I have a calcutta 400s that I was trying to trade for a calcutta 400(with level wind) but no body wanted to trade but a few people offered to trade a penn 965 for it. Would a penn 965 work just as good for throwing swimbaits?

The 965 would probably work, it's like the penn version of the calcutta. Why get rid of the 400S? Once your thumb gets trained and you get used to your hand being on the foregrip rather than gripping the reel, it has a lot of benefits. Most guys just don't take the time to train their thumbs.

I bought a 400S for saltwater use back before I started throwing swimbaits and being the cheap kid that I was, didn't want to buy basically the same reel again, so I just used the 400S. A couple months ago that reel got stolen and I went for the 400S again rather than the 400, just becuase I got used to it and liked it so much. You get better casting distance, and once you're used to it I think you can get a better hookset with your hand in front of the reel. It's more of an upper cut swing with your arm rather than a curling motion on the hookset. Not to mention the ease of backlash removal, with no crossbar :P

To tell you the truth I'd almost prefer any reel 300 size and up without a levelwind. The extra casting distance is clutch, and it can definitely be a benefit rather than a drawback, just takes a little practice. I actually find myself holding my other swimbait rods (that have levelwinds) in front of the reel with my thumb on the line... I guess I've gotten too used to that 400S. Ya know, maybe I'll do a little hacking on my catala and make a CA300S... hmm, shimano techs, any foreseeable problems?
-Brian

400S with power handle on a 15-12
Sorry, couldn't resist :)

http://www.calfishing.com/images/sanpablomonster/9_pig2.jpg

I don't use the 400S any more though. I got lazy and went to all levelwind reels. Call me an old man. I do dig on the power handle, but the handle on the 400TE is even better. Sometimes I've thought about seeing if a small Trinidad handle would fit on a 400TE.. That might be pretty dope.

Rob, is that noodleroni I see in that picture? :-)...Larry

Yes indeed. Noodleroni's finest moment. That was my first day on Pablo ever and I heard it had big bass so I figured I better use a big rod :D

Brian my thumb is allready trained to set the line on the reel because I fish salt water probably just as much if not more than I fish fresh water because Im a deck hand on a 1/2 day sportboat but I figured that it would be easier with a level wind, but I guess there are a few advantages to the 400s like the casting distance and better hook sets like u said.

So keep the 400s instead of trading it for a penn 965?right

Sure, I don't see why not. I mean as long as you don't have a problem guiding the line, there's no real downfall to not having a levelwind. If anything it's an advantage. You don't need a levelwind to catch bass :D
-Brian

Brian is absolutely right! no levelwind=better casting!!!!
First off, a 965 does not even compare to the quality of the 400,
DO NOT TRADE IT!
Rob, you could put that handle on, but you risk the weight of it throwing the reel into gear when casting, hard to explain, but imagine your handle being in the position where the "ball" or grip on the handle would be in front of the reel, the motion of your cast, (depending on how smooth the clutch is) will throw the ball forward and engage the reel.
Brian, you can rip out the worm gear of the Catala, let me know, I walk you through it bro!
Dane