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Location: Illinois-Indiana | If you had $225 and could only buy one reel, what would it be and why. |
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Posts: 28
Location: SOUTHERN..MN | i would buy two 6500 c3's and use the left over for a case of beer..
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| Shimano Calcutta 400te.
SWEET REEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 20273
Location: oswego, il | For that money I would get the calcutta 400 or the penn 965. Both are nice reels, have the same retrieve ratio. Calcutta is a bit smoother but the penn will last you your lifetime(come to think of it, the calcutta might do that;-)). |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I'd buy 2 3/4 Daiwa Millionaire CV-X 253a's. They're cheap, but really smooth and solid. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | That would buy a nice Used Shimano Calais. Can you say Smooooooth. I love mine. But if I was spending 225 and I already had it I would just pick up a C4 Winch (don't have anything as low as the 3.8-1 ratio) and a new Croix to go with it and still have more than enough to grab a spool of power-pro. I would like to cast one of those Calcutta TE's, but they start out at about $299. For $30 more you can get the TE GT which adds a whiffle spool and the two bearing handle  |
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Posts: 99
| ????????????? That would be messed up!
Edited by OnceBit 3/12/2004 10:07 PM
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I just got a TE 300 and was wondering if anyone else used this reel. I traded two other reels new in the box for it(I couldn't afford it otherwise). I got the 300 because it holds similar amounts of line to my 5600 reels, and was wondering if you guys preferred the 300 or 400. I haven't taken it out of the box yet. |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | My Big Game 6500HCL w/6.3:1 gears. Not because it's better than my TE 400, It just suits my style of Dawg rippen the best. Sucks up that slack line fast! I bet it would be a dynomite Rattle Trapp reel.
I just got my TE back from Shimano. They replaced 3 bearings, the drive and pinion gears, the levelwind worm and a new handle. The repair slip said "USE SHIMANO GREASE ONLY! NO RED GREASE!(hot sauce) |
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Posts: 172
| 7000C3 abu, because i've broken EVERYTHING ELSE. it holds up well, it's smooth and fast, and for my money, i can't find a better reel. (yes i own the high end ones too...lol)
i'm picking up a 7000HSN before the season starts too, looks to be another fine addition. anyone use this reel or abused this reel? i'd love to know how it holds up!
-MNmatt |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | I don't want to hear about the 400TE, I know it's a great reel.
The question is if you had $225.00 to spend, not more. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I would search all over and find me a couple more old Abu Professional Series 5600C models. Three years of extreme use, and nothing but smooth, quiet, reliable service. |
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Posts: 158
Location: Eagan, MN | I'll take an Abu Garcia 7000 Big Game regardless of price. Fast, powerful, bulletproof and simply manhandles big baits. |
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Posts: 358
Location: In the slop! | 975 Penn, they can be bought on ebay for around $200 or less if you find a deal. Fantastic construction and, MADE IN U.S.A. |
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Posts: 116
Location: winnipeg manitoba | abu 5600 is the way to go. for that matter any abu is awesome. i own 10 a they all take a beating and keep on working. my fav is the 7000. good luck in your search. |
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Posts: 391
| Diawa Millionaire 300cvz
then either a calcutta or penn 965. Diawa has the smaller diameter to it and seems to stay smoother than my calcutta over the long run. It has a bit faster gear ratio which I like as well.
What reels are you considering?
Kly |
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| 7000 C3 is the best at any price for durability and performance. But the Calcutta is sweet if you want to pay more, go for the TE |
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Posts: 5874
| If I had that $225, Ralph, I take a good look at the Morrum 6600. I have had one for 4 years, and it has been flawless. Smooth, and long casts. I just ordered 3 more of them to go with my new St Croix Avid rods!
Didn't you ask this late last year? Didn't like the answers then, so you have to ask again? LOL |
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Posts: 440
| I vote for the Abu 7000 |
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Posts: 267
Location: Right behind you (tap, tap) BOOO | I would have to say my Abu Morrum 5600, slick and comfortable... |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | Shep,
I bought the Morrum and I like it, just looking at the new St. Croix's and wondering if I should try one or not. |
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Posts: 87
Location: Wauwatosa, WI | I like my Morrum 6600 and I have to admit I'm interested in the new St. croix 300. I also like my abu ultra cast, but they don't make them anymore.
Bob Ryan |
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Posts: 7106
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I just had a chance to give the new 6500CL Big Game a workout this Saturday, and its almost in the favorite reel category. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | If you are considering the new st croix reels, get a diawa instead. They are basically a cheaper version of the CVZ's that cost just as much. It wouldnt' suprise me if the st croixs were basically the $80 cvx's. Actually, I think my cvx seems smoother than the st croix I looked at. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Penn International. Tried one out, very nice, smooth, great drag. Made in the USA |
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | 6500-C3 TM. Mikie got me 1 before the LOTW outing last August and I love it . The large handle makes it a breeze to reel and it matches up real good with my 7'2" St. Croix. Other favorites would include Abu6500-C3 and a Abu 6500-C4. I like Abu reels . Not the most expensive but in my book probably the most reliable. I've owned Abu reels most of my life and have got a Mitchell 300 that's 30 years old and the only thing I've done to it is clean it up every season and add new greese. Still going strong.
Mauser |
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Posts: 5874
| I got a chance to use the St Croix last fall while fishing with Steve Heiting and Gregger. I liked the reel. Very smooth, and seemed to be well built. I liked the color, too!
I would consider the St Croix perhaps, but I just like my Morrums, especially at the price I'm getting them for. |
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Posts: 267
Location: Right behind you (tap, tap) BOOO | What about trying out one of the Tica Reels, like the Caiman 150 or 200. They seem really nice, 12 bearings, and they look like they have a very similar construction to the Morrum. Just a thought, I've been thinking about picking myself up one. I found a web site that sells them for $99.00 and they go for $133 in the stores.Esox23 |
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Stick with a great reel!! Calcutta 400!! The difference between a TE and a regular 400 is basically the pricetag, and a few minor features that sure don't add up to the TE pricetag. |
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Posts: 125
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | Next to my 400 TEs the Diawa Millionaire 300CVZ is my reel of choice. I have two of them and they are very high quality reels. The 300CVZ is what I upgraded to from my Corsair 400s and it was a night and day difference. You can't go wrong with this reel.
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Posts: 642
Location: mount prospect illinois | I have not tied a whole lot of reels, but i have used my brothers calcutta ct400 occasionally and have had it break on me twice. I own a few 6500c3's and a few of the "newer" maina Bass pro reels and both seemed more durable. I dont fish every day, but i also dont fish only twice a year and the 6500c3's as well as the Maina reels (improved newer one) seem to be the better choice. I cant justify to myself paying anything near $200.00 or more for a reel that seems to crap out more than an $80.00 reel. Just my experience. I do know guys who have nothing but great things to say about calcuttas though. |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | I own 5 Calcutta 400's and 1 Morrum, just trying to figure out if there is a BETTER reel out there for me with the same price tag. 
Was going to try the new St. Croix out. |
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Posts: 354
| The best reel I've ever owned is the millionaire cvz-300. $209 new.
I've been told the St. Croix is made by Daiwa, stamped St. Croix, but has more of the
cvx parts. The cvx is a step down in hardware, ball bearings from the cvz. I'm curious
about the Pflueger Trion 66. I tried one out at the bait shop, really smooth, 5 ball bearings,
and only $85 bucks. I know one guy on these boards has been using them...........how
do they hold up? |
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| Another vote for the Diawa CVZ 300. I'll be picking up another before the season begins.
BrianF.
Twin Cities |
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Posts: 2378
| 7000C3 and use the rest for more baits!! |
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Posts: 96
Location: Eden Prairie, Mn. |
Shimano Calcutta 400. No other reel can do it all. 10 inch believers, 12 inch suicks, Burn 8 inch hair, flip 1/2oz. twitch baits and work soft pastics. Match it with rod and line and start casting. A ROCK !!
This will be it's 8th season as my heavy 2-6oz. jerk/glide/Crank bait reel spooled with 80lb Tuff line. She has been abused all over Mn and Sconie from opener to Thankgiving weekends breaking ice.
I sent it to Shimano once out of guilt alone. No parts, just a clean and lube and a free Dartanium ? drag washer upgrade !!
That was three years ago. I would say No other reel could survive this long with ZERO problems.
I bought another four years ago because I knew I would have it for ten + years, cheap when you look at the longevity.
This spring I plan to add another.
You can all have your Abu's Have'em-wrecked'um, 2-6500's 2-5600's and a Black Max 6000, they are my trolling reels.
Can't say anything about they Diawa's - I would like to try one, very impressive.
Mother
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Favorite reel????????????