Hi, I have a beautiful St. Croix rod w/ an ambassadeur (abu-garcia reel) .......... I used a St. Croix reel (borrowed from a friend) the other day and what a difference !!!! The St. Croix reels are expensive but you get what you pay for. I had only two backlashes in five hrs. thowing against the wind, with my Abu-garcia I'de have three times that amount............ so bite the bullet and get the Dodge Viper and not the Yugo !!!! Those big Musky lures are just to much for sub-par reels...... A St. Croix reel will be on my X-mas list this year.......... don't make the same mistake I made. Regards, Larry