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Posts: 84
| I'm sure this has been asked a lot but my birthday is coming up and I'm gonna get a new reel. I'm gonna get something in the $100 range I know these won't be the best and I don't need no one to tell me to get a toro or a calcutts . I'll mostly be throwing smaller buck tails, spinnerbaits, and cranks I have the okuma akena 400 or shimano Cardiff in mind which should I get ? |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | That AK 400 is one tough reel, it is a $150 reel in a $100 box and you can find it for about $80. No comparison to the Cardiff in my opinion. |
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Posts: 397
| I have a cardiff and it has performed well |
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Posts: 1000
| used 6500? |
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| I don't have as much experience as most, but was happy with my C4 last year and picked up a Record this year. The standard C3 should be just over 100 bucks and has been the model T of reels for decades.. Most people have used one at some point, they are easy to maintain, and parts are easy to come by if you ever need to fix it. I'm sure it doesn't hold a candle to some of the reels out there today, but for 100 bucks I think you could do a lot worse. Just make sure if you get a round Abu that it is stamped "Made in Sweden" on the sideplate... Abu is now making a few cheaper Chinese versions that are not the same quality. |
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Posts: 25
| I just got into muskie fishing and just went through this dilemma over the last week. Like you I was really looking for a Shimano Cardiff 400. Of all the reels people recommended me, the two I got most were the cardiff 400 or the ambassadeur c3 6500. If you sign up for promotions from places like Dicks Sporting goods. They often do $20 off $100 deals, so you could get a $110 cardiff for $90. Gander Mountain also has the C3 6500s for 99.99, but that may have been for the smaller size, and they were also sold out. Also, you can buy gently used Cardiffs or Ambassadeurs for $60-$80 on ebay. I'm no experienced musky fisherman by any means, but Ive been doing a lot of research as of late. If the size of cranks youre wanting to throw are very big, you may want to go with a gear ratio in the 5.3:1 area (Ambassadeur C3). If youre wanting to burn your bucktails, you might want to go with a higher gear ratio like a 6.4:1 (Ambassadeur C4). Finally, if you don't think you a lot of line capacity (for trolling, etc) you might want to consider a size down to the Cardiff 300 or Ambassadeur 5500. I was told theyre a much more comfortable size to handle.
Hope this helps. |
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Posts: 143
Location: Palatine, IL | No issues with my Cardiff. |
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Posts: 69
| I vote Cardiff I have had no trouble with mine good real for the money. I have had some issues with okuma reels. |
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Posts: 30
| The Cardiff is a great reel for the money. I have a Toro, a 300ej and still use my Cardiff all the time. |
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | Okuma Akena without a doubt. Used mine for double tens even and didn't have a problem. |
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Posts: 84
| Went to my local wal mart last night and they happened to have a okuma on clearance for $80 so I grabbed it I feel for what I'm gonna do it will work fine I'll keep updated on how it treats me of anyone's curious like I was . |
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Posts: 349
| middlefork61 - 3/25/2014 5:14 PM I'm sure this has been asked a lot but my birthday is coming up and I'm gonna get a new reel. I'm gonna get something in the $100 range I know these won't be the best and I don't need no one to tell me to get a toro or a calcutts . I'll mostly be throwing smaller buck tails, spinnerbaits, and cranks I have the okuma akena 400 or shimano Cardiff in mind which should I get ?
dami0101 - 3/25/2014 5:17 PM I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. This has to be a joke, right... I have owned both the Cardiff 400 and 6500c3... In your price range, i would definitely recommend the Cardiff 400.
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Posts: 760
| There is a reason why Abu has made the 6500c for how many decades now??? Kdawg |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | tswoboda - 3/26/2014 9:57 AM
dami0101 - 3/25/2014 5:17 PM I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. This has to be a joke, right...
What about that is a joke?
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | tswoboda - 3/26/2014 10:57 AM
middlefork61 - 3/25/2014 5:14 PM I'm sure this has been asked a lot but my birthday is coming up and I'm gonna get a new reel. I'm gonna get something in the $100 range I know these won't be the best and I don't need no one to tell me to get a toro or a calcutts . I'll mostly be throwing smaller buck tails, spinnerbaits, and cranks I have the okuma akena 400 or shimano Cardiff in mind which should I get ? dami0101 - 3/25/2014 5:17 PM I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. This has to be a joke, right... I have owned both the Cardiff 400 and 6500c3... In your price range, i would definitely recommend the Cardiff 400.
What was the joke?? You can get a Calcutta B all day long for $150 used. If that's what you were referring to? I've seen very nice gently used curado's go for 130-150.. |
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Posts: 306
| +1 on the Abu C3. I've owned several 5500s, and never had any problems. I keep 2 on hand for newbies to use on trips, or as backups. |
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Posts: 151
Location: West of the metro, MN | My Cardiff is still hanging on after 3 seasons, I take good care of my gear, I've had to put some work in it but it works. I've got older c3's, C4's that last just as long, if not longer. They're a lot easier to fix/clean and you can tune em. |
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Posts: 349
| Ok, I'll try again: Original post... middlefork61 - 3/25/2014 5:14 PM I'm sure this has been asked a lot but my birthday is coming up and I'm gonna get a new reel. I'm gonna get something in the $100 range I know these won't be the best and I don't need no one to tell me to get a toro or a calcutts . I'll mostly be throwing smaller buck tails, spinnerbaits, and cranks I have the okuma akena 400 or shimano Cardiff in mind which should I get ? First reply... dami0101 - 3/25/2014 5:17 PM I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. You guys don't see the irony here? I totally agree the Calcutta B is a great reel and a good, used one can be had for $150 or less. Same for a good, used Toro or Curado. BUT I think the OP already knows that and it's not what he wanted to hear.
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | tswoboda - 3/28/2014 9:46 AM
Ok, I'll try again: Original post... middlefork61 - 3/25/2014 5:14 PM I'm sure this has been asked a lot but my birthday is coming up and I'm gonna get a new reel. I'm gonna get something in the $100 range I know these won't be the best and I don't need no one to tell me to get a toro or a calcutts . I'll mostly be throwing smaller buck tails, spinnerbaits, and cranks I have the okuma akena 400 or shimano Cardiff in mind which should I get ? First reply... dami0101 - 3/25/2014 5:17 PM I have no experience with those reels, but if you can stretch your budget to $150 you can probably get a used Calcutta B in good condition. You guys don't see the irony here? I totally agree the Calcutta B is a great reel and a good, used one can be had for $150 or less. Same for a good, used Toro or Curado. BUT I think the OP already knows that and it's not what he wanted to hear.
Gottcha, for some reason I read it as Calcutta 400D's |
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Posts: 32
| daiwa lexa 300hs 7.1:1...awesome reel for small stuff. 32.4' per turn 22lb drag. 135 bux on ebay |
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new reel