Reels???

[fishing4fun]

I'm in the market for a new reel or 2 this winter. I'm putting them on a St. Croix Musky Avid 8' rods. My question what reels have all of you other musky guys put on your rods. I have Abu 5600 on my other ones, but I seem to ware them out after 2 years of light use. I don't do alot of musky fishing, I'm just now getting into it a little more then the past. Do I have to go to a Calcutta. I'd really hate to spend all of that money. Do any of you use the Shimano Cardiff reels or have you looked at the new Cabelas reel that they have for this year. I just wish they had it in a 400 size.

I'm going to be using them mainly for big baits, like mag bulldawgs and such.

So what's the best for the buck?

[cjac]

I've heard good things about the new Abu Record, it's about $140. I think I might upgrade a 6500 or two and replace with the Record and see what I think. I just picked up a Cardiff, what some call a poor man's Calcutta. All kinds of options, comes down to the wallet in a lot of cases!

Chris

[Random guy]

I have also had trouble burning up the 5600 Abu's. I like them for jig fishing and the small bucktails but the drags keep burning up. I use all Calcutta 350 TE, they do cost a pretty penny but for the amount I use them they have held up great and are still as smooth and reliable as the day I bought them. Maybe meet in the middle with the cardiff or Abu 6500c3. I also think Calcutta has a model called the B model or something like that, less exspensive and a few things are cut back , like a plastic or composite line guide, cheaper bearings, etc. still a solid workhorse.

I have read a few articles on the Abu Record 50 & 60 model, they have updated the drag system to a carbon matrix that is susposed to be more efficent and durable, I have yet to put my hands on one yet but looks to be good real.

[cliffy]

Well, I am going to throw in my 2cents. I own several Abu c-3 6500s and have not had a problem. I do pull them apart at the end of the season and clean/lube or replace any parts that need to be replaced. So far, so good. I am sure that since I posted this message, they all will cr@p out on me this season...just my luck.

The last couple of season I have been using a c-3 7000 on 8ft rod and I love it. I know, that reel is a monster..but I have big hands and can palm it without any problems. I love the big reel for burning bucktails, picking up lots of slack or for heavy pulling baits.

I think there are a lot of good reels on the market in that 80-150.00 range. Keep doing your research and you will find something. Good luck

Cliffy.

[fishing4fun]

Hey guys thanks for the replys. I love it that everyone has thier own oppion. It really helps me out. I kinda figured thats what would happen. I'm just going to have to go to a store that has all of them and see what fits.

I live it a very rural area in SW MN. So I don't have a lot of places to test drive any reels. I do most of my research online, and that doesn't help much. So all of your help is greatly appreciated.

[Guest]

I use a Abu Garcia 6600SSC3 for mine and its worked flawlessly for me

[sbro73]

Jon,Where did you got your Calcutta TE350 ? Is it between models TE300 and TE400, I've never seen that one before ,but if the're around ,it may be a good investment.

[RuKiddingMe]

I have a hand full of 6500 C3's and C4's and one Morrum 5600 from Abu, clean and do maintainence on the off seasons and have not had a problem with any of them. One reel I want to pickup for this season is the new Daiwa Luna, I have also thought about getting a Penn international 965 or 955, these are both suppose to be workhorses. Both are going to run between $200 and $250, but in the end it's tough to beat the Abu's for the money, IMHO.

RU

[Cooter]

If you do own a 5600 Abu you can replace the drag washers - its easy and cheap. Smoooth drag(sp?) offers replacement sets for most Abus. The reason the drags may burn out quicker on the 5600 vs the 6500 is the 5600s have 2 washers while the 6500s have 4(something like that).

[RK]

Hiya,

I use Garcia 7000s 95% of the time. They're bulletproof. I think I have 7 or 8 of them, and some of them are creeping up on 18 or 20 years of hard use now. About all I ever have to do is replace a pawl and worm gear now and then because they wear out but other than that they hold up well, and I'm not exactly famous for keeping up on routine maintenace. I use the 7000C3s and 7000Bs most often, but do have some 7000 Big Games that have a higher gear ratio I use for smaller bucktails and topwaters.

7000s are big, and they take some getting used to, but their sheer power makes them way less tiring than a smaller reel with less line pickup and a higher gear ratio when you're throwing big baits.

When I'm not using a 7000 I use mainly Garcia 6500s. My favorites were the 6500 Big Game model, but they quit making them a couple years ago (I'm still bitter about that... ) Saw the new Abu Record at ICAST in Las Vegas this past summer, and they look a lot like the old Big Games. Heavier drag stack, single paddle handle... They look pretty good.

Cheers,

RK

[Random guy]

Quote:

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Jon,Where did you got your Calcutta TE350 ? Is it between models TE300 and TE400, I've never seen that one before ,but if the're around ,it may be a good investment.

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OOps. I walked out to the garage, they are 300. I'm not sure where I pulled 350 from? They are gold and shiny and I like them

[Cooter]

Surprised you haven't painted them red...yet.

[Random guy]

Quote:

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Surprised you haven't painted them red...yet.

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Chrome Metallic Red!

[White-tips]

7000's are flawless, but don't get the newer gold colored ones, they're junk. Get the old classics. Burned up two of the new ones last summer and both on their maiden voyages. 6500's are decent too, I would just have to buy the "Gator Grip" oversized handle to put on them. Very little fatigue with the Gator Grip and makes fighting fish of any size WAY easier.

[barnyard]

7000's are not only durable, but they also backlash alot less than smaller reels. Tuned correctly, they cast as far, if not farther.

I am teaching my youngest daughter to use a baitcaster this year. I think it will be alot easier to teach her with a 7000 than any other reel.

They are big reels and if you like to palm a reel, they do take some getting used to.

I bought several off hsolist and payed less than $100 each.

Tom B

[Muskydanno]

Good suggestions as usual guys. I have several 6500's and the c-5 mag x that has the thumbar that work just fine as long as you give them a little lubing every once in a while. Also gotta put a plug in for the shimano cardiff as that is the new one that i tried this last year and love it so far.Didnt even tear that one apart just oiled the worm gear once in a while. Great buy for a hundred bucks. Did a dry run on the new abu record while at the extreme expo and may end up trying that one also.