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Posts: 89
| Hey guys,
Just wondering if anyone has some experience with these reels. I'm looking to replace 6 of my old Abu 6500's and would like to find something cheaper than the luna or calcutta.
Thanks
Brett Jolly |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Bjolly,
I have a couple and they worked great for me this season. However, I did hear of a few guys having problems with them this year. But I would suggest the Abu SSC3's. There the same as the regular C3's but they have the thumb bar which I like much better. They run $85 in Rollie and Helens, so they won't break the bank but will perform awesome in my opinion. I will be buying more of those this coming winter! |
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Posts: 1168
| They worked fine for me. Only problems I had were inflicted on them by the user. I rarely throw bucktails but one issue I heard people having with them was that they didn't seem to torque up like a regular c3 would. On the very rare occasion where I did throw a bucktail this seemed to hold true where it was harder to crank than a c3. For everything else though I'm glad I've got them. |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | I put one to the test this season and its OK. If you are replacing your 6500's with a Record, you will be taking a step up for sure.... even if for the thumbar vs. push button alone. The reel stayed smooth, however as Ulbian stated.... it torques up waaaaay too much to be a work-horse reel. In other words, it sucks for burning bucktails but is awesome for reeling in slack line with a jerkbait. I needed a reel for burnin' and after putting a Power Handle on it.... it wasn't too bad for burning big blades. I'm planning to replace it with a Luna this winter, but I must admit, it got the job done in 2006.
If the reel stays smooth for another season... then I'd say it is a good deal for the money. |
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Posts: 198
| I used one last season but only for jerk baits, cranks and some topwater. It worked very well for these. I wouldn't get one if you plan on throwing larger bucktails for reasons stated above. Very smooth and I'd buy another but not for big bladed bucktails....
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Posts: 757
| Never fished with the record but for ten bucks more, I would consider the new 7000ihsn. Bigger, more powerful, and I would think more durable. Kdawg |
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Posts: 267
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana | This was the first year I used the Record and I liked it a lot. I had one problem with it and sent it in and had it back in four days, a real nice thing those guys got going. |
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| check out the new 7000 series..they have instant anti reverse, you can get the narrow spooled one at 5.3 to 1, or the large spool at 4.1 to 1..updated power handles are very nice...i used mine this Nov and it rocked
also, you can get a GREAT Price if you act fast on some 6500 Big Game CL's..they are great reels too....95 bucks at
http://catalog.catfishconnection.com/ |
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Posts: 96
| It's the best Garcia I have. I have used it all year, it's been all good. I use it mostly for trolling but it casts a bunch. musky39 |
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Posts: 172
| 7000 i-series HSN (model 7000 ihsn) is the reel to get this year like brad said. records are a nice light-duty reel, but for speed, power, and high torque get at least one 7000ihsn. these reels will blow your mind.
7000 hsn is GOLD, 7000 ihsn is BLACK, make sure it's BLACK!!!
-m
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Posts: 89
| Thanks for the info guys, I think I'm going to pass on the record and go with a 7000ihsn and either two Diawa Lunas or two Calcutta 400b's. I fish hard and need a reel that can take the abuse. There is no light duty in my boat!
Brett |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Brett, I used the reel all last year, and liked it when it was good. However, when it went bad it went bad quick. The anti-reverse bearing went out as well as some of the bearings inside started flaking off the coating on each needle bearing. Abu was good about fixing it though when I sent it in. In fact they sent me a new one to replace it. Hopefully they have the problem fixed so my new replacement doesn’t do the same as my original.
The reel was nice though. Nice and smooth, and cast farther than most my other reels. I do a lot of suspended fishing, and I know you do as well, so you know what I put the reel through. Lots of ripping of baits so I put reels through the test.
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Posts: 89
| Travis,
Yep, I'm all about the suspendo's! Have you had any better luck with other reels? I think I'm gonna get a couple of the Diawa lunas. |
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Posts: 663
| Ulbian and Jlong I'm curious about your observations on Records "torquing up" as opposed to the regulard C3 reels. The gearing is the same between the RCN60 and a 6500C3. The Record also has 6 bearings instead of 3 on the C3. Did you use the same lures with both reels and if so, what was the difference you noticed? The Record also has a chromed brass frame which makes it much more solid than a typical C3. In fact the Record "should" be a better performer when using cranks or other larger baits than a C3, Now if you're comparing the Record 60 with a 7000 I could understand it but based on the above information I don't see how you would find the C3 to be a better reel for bucktails. Are we just talking different terminology on what you mean by "torquing"? Please fill me in. |
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Posts: 58
| I have one Record I got late in the season. Casts like a dream, seems solid as a rock. Time will tell. |
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Posts: 1168
| Pete Stoltman - 12/22/2006 7:10 PM
Ulbian and Jlong I'm curious about your observations on Records "torquing up" as opposed to the regulard C3 reels. The gearing is the same between the RCN60 and a 6500C3. The Record also has 6 bearings instead of 3 on the C3. Did you use the same lures with both reels and if so, what was the difference you noticed?
Pete,
I won't be able to describe as clearly as jlong could but hopefully I'll give you an idea of what I am talking about. For cranks and glide baits I love them. First time I used them I did notice that bucktails cranked harder when you were going for speed. This was with the standard RCN60's (or in my case, RCN61's). Slap a power handle on that baby and it was nearly identical as a 6501C3. Guys I've fished with will tell you that I rarely throw bucktails so this wasn't that big of a deal for me. On those bigger jerkbaits, gliders, twitchbaits, etc. I really liked them, but without a power handle I couldn't imagine burning bucktails all day long. It wasn't reel specific either as I've got 4 of them and they all performed the same way. Since I rarely throw bucktails I didn't think anything of it since it didn't affect me but jlong did ask how I liked them one day and we began talking about the "torquing" deal. For what I throw 99% of the time I really like them, but in that odd occasion where I will throw on a spinnerbait or bucktail I've got a 6501C3 just for that purpose.
Edited by ulbian 12/22/2006 10:00 PM
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| the 6500, RCN60, and RCN60HC all have the same gear ratio of 5.3:1, but different line capacities.
so performance differences as far as power are likely related to the amount of line the reel is picking up per crank and not related to differences in the gears or construction of the reel. a reel trying to pick up more line will "torque up" more than another reel with the same gear ratio that picks up less line per crank.
adding a power handle gives your hand more power so you'll notice it less, but the amount of strain placed on the gears will still be the same. pushing a reel's power like this is a good way to wear it out...fast.
if you want to throw the hard-pulling stuff a lot i suggest looking for a large capacity reel with something more like a 4:1 ratio.
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| Or get a Penn 975 with power handle and 4.5 to 1...you won't be dissapointed... |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Pete,
I think Lambeau explains the technical aspect to my observations/comments pretty well. The only other ABU reels I use are Morrum 6600's (which I absolutely LOVE).... so that is what I was comparing the Record reels to. All I know is that I can burn a bucktail faster and for longer periods of time (less fatigue) with the Morrum than I could with the Record. Thus, my Morrums got more playing time than the Record. The only way I could "salvage" the Record to get SOME playing time against my Morrums and Lunas was to slap a Power Handle on it.
I'd much rather have the gears take the torque than my arm/wrist. But... that's why we all seek a quality reel that can withstand the abuse. Sure, a 7000 series would be a better option for durability and fatique... but then I'd lose my ability to palm the reel and in most cases I'd also lose the thumbar (I'll never go back to the dreaded "push button"). |
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| you know what they say about little hands JLong.... 
I palm 7000's just fine...the new lever over the old push button is pretty nice
again, you might want to try a penn 975 for crankin....Morrums are just a bit slower in the gear ratio than the records but it is a noticable difference... |
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Abu Record Reels