GoTres --- You picked a good one.
This Past year I used a Sahara 2000 on a 7 1/2 ft. Cabela's Fish Eagle rod.
About mid June this year past I was fishing leeches under a slip bobber in 14 ft of water on the outside edge of a weed line on a break into 27 ft. of water.(f.o.w.) For the most part lookin to get a few walleyes and maybe a smallmouth bass or two.
Everything was going good, a walleye and two largemouth bass in the first 1/2 hour, looking to be a good day, I'm on my favorite spot in this reservoir and things are working. ------- It didn't last long.
Cat's, big azz channel cat's
They moved in out of the deep water, seen them on the fish finder, the boat was setting in 27 f.o.w. ---- Thought they were eye's, big eye's --- But nooo , not on this day.
Caught a few of the smaller one's (4-8 lbs) --- Fun
then the big one's started hitting.
So, what dose all of this have to do with Shimano Sahara? --- Read on.
I made the cast, the leech and that # 8 Octopus hook never stood the bobber up ---- It's gone, like now.
I set the hook. ---- Geez-us, it's solid, the fish never moved on the hook set.--- Chit
When this kind of stuff happens, I'll reach down and flip the reel into free spool and back reel the fish or point the rod at him and grab the spool and break the fish off.
Not this time. --- It's time to test the drag on the Sahara.
After all , it's a new reel.
Well, Mr. Wiskers mad the run for deep water, then he ran some more and more and more and, Hey, I'm running out of line. ---- Tighten the drag a little? it's only 6 lb test line. --- Better fire the boat up and go get some line. --- OK, got half a spool, the fight is on.
I have to cut this story short, the egg's and bacon are done and the wife is threatening to give them to the dog if I don't get in their and eat.
GoTres ---- The Sahara performed flawlessly, the drag on these reels is as good or better than some of the high dollor reels that I have.
The 2004 Saraha has Shimano's new rust proof bearings a good deal for salt water fishermen.
then the big one's started hitting. 
