Really impressed with the combo so far. Comes with lots of backing and the fly line does indeed have a welded loop. The reel is not fully sealed so keep that in mind when saltwater fishing. But the real does have a smooth drag system with a satisfying click. I think the only thing missing is that there is no hook keeper above the handle which is odd. Everything else is quite nice upon looking it over and setting it up. It does handle large bass poppers well and is able to cut through the wind like a large fly rod should. A fantastic starter combo for targeting larger fish without breaking the bank.
