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Posts: 151
Location: West of the metro, MN | I started out musky fishin with $100 reels and found they did not last more than two seasons even with regular maintenance (with the exception of the Abu C3 which is still going strong after 5 yrs). I started buyin a little more expensive reels, a Shimano Citica for small stuff and a Cardiff for big stuff. both reels have gone 4-5 years without an issue until now where I cant figure out how to fix em by myself and need to send em in. I realize that those reels probably aren't dead. But my question is, is this a normal life for a reel? By spending more on a reel like a Calcutta or a Luna would it last longer? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I have Abu 6500's that are 25 years old but I think they are much better than the newer ones. Had one repaired free 3 years ago under the old lifetime waranty. I am also using an old Shakespeare 2062 spinning reel infrequently that may be 40 years old at least 35. I have a Dam Quick spinning reel still strong after 30 plus years look after your stuff and a little care they last a long time. |
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Posts: 8776
| I've had reels last anywhere from half a day up to 4 seasons before needing repairs. Gears wear out. Pawls wear out. Water gets in there and can cause rust. I haven't had one yet that couldn't be fixed. Strangely, the price tag hasn't been the deciding factor on which reels turn out to be workhorses and which turn out to be lemons.
Now. Spinning gear? The last spinning reel I had to replace was 30 years old. |
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Posts: 1286
Location: WI | Calcutta & Curado, and Abu 6500's have made it through whole seasons for me. Wish I could say the same for Lunas, my new Tekota, and a few others. I send mine in every year to get oiled/checked out. Lots of factors in how long they last, how often you fish, how big of baits, trolling or casting, etc. |
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Posts: 175
Location: Tonka, MN | Curado 3 years, Calcutta TE new this year and flawless. Minor repairs to curado that was my fault.. Abu's, Luna, Avet...1 year. |
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Posts: 458
| I have two TE's that are 7 years old and they are awesome and I have had No real issues. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Abu Toro 61 & Luna 300L 3 years & counting. ABU C4 5 minutes. ABU C3 3 weeks. ABU Record 2 years.
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i bought my first TE 12 years ago i now have 6 plus 1 trinadad i 1 tranx. i do belive you get what you pay for.take care of your reels and they take care of you LOL |
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Posts: 8776
| Not to overstate the obvious, but the durability of your gear really depends on how much you use it and how well you take care of it. Stopping the lure with the reel, handles engaging on the cast, ripping big baits... stuff like that will kill a reel. So will not keeping it clean and oiled, using it for the wrong purpose (i.e. using a high speed reel for double 10's), leaving them wet in the boat compartment, driving around on fire roads with rods and reels laying in the boat...
The ones that don't make it a day there's just no excuse for. But whatever reels you buy, you'll be a lot happier with them if you clean them regularly, oil what needs oil, grease what needs grease, and address little issues before they become broken parts. You can't help rain and sand and mud and milfoil. But you can clean it out of there at least. |
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Posts: 339
Location: Denmark | ABU Ambassduer 5500, 33 years, ABU Ambassaduer 6500 Rocket 8 years, ABU Ambassaduer C4, 5 years. all are as god as new on the inside ;). I use them 60 days a year. With the RIGHT maintenance and some minor modifications, like a backup pawl they will last a lifetime.
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Posts: 114
Location: Kingston, Ontario | There are lots of parts even on the "good" reels that need to be replaced every few years (springs, pawls etc). It's a good plan to have a couple of the parts handy that are the typical failures and replace them every few winters. If the ones you change out aren't "broken" keep them around for spares in a pinch. That and a yearly inspection and full preventative maintenance should keep good reels nice and smooth and generally corrosion free for another season. |
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Posts: 139
| i think the more costly reels hold up better, but one thing i think people forget is 20 years ago we weren't throwing pounders, large plastics, and dbl 13 blades so it seemed as if the reels held up longer. I will say that my calcutta's have taken some abuse fishing many days in a row, all kinds of weather and thru some tournments. I don't think a cheaper reel would have made it. But its also all about how you take care of them. You won't drive your car without changing the oil when needed either. |
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Posts: 1270
| hunter991 - 11/20/2012 12:47 PM
i think the more costly reels hold up better, but one thing i think people forget is 20 years ago we weren't throwing pounders, large plastics, and dbl 13 blades so it seemed as if the reels held up longer. I will say that my calcutta's have taken some abuse fishing many days in a row, all kinds of weather and thru some tournments. I don't think a cheaper reel would have made it. But its also all about how you take care of them. You won't drive your car without changing the oil when needed either.
+1 I remember when a Mepps Musky Killer was considered a big bait, now it's considered "a nice little spring time bait" LOL! |
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