they both throw big baits. if you go with the 250, you pretty much have to fish it with spectra or else you will have line capacity issues which will effect your drag, casting distance, line retrieval, etc. So after you pay for teh spectra and the 250 you are already in the ct400 range so i would just stick with that. also, make sure you get the levelwind because the ct400s is a little too wide for me to comfortably guide the line in with my fingers all day.