for $55 + tax btw)