What's the difference and is it worth it? Reels

[Snag]

I've got a Abu 6500 C3 and was wondering if it is worth it to spend 2-3 hundred on one of the higher end reels. What have you guys noticed as the main differences. I like to throw spinner baits, bucktails, and a few topwaters.

[cliffy]

That is a good question...I have been using abu c3s for the past few years...I have never had a major problem but I am curious if it would be worth stepping up to the spendy reels.

[Giant_Jackpot]

I know several guys who have made the jump up and are happy with the decision. They say there is less fatigue. I’m still not willing to part with that much for a reel. Now, $1000 for a nice GPS and mapping software? That’s another story!

[barnyard]

I upgraded from 6500's to 7000's. For me, the difference in effort was substantial. To me, it was also worth the extra $40ish dollars.

I seriously doubt that a Calcutta is 2x or 3x better than a 7000.

Tom B

[RK]

Hiya,

Boy, to me, this is one of those deals where beauty's in the eye of the beholder. Some of the high end reels are extremely nice, no question. But - fish don't have any idea how many ball bearings the reel you're using has (and wouldn't care if they did - heh), and you don't get any style points for this stuff. I know they may be smoother than some reels, but to me reliability and the ability to take abuse are more important. I'm not exactly famous for my reel maintenance, so I want something that holds up. I use Garcia 7000s almost exclusively, mainly for that reason. They just work forever. I have some that are close to 20 years old that are still working fine. I replace pawls and worm gears as they wear out, but that's about it. They grind a little and probably sound like a truckload of pipes, but they keep working...

Cheers,

RK

[guideman]

It seems to be the trend these days that you have to have all the best gear to catch Muskies. Well if you can afford it I guess that's OK, however I think you need to consider how often you fish and

whether or not a $350.00 reel is a wise choice.

I own one Calcutta and I do love it, however with

15 muskie rods, I doubt spending $6000.00 on the reels would be a wise choice. Abu's have always served me well, they are durable, easy to fix and the factory stands behind them. If I break one I just send it back and they fix it for a small fee and many times, they just sent me a new one.

Like RK, I have some that are very old and they still work great. If I get one that gets a little stiff or that makes a little noise, I just put it on a pike or bass rod and they work fine. I'd say

save your money for more baits and start with an Abu, if you get rich or start fishing more spend the big money.

Unless of course you own a Ranger, then you need to buy the Calcutta's, because Abu's just don't go well with Fancy shirts and Dockers, and you'll have to buy some of those Italian sandals too.

"Ace"

[toddb]

Well said Ace-

Calcuttas are nice but they break too(at least mine do). Sometimes a reel like a 6500C4 or a 7000 fit the task so well, you can't help but use the cheaper reel. Abu and Shimano both make a great reel, and if your just starting out, go with the Abu and spend the money you save on good release tools and some nice "purty" lures.

later,

toddb

[ilikepike]

The price jump from a $20 reel to a $60 reel represents probably a ten-fold increase in quality. You are going from a piece of junk that won't get you through one season to a solid reel that will last years. I can't conceive that a the jump from $60 to $200 represents even a doubling of actual functional quality in a reel. I think your paying for cosmetic features and maybe some slightly perceptible improvement in the machining. I do, however, feel that a $200 rod is vastly superior to a $60 rod. So I would put the extra money toward a rod before I put it toward the reel, assuming I had any money left after fueling up my vehicle.

[BrianF]

Snag

RK is spot on. Muskies don't care what a reel looks like, or sounds like, or feels like...but I do. Fishing with reels that regularily break down, or sound and feel like rusty pea thrashers isn't pleasant to me.

I also agree that the answer to your question, "Is it worth it..." depends on how much you fish. I fish alot, and after years of fishing exclusively Abu's, stepped up to some higher end reels - and will never look back.

What are the benefits? My experience has been:

Fewer Repairs - With Abu's I had to send them to the factory (great service) constantly for repairs. Probably half of my fleet of six went to the factory at least once a year, for as long as I used them. I've not had a single issue with high end reels for two seasons now.

Less Maintenance - I had to break-down, clean, and lube my Abu's no less than once a year, otherwise they developed problems on-the-water much more frequently. With high end reels, I haven't cleaned or lubed them in two seasons - and don't plan to this spring, since they still feel/sound brand new!

Feel - I like very smooth feeling reels. The difference between a high end reel and an Abu after a couple of months of fishing is quite noticeable. No irritating grinding or chirping or screeching with high end reels.

If you fish alot, and can afford high end equipment, I think the benefits outweigh the extra cost. I've settled on Diawa CVZ300's, after having used them all including Calcutta TE's.

And, Ace, as for Ranger owners...I'm one (621), but don't wear no fancy I-talian scandals! Owning a Ranger doesn't mean you're rich...only that you're not adverse to debt! hehe

BrianF.

[Snag]

I ended up getting another 6500 C3, but I did manage to get a slight upgrade with the thumb bar . I've got $50 on Els at 9 to 1 in the Masters this week. If he comes through, the abu is getting paired with a nice rod. If not it's Gander IM8 time. I figured that I don't fish enough for muskies (yet)to justify the high end stuff.