Real World Test: We spooled the OB-6 with a generous amount of backing and employed Scientific Angler's brand new Streamer Express Fly line. Once spooled the OB-6 became a good deal heavier, as the reel can hold plenty of backing thanks to the wide spool. This is important as a reel of this size can and should be paired with 7-9wt rods, and used to pursue larger, longer running fish, capable of effortlessly taking your line down to backing. We decided to go to the O'Neil Forebay for a chance to pit the OB-6 against some Stripers recently pumped in from the California Delta.

Casting (Line Delivery): The OB-6 balanced out every outfit we tried it on nicely. The reel helped make long streamer casts effortless thanks to proper line management. The enlarged Arbor Spool maintains your line in larger loops, helping prevent distance reducing line memory. Spool changes are straightforward, and are basically one touch, thanks to the center quick release button.

One of the nicest things about the OB-6 is the velvety feel you get when you draw line from the spool. Our editors described it as "accurate" and "refined" in feel. The line flows precisely from the spool, with no unwanted start up inertia. The Galvan drag unit is fastidious with watch like precision and among the best we have ever tested.

Drag: Galvan's drag unit is unlike many competitors who choose to use cork based drags. The OB-6's drag is constructed from stainless steel and Delrin, with the Delrin disc functioning as the actual brake mechanism. This disc is sandwiched between stainless steel and delivers constant drag pressure in just about any setting. The drag is precise and extremely smooth in all the settings we tried. The drag operates when the spool rotates and pins on the spool activate the one way clutch. This straightforward design provides a wide range of drag settings, but due to the sheer size of the enclosed drag, cannot deliver extreme drag pressure. The drag pressure that the OB-6 does generate should be enough for most every situation, and the reel is easy enough to palm should you require more.

The ergonomics of the OB-6 drag system are second to none. The OB-6 boasts one of the simplest, yet functional, oversized knobs I have every used. Easy to reach and adjust quickly on the backside of the reel, the drag mechanism has a clicker to help make fine adjustments instantaneously. During our tests we hooked into medium sized Stripers that were simply no match for the OB-6's Delrin drag, most tired quickly against the constant pressure. It would take a monster to test the upper limits of the drag, and the drag's overall performance was impressive.

Retrieve: Halfway through the day as I stripped line into the bucket I was unexpectedly smacked by what definitely felt like a quality Striper. Though it definitely caught me off guard I soon was able to catch up to the hard running fish and as I lifted the rod and rotated the OB-6 in retrieve the fish caught it's second wind and lurched forward again. Lucky for me the OB-6's wide spool makes it possible to retrieve line with excellent speed and matched the fish to provide plenty of fish turning muscle, and within minutes the fish was brought within reach of the net.

The OB-6 is truly a silky retriever, and the one way clutch provides a quality friction free feel. This reel is good for both right and left hand retrieve, and direction is set by flipping the clutch ring, which takes less then a minute to do. The only service you will have to commit to in order to keep the reel smooth is a periodic wiping of the clutch spring with a Q-tip, and 2-3 drops of ReelX oil on the area. Depending on how much you fish this should be done 2-4 times a year.

Weight: The OB-6 is not the lightest reel on the market, but not considered overly heavy either, in fact it falls somewhat within the middle range. But this was still odd to us as the design of the OB-6 certainly has removed plenty of metal from the original aluminum stock. The answer lies within two factors. First, the reel edges are thicker than other reels of the same class, the resulting thicker arms and spool edges help make this reel very robust and durable in construction, the trade off is the weight. The other major contributing factor to the overall weight is the actual drag and clutch mechanism. The stainless steel drag and housing with the addition of the oversized knob add an extra ounce to the total package.