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| These are the gold 700 reels...to clarify. Anyone have problems with these reels. I have owned about four and three have broken. Boght the 7000iC and that broke. Sick of Abu Garcia reels breaking. Any recommnedations for replacements? |
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| there was a long time when i threw mostly standard/smaller baits and my Abu reels worked very well. i'm sure that they are still a good choice for those kinds of applications.
however, the switch to the bigger, harder-pulling baits that i favor now has resulted in one broken reel after another. as a result i've been switching my lineup to higher quality stuff. inexpensive reels just don't hold up to the stress put on them by heavy muskie lures.
i've been much happier with the results both in performance and durability with the higher-end Shimano reels. it's not a "good vs bad" assessment, but rather matching the kind of gear you use to the kind of lures you use and the amount of money you're willing to spend. for each person, that equation is different.
my new rules:
for casting it's got to have the word Shimano on the side. (Curados and Calcuttas)
for trolling it's a collection of Daiwa line-counters.
they're more than worth the extra coin.
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I too, have been making a slow shift away from Abu products. Once the reliable workhorses of the stable, these reels repeatedly find their way to my workbench for one reason or another.
And although I have used Shimano products and found them to be quite serviceable, my coin purse isn't as deep, so I have opted to pursue the Okuma route. I have been very pleased with the Okuma products and the price point is more my style. Are they Shimanos? No, they're not designed to be, nor are they designed w/ that market in mind. Are Shimanos better? Maybe, but are they a better value? Everyone has to decide that for them self.
I still use some ABUs for trolling applications as well as some Okuma Magdas and a Diawa Sealine when I feel the need for line counters. For my money, the Okumas probably bubble to the top of that list too.
S. |
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Posts: 238
| I agree with lambeau,i have a whole box of beat up Abus some dont even have a half season on them before they blew up.
I have run calcuttas for five seasons now and curado 300s for almost two seasons now with zero problums and lots of water time.
For trolling i have always run daiwa line counters LGC27C,s and again have had zero problums.
With the abuse that muskie fishing puts on reels you cant skip on quality or it will just prematurly fail,no if and,s or buts about it! |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I disagree with lambeau, I have never had an old style 7000 fail on me except when i slipped and fell on it(river fishing and algae was out of control.....still only broke the AR pawl). The newer 7000's are built differently than the old ones, with the problem for many being the lever. I'm not bashing shimano, but i've burned up more gears in a shimano fishing soft plastics for bass (texas rigs) than I have garcia reels musky fishing. For trolling reels Penn gets my vote all the way. Penn's international reels are second to none. Why do you think guys use them for marlin? I did have a problem with the new 7000 series from garcia. The lever would re-engage mid cast and then the gearing is rough, IAR bearing would sometimes get torn out of the side, broke the level wind pawl, the problems i've had with that reel and the fact that the push button style 7000's are getting harder to find makes me recommend okuma. California Muskie on this board has been more than helpful with many people. I would not hesitate to buy an Okuma after hearing about other people's experiences. |
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Posts: 388
| I have a 7000iC3 and have actually been very happy with it. I've done plenty of maintainence on my 6500 C3's, 6600 C4's, and even the Record - nature of the beast I guess... So far after a summer of I haven't had to do anything to my 7000. Need to lube it for the first time this fall. |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Yake, watch out for flying springs with the iC3. the lever spring and the two that hold the pinion in place will fly off if you're not careful. Also note that the lever takes a 10mm wrench/socket and it is not supplied in the box, nor is it the size of the 6500 crank nut. Also be sure to use a high quality grease, I prefer Lubriplate special marine grease since it does not sling off the gears like a lot of other greases from reel manufacturers. PM me and I will let you know which ones I have not had good luck with if you need advice as I don't want to be banned for bashing brands. I can give you some tips/pointers on the iC3 since I have had a lot of them apart. Let me know because they are a different beast than the 6500 C3 or Record. |
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| Look for "Made in Sweden" on the Garcias. Those reels last forever. The new ones not so much. |
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| Hi,have to agree with the comments on the 7000's..just got back from a trip up north,Brand new reel fromABU,even had it customised with an even lower gear, and with the Bull dawgs on, it would engage as I cast sending a screeching sound thrugh the Northwoods.. however, it still would operate well, with lighter stuff like Suicks,or bigger bucktails... you have to make sure that darn lever is all the way down or else, it'll engage.. |
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Posts: 443
Location: Duluth, MN | Everyone has their favorites but i have 3 of the St. Croix AC300's. Bought one each year for the last 3 years. Other than the oldest one needing the roller clutch replaced this year they have been flawless. I'll never go back to Abu, so as long as the AC300 is available i won't buy anything else. |
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| I'd look at a Penn 975 or Calcutta 700. |
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Location: Twin Cities | I have a box of Abu's that are junk. All my rods have shimano reels on them now and they are lasting much longer to the same abuses and fishing.
For trolling I picked up a few Guide Series line counters cheaply and have been happy thus far, they're gonna get used a lot real soon. |
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Abu Garcia Big Game 7000