It's fantastic! I will guarantee that you will not find a better reel for the price. And the price is simply the most obvious feature to discuss. The reel is absolutely the best thing I have ever fished for Great Lakes Salmon and Steelhead. Each incremental drag setting actually adjusts the drag to exactly where it needs to be for the species you're after and the conditions you encounter. I own a 12, 10, and an 8. Good luck finding a reel that can subdue a King Salmon like a Maxxon Cage can 10 0r 12.
I used the CAGE 12 on my 12' 7/8 wt. bamboo Spey rod I built on the Rapid River in Maine. I fished it with 200 yds. of 30 lb. backing, a Rio Elite Scandi shooting head (#8 Short-34'-490 gr.), SlickShooter shooting line, both the floating and I/H tips, and 2X 9' leader, tippet, and flies. I was fishing for Brook Trout. The reel performed well, and the drag system was great. The CAGE reel did everything I needed it to do, and the price point was great at: Reel-$299.99 and Spare Spool-$149.99.
Excellent quality, tight tolerances. Looks bullet proof.
Exceeded my expectations. Beautiful anodized finish
I would not hesitate to put a larger version on a Tarpon rod.
Solid construction!
I now own 3 different model Maxxon reels and they are all fantastic reels. Really looking forward to running my Cage8 reel on my 6 weight spey rod when I travel out to Washington this fall. If you are looking for a big bang for your buck, you will not be disappointed with any of the Maxxon reels. Brian is very helpful with customer service!