For my first Baitcaster rig I didn't want to spend to much so I got a Abu Garcia Black Max and put it on a 6'6'' medium action  Ugly Stik casting rod,I read all the reviews at Cabelas and Bass Pro and overall it has gotten good reviews,and I just prefer Abu anyway.I tryed a few practice casts in the yard and I can see it's gonna take alittle practice but it did seem to cast pretty good.I hope I can get to the lake in the next couple of weeks to really try it out.

It definitely takes practice. Here's a tip; start out with the brake set all the way up. That's the adjustable dial numbered 0 to 9 ( on most reels) on the side opposite the crank. Adjust the tension knob (the small knob beside the star drag adjustment) so that whatever lure you have tied on will not drop when you have pressed the casting button, then slowly back off the adjustment on it until the lure SLOWLY drops. Make this adjustment with the rod parallel to the ground. Now practice your casts. You need to adjust the tension knob for each lure to compensate for different lures weights. After you are casting well with few backlashes, start reducing the brake adjustment a number or two at a time. I keep my brake at @ 4 or 5. Good luck, have fun, and happy fishing.

Attah boy! Abu's are really nice, try buying a practice plug and try casting in the yard, turn the magnetic break all the way up and when you cast put your thumb on the spool just enough so the line flows through smooth and not to loose so when the lure (plug) hits the ground you don't get a giant backlash, backlash will happen but thats all part of learning!

Anybody else have any experience witi the black max, particularly the Left Handed model? I've read some really good reviews and some really bad ones. I'm looking for another boat rod/reel. I already have a rod and don't want to spend $100+ on another reel. It will be primarily a backup reel for soft plastics on a 6'6 MH rod, probably tubes or grubs. I don't want to waste $50 on junk, but it won't get used as much as my other reels. I also saw the Bass Pro Extreme is on sale for $59, so I'm thinking about just getting that before it goes back up to $79. My choices are limited as I fish lefty and there is only 1 lefty reel for every 10 out there. Thanks guys.

If I were you I would go with a spinning rod for lighter finesse tackle, and 6-8 lb. Fluorocaron line on a 7 foot pole.

Now see, I'm just the opposite! ALL my reels are right hand retrieve. I converted all my spinning and fly reels to right hand retrieve for continuity with my bait cast and conventional reels. I cast right handed and switch hands during the cast. By the time the lure or fly hits the water, the rod is in my left hand and I'm ready to start the retrieve. This change over has occured in just the last 5 years after a life time of fishing only left hand retrieve spinning reels. And now any left hand retrieve reel feels awkward to me!
The BPS Extreme is a great reel by the way!! I have one and love it.