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Posts: 75
| I am looking at picking up an Abu Garcia Record reel. Anyone have any experiences good or bad with this reel? Is it worth the extra money over the other Abu's? |
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Posts: 431
| They are very smooth. My dad's got a Record 50 that he loves. I've got a Record 60 that I haven't used much, but I like it. |
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | I'm not sure if they've changed in over the past year, but I went through 4 in about 2 months last year. All anti-reverse problems. I finally gave up. |
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Posts: 8845
| I've had two of them. The first one broke mid-cast, throwing a 1-1/2 oz spinnerbait, after only a few days of use. It made this nasty noise, after which you could pull line off the reel with the reel engaged, and the handle would spin backwards. Somehow the reel handle got bent too. (I figured it got stepped on in the boat or something dumb like that)
Abu was gracious enough to send me a free replacement. The replacement worked fine for two days until a boatside strike left the handle bent at a 45 degree angle.
I like the reel, as its smooth and comfortable. But it ain't made for muskie fishing.
Edited by esoxaddict 7/21/2008 4:15 PM
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Posts: 121
| I have 2 HC 60's. Use them for jerkbaits, twitching 9" and 13" Grandma's , and 11" Suzy Suckers and Curly Sues. Have not had a problem with them yet. |
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Posts: 267
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana | All of them that I have gotten have broke within a few months. But, Pure Fishing is good about replacing reels and such.
But the one I currently have is only going to be used for suckers, because I don't trust it for anything else. |
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Posts: 135
| I've got two, and haven't had a problem with either except the handle bending, which is a problem. Got a new handle that has a beefier feel, so we'll see. Just got my first Luna 300 and getting ready to try it out on Vermillion next week, I may switch but still like the HC60 for it's smooth, it's drag and it's comfortable, never have a backlash problem, and they're reasonable, esp considering Abu's customer service.
W |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | My experience - bad. 1st one would not engage, 2nd one the anti-reverse would not work after 4 days of limited use. |
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Posts: 38
Location: Port Washington, WI | I have one and I will say that I am not really happy with it. Mine too broke down. Abu was good and quick about fixing it though. It is real smooth casting but mine alway seems like it pulls kind of hard with baits with any kind of resistance. I have it on a rod that I don't use for much but small baits now, which it works fine for. I wouldn't buy another one. |
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| An acquaintance of mine had both of his Records break in the same day recently. Though I'm not sure what the problems with the reels were, it certainly speaks, as does this thread, to a quality issue with the reel. |
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Posts: 75
| Okay. Thanks for the input. |
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Posts: 1168
| Outside of the normal stuff that simply wears out, I haven't had any issues with mine. |
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Posts: 64
| I have been repairing reels for awhile now and the Records freespool system is a bad design in my opinion. If you engage freespool in a figure eight (most of us do) and are turning the handle at the same time it bends the metal tab out that engages the spool, and then they dont engage. A simple fix really but you have to dig in and bend the tab back in. A little thicker gauge metal would cure this problem. Calcutta's, and Luna's are built like tanks. Just my opinion. |
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Posts: 444
Location: Duluth, MN | I used it once for ski fishing and went and bought another St. Croix AC300. The Record is a good bass fishing reel. It casts a bass size spinnerbait very well. |
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Posts: 431
| Were you guys that were having problems using the size 50 or 60 and what kinds of baits were you fishing. My dad uses his 50 for regular size bucktails, spinnerbaits and small cranks. I'm planning on using my 60 on my jerkbait rod. |
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Posts: 663
| I have three RC 60 HC's. Two of them from last year and a new one this year. No problem with any of them and they get used a lot not only by me but by clients. Maybe it's because I don't engage the freespool until I'm ready to cast. I stop the bait with my thumb not by engaging the reel handle. Can't tell you why I'm not having problems but my experience with the reels has been good. |
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Posts: 64
| I have gone through 2 61's last year from gear problems. Still bought another one because the power handle on the Record 61's is a must and the reel is very smooth. I also stop the spool right before the lure hits the water just to straighten the bait but also so when I engage the reel there is no cluncking. The ONE real issue I have is the little screw that holds the retainer washer, that holds the nut in place for the handle comes lose and the next cast the screw and washer go into the drink. Lock tight on the little screw fixed all my worries. Also, the reason whey the handle bents is becasue of what was said above, the metal is to thin and reeling in the bait you put a little pressure on the handle cast after cast and a little at a time the handle bends. |
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Location: Twin Cities | I have three at home on the shelf that have all broken and been repaired then broke again immediately upon first use....FWIW.
Shimano for me, it's worth paying extra to not have any hassle's.
Edited by JRedig 7/29/2008 9:01 AM
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | I bought a new 60 for this year and have used it heavily. I really like it and would recommend it.
J |
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| I have gone through 2 60s already this season. Both had the same problem. The nut that holds the handle on would pop loose. Not sure if I put some weird kind of strain on them, but it happens over and over. Cabelas has replaced them, but I am exchanging this one for a different reel.
They feel like a nice reel, but I got sick of fixing it every 10 casts. |
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Posts: 267
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana | muskydeceiver - 7/29/2008 12:16 PM
I have gone through 2 60s already this season. Both had the same problem. The nut that holds the handle on would pop loose. Not sure if I put some weird kind of strain on them, but it happens over and over. Cabelas has replaced them, but I am exchanging this one for a different reel.
They feel like a nice reel, but I got sick of fixing it every 10 casts.
I have had the same problem as you. I have gotten the reel replaced a few times and it still happens. |
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Posts: 86
| I have two Record 60's. I think I got the 1st one in 2006 and the second last year. Only problem so far is the bent handles. I think it's an Abu thing on the handles as the green power handle I have on a 6500C5MagElite bent and the Japanese Abu I put on my Daiwa Millionaire CVZ both bent as well. My brother tried out my Records and didn't feel they were worth the coin over the new C5Mag with the thumbbars so he ended up with those and likes them. I have the Two Records, Two C5MagElites (old style push button), C4Mag and the Daiwa. I like the Daiwa best, Records second, C5mags the the C4mag. I've owned a bunch of different ones over the years including my personal bucket of junk, Shimano Calcuttas....I'll never put another on a musky rod(I've never tried a TE and won't due to the price), however I think Shimano's saltwater reels are second to none. |
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| went through two last year fairly quickly bent handles on both locked the gears on the last one had enough of that upgraded to the luna 300 great reel. got the record 60's replaced made them sucker rig reels.
go with the luna it costs alittle more but you will love |
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