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| Hello,
I’m looking into buying my first baitcaster. I was told that the Abu-Garcia 6500C3 was a great reel for the price, but I really want a reel with a LH retrieve and a thumb bar. I’m having a really hard time finding a reel at or around $100 for muskie fishing that will come with these options. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
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Posts: 633
| If you are looking for a thumb bar around a c-note or less you have the Abu Garcia C4 5601. Shimano Catala 401, $99.00, I had one, did alright with it, but sold it to try the Tica Caiman CM201($130). I just saw the Okuma Induron reels at the Cabela's website, $109, but sold out. Pflueger Trion 66L is another option, 89.95, but I have never used one. I am going with the 5601 and 3 caiman 201's, for this season.
Lance |
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Posts: 425
Location: Elkhart, IN | I think lpeitso is right on with it. I would really like to recommend the Abu Garcia 6600C5 because I love mine, but it don't come in the left hand retrieve. |
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| the shimano corsair is a graet reel, same internals as the calcutta,try it you will love it |
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Posts: 21
Location: Metro, MN | Abu Garcia owns. I just returned the Pflueger I bought for an Abu. I've only bought one other non-Abu reel in the last 20 years (baitcaster) and that was a Penn. Abu or bust. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I also have the Abu 5601. I love it. The only tough thing id the 6.3:1 ratio id hard to crank on real hard pulling baits, but I love the fast retrieve for search baits like spinnerbaits and rat-l-traps. I also have a 4601 but it is smallish. The 4601 and the 5601 have the thumb bar. The 5601 and the 6601 have the line out alarm if you want the clicker and freespool for soaking meat or trolling. Should be able to find it for $80-$85, search the net. I bought new in the box for low $50's off eBay. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | You can get the new ssc3 abus now. (c3 w/ thumbar) No real need for a 6501, 5601 will hold enough line and is lighter. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Just bought 2 Okuma Nitryx 5 ball bearing reels. They were about $60 from www.sportsmansguide.com, and seem to be very well built. There are several other values there, take a look. |
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Posts: 124
Location: Rice Lake,WI | Steve any more info on those? 5:3:1? plastic washers? Any thing you seen that might be a problem down the road? Thanks.
JT |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Seems like a very nice reel. Look at www.sportsmansguide.com, go to fishing, and look up the reel description. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I have one of the okuma nitryx x-400 reels. Its very big and heavy. Its not as smooth as an abu c3 either. It has a very good and smooth drag. Its an OK reel, but I don't even use mine anymore. I'd rather use a $50 1 bb abu as its a smoother reel. |
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| I have a C3 6501 that gave me nothing but problems until I was able to whip it into shape this year. My favorite reel is the C3 7000 for the money, if they offer a left handed model of it, that is what I would suggest. |
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Check out Jackson lures. They sell factory-reconditioned reels with guarantees. I believe they can also get others that are not listed on their site. Tom
Go to; http://www.toothycritters.com then go to the catalog section. They are listed there. |
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Whoops. They are out of stock of some of their reels (I checked for you). As mentioned, you might give them a call to see what they can get you. Good savings. Tom |
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Posts: 285
| Hi Gang,
If you happen to live in te Twin Cities metro, the Sportman's Guide store Sworrall mentioned above is located (hidden) off of 494 at the Hardman Ave exit, just west of the Hwy 61 exits. They're doing construction now so the north exit is closed, you can also use the Concord exit and go east at the light.
Sportman's Guide is mainly a mail-order business and the store is mostly an overstock and clearance shop for the catalog (the location is in the back of the warehouse for the catalog). They have great deals on shoes & boots, with a good selection of larger sizes, and you can order items from their catalog at the catalog counter in the rear of the store.
Camping gear, fishing gear, guns & ammo, sports clothing, and electronic gadgetry. It's like the guy invented the store for guys like us!
From the Hardman Ave exit, go north thru the 4-way stop and turn left over the tracks into the parking lot, the door is behind what looks like a huge propane tank. I go once or twice a month and often leave laughing about how super cheap some of the stuff is, especially the clearance items and shoes.
It's my favorite store in the metro, closely followed by Ax Man.
Later,
papa joe
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