Alot of positive reviews here and no doubt warranted. However, I have a different experience. I have a BBS III that I fished exclusively for a few years. I made sure the reel was cleaned and serviced appropriately. I did have drag failure while nymphing on a PA freestoner. Latched into a nice sized trout that started ripping line, then the drag went out and the fish was history. So was the reel - sent it back to Orvis for repair. Of course they repaired it and it's back in action - but I'll never forget that reel failure. It's a back up reel now.

I never did see that fish.

BBSIII - made in England.

Cheers,
Mike.