is a bit disconcerting. The concept put forward by Shimano is that by disengaging the line leveler, there is less gear drag as the line is stripped from the reel. The lack of gear drag results in longer and smoother casts. Shimano contends that its field testing had demonstrated that the disengaged level wind has no bad effect one the line once the level wing gearing is re-engaged during retrieve. I will be putting that to the test in June and I will report back as to my field test results. Assuming everything is as advertised, this looks like a great buy for the Musky angler who has the money and plans to take meticulous care of his reel investment. 2014 Update In 2013 I abused the 400D for about 5 weeks. Let me explain; I am very hard on my reels. I leave them out in the rain and sun and I don't always back off the drag when the fishing day is done. If a reel can put up with my persistent abuse, it will likely serve the more "reel friendly" musky angler well. After about 5 weeks of this abuse the drag failed. Regardless of how I tried, the drag would not tighten. I took the reel off the rod and let it dry out for a couple of days with the drag backed all the way off. When I put the reel back on rod, the reel worked for about 3 casts and then the drag failed again. After this lapse of performance, I cannot recommend this reel.
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