I need some advice on good sturgeon bank fishing reels. I have been using an ABU 7000 but it doesn't like the extreemly heavy drag settings I use with 80# power pro and a heavy rod. It bends the spool axle so the spool rubs on the frame when taking line. What other kind of reel would cast far and still be strong enough to match the rest of my gear? I was thinking of a Penn 310 gti, I have a 320 but it doesn't cast nearly as well as the ABU, although it is plenty stout.

I have had a shimano triton 200gt for about 7 years. I have smoked the drag on it more times than I can count and all the lettering is worn off, I can toss 20 oz with it farther than most, and still lighten up and wing 2oz halfway across the naselle at the shack hole, Don't rally have any experiance with anything else besides spinning reels. Haven't found one yet that would hold up...

I use a Daiwa SeaLine 47H spooled with 40 pound big game fishing line.
If you can find one, get it. Cast so nice

Diawa SeaLine 50 is the best reel that you can buy for bank sturgeon fishing. It is very smooth and has a wide spool with no line guide so you can really get the distance you need.

If price is not a matter, Van Staal makes a VERY nice spinning reel. Penn also has good heavy spinning reels. Cheaper but still good are the Okuma spinning. If going level wind I would try the 310, 320, 321 GTI's. I have a 321GTI and never had a problem. I have heard the Okuma levels are good too but never used one yet. The old Alvey reels are direct drive "knuckle busters" but can throw a weight half way across the world. I saw one toss 8 ounces of lead some 700 feet on a TV show one time. THAT was a Columbia River cast if I ever saw one. My best toss has only been across the Chehalis at Friend's Landing, which is still a long ways. I was using a 15 foot rod and a Shakespear Reel. Sucks now because I finally busted my rod. Stay away from the Eagle Claw and Diawa reels I have gone through several of each. About one a year when I used them.

You should buy a reel with as many ball bearings as you can afford. I was gonna suggest a Penn GTi 320, but since you say it doesn't cast very well with 80lb test perhaps it couldn't hurt downgrading to 60lb test. Also, using thinner diameter lines would cast more easily than if you're using low grade mono. When it comes to big fish like sturgeon, don't skimp on tackle, buy the stuff you need to manhandle the brutes.
If you're fishing Friend's Landing I really suggest using some stout tackle mainly because there is a lot of submerged woody debris. Plus bring along a bunch of sinkers since you're bound to lose one every couple casts if not every single one. Don't use pyramids cause if they hang up they're not likely to come back out even if you try mightily to break it loose.

When sturgeon fishing never use the thinner braided stuff. It will dig into itself. The quantum iron reels cast good hold enough line and have a high gear ratio so you won't get hung in the rocks.(If you ever go to Bonneville you will appreciate the speed) The shimano speedmaster is a really long caster, but you have to guide the line with your thumb. I'd make sure I got a fast reel.
Glow

The shimano speedmaster and the Daiwa 50 h are both very good casting reels.I've used both for about 10 years down by Eagle Cliff in the county line area.They cast a mile.The Speedmaster has a better retrieve at 6:1,and a terrific drag.But some people say the daiwa is built better.Pretty comparable reels though.
They dont have the line guides but after a couple uses it will be second nature to use your thumb for a guide.
The Penns mentioned are alll good reels.They cast decent.Not as good as the others though.But have a little slower retrieve at 4 or 4.5 to 1.Speed on the retrieval is a must in the places I bank fish. so I went to the other reels mentioned.I use the Penns in the boats or where a slower reel is o.k.

A little trick if you have a slow reel is to use a canning jar lid.Drill 2 holes across from each other.Put a split ring with a swivel on both places where the holes are.And run it off your mainline ahead of your dropper or slider and your leader.This setup may take a little more weight to hold it down in heavy current.But will plane your gear up super fast so you have better chance of getting your setup back.

Another trick I have used for my sinkers is to turn them into a grappling hook that will release.
I pour my own weights so heres how I do it.

I use my teardrop molds in 8-12 oz weights.Drill a 3/8" hole through the mold so it will point straight to the fatter bottom part the sinker.Cut 16 gauge wire in 7"-8" lengths, bend about 1/8 of an inch on 1 end of the wire.either hold or tape 4 of these wires together.Insert the bent end into the mold,through the hole I drilled.so that they are about 1/2 way in to the fat part of the sinker.Then pour my weight.
When I get to the river I bend the wires so they look like a grappling hook.I like to leave a fairly lomg shank,then about A 2" gap between the tip of the wire and the shank.I run a dropper of 12-15 lb test to my sinker just in case your in a spot that absolutely will not give up your sinker.This will usually save your terminal gear.I have run these with a slider and Bonneville style.They work best with a slight upstream cast so that the grapples have a chance to grab.

These sinkers will hold as well as a weight that is almost double what your using. i.e. An 8 instead of a 16 oz.And usually when you give your rod a good pull the wire will straighten out and let your sinker come free.

I have cut the amount of sinkers I lose in about 1/2.and these work better than any of the commercial ones I have seen.

I hope these ideas are of some help to you guys.

You might also try the Shimano 20/40s. I have not used it for casting superlines. I will not encourage the use of a levelwind reel for bank fishing because it slows your freespool.

Newell also makes a very nice reel for bankin it and they cast like a dream. Daiwa's 50H is also a good reel.