[burns]

I'm in the market for a reel for my 4-weight DT line / rod. I have large hands, and larger arbors make it easier for me to retrieve. I had looked at the Battenkill Large Arbor and I saw both positive and negative comments on it. It is currently on sale at Orvis for $99.

I'm not worried about backing capacity because this will be used almost exclusively for trout fishing, with some smallies on the side. I will use gel-spun backing to maximize capacity.

My concerns are:
- I've heard that this reel has a tendency to favor line retrieval on one side of the arbor or another, which can bind up the reel.
- When you "trap" the line against the cork handle with your non-winding hand, I would think it would be hard to retrieve line since the reel is so big.

I would appreciate feedback on this, especially from folks who have used the reel. The Bauer Rogue looks PERFECT to me, but I don't have the cash for that. Other reels I'm considering include the Lamson Konic, the Pflueger Trion, the Battenkill Mid Arbor, and the Battenkill BBS (standard arbor).

Thanks.