i prefer the lever drag without the level wind , but thats my preference. i have used both . level winds can be good but sometimes they get stuck. i pulled them off a couple f reels ive had. the lever drag is so much better , it has a strike setting and quicker and easier to adjust when playing a fish. using the non level wind takes a bit to train your thumb to feed on but after a while it becomes automatic motion, im using a level wind atm but find myself trying to direct the line with my thumb

 I use a Shimano TLD 30 2 speed ( that’s a lever drag) coupled up with an ugly stick. Works great, usually have my octajig hanging off it. Won’t break the bank either.

For pinks, lever for dhue . I have Never used level wind( more things to go wrong). It's a matter of personal choice ,all work.

 Was having a discussion with the owner of my local tackle shop last week over numerous things; one of which was level wind V no level wind.

His conclusion was, if anyone wants level wind with low maintenance, go for Shimano. He rekons all other level winds fail without lubrication whereas Shimano just keep going without needing love. 

This led us into further discussion about Shimano gear ( bear in mind, this shop sells all brands) I was saying how these days all our gear is Shimano ( rods, reels etc)  and it probably doesnt get the love it deserves but it appears bullet proof. His response was Shimano may not always be top of the range but, it is made of the BEST materials, without question.

Currently, we run all lever drag ( no level wind) on our overheads. I have had spider drag and level wind in the past and have not had issues with either. Its just a personal preference for me.

Paul d I have a Rovex LD30 ( lever drag, level wind) which is in good order ( may just need new drag washers) you can have if you want to try it.

It was my elcheapo bottom bash reel for many years and has never let me down. I just changed it out for TLD 20

Send me a pm if its of any interest to you

 I have both. IMO lever drags best for trolling and star drag much better for jigging and light bottom work. Unfortunately to get big drag, you need to go lever so my Exxy bottom basher is a LD Talica as it has hulk drag. Lever just not as nice and slick as the star drags to let line out. 

TLDs are bullet proof and my go to cheap trollling outfits, but fark, they make terrible bottom bashers and even worse for jigs....trolling only. 

 We used them for a long time, my wife still prefers them, but they WILL let you down on powerful, fast running fish. You'll get caught with the level wind over one side of the spool, and the line trying to feed off at a sharp angle from the other side of the spool-PING. There's a very good reason why game reels, where you might be recovering 600 metres of lost line, meaning lots of manual laying, and that is it.  I prefer lever drags for all kinds of fishing, even bottom bashing and floating baits, as you can free spool so easily and just push the lever up to strike. I've had star drags that wouldn't go into gear if a fish took afloating bait and really bolted. Not so much of a problem if you are bottom bashing, but I still find a lever drag better for that, too, so easy to drop back a bit on the drift if you feel something is investigating it. And with your strike drag preset on a lever drag, you always know where you are drag-wise.

For pinks, floating baits, I find it hard to go beyond the Bait Runner style of spin reel from Shimano.

 ...star. Gotta be able to go in and out of gear instantaneously.

 Thanks for all the opinions

 Lever drag all the way mate. Just don’t skimp out on the reel buy right and buy once, have tried most overheads out there and have found the shimano talicas to be the most versatile. I have an 8 on a hyper saltier pe3-4. Also have a 12 on a t curve.  The talica 8 combo stops everything from 12 kilo pinks to 15 kilo plus dhus. If you are chasing just a jig specific set up head to 2oceans tackle and have a look. My set up is a maxel transformer 40 on a pe3 jignesis this set up is a weapon everything it has hooked has been stopped. Dhus sambos etc I went pe3 so I can use it for floaters in winter. The rod is still subtle enough for 100 gram jigs. Ps when I want to feel the esky quick out comes the 12. Pretty much should be labeled light weight winch 10 kilo pinks are nothing for it and I have never run any more then 8 kilos drag. 

 Talica 8 .... pe 3 or 4...

light... strong as a tank.. awesome.

 i have a talica 8 on a lemax slimax o/h rod 3-4 pe and have stopped good pinkies,dhuies and sambos up to 15kg. They are a good reel, bulletproof for anything local in my opinion. I also use a talica 12 on t-curve o/h rod and have been bricked by some big sambos and sharks in 50 plus metres, but still landed them... great reels you wont go wrong...

 Talica 8... plus brought a larger torsa handle for it. Shimano Game Tyoe J rod..

I find star easier for fine touches like when a bigger dhu needs just a touch more drag to keep his head pointing up. With lever its too easy to to over drag in that situation and pull hooks if he turns and runs (if it wasnt hooked well).

I run the talica 10 and found it easy to pull in dhuies to 14kg and doing it easy with sambos to 15kg

I run both non levelwind. Have to say the star drag is nicer to jig with. The freespool is "freeer" if u get what i mean and its a switch not a lever to get into freespool. This may seem trivial but when you use them side by side u can tell the difference. As said above its easier to fine tune the drag too rather than accidently shifting into full sunset and pinging off. That said too it is personal preferance. Im running an ocea jigger 1500 as my pe2.5 outfit and a maxel transformer 50 for my deeper stuff.