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Posts: 184
| For those of you that fish a lot, as in 100 plus days a year on the water, can you please recommend a reel that works. I have had nothing but problems with reels this year, and am looking for some new options. I am not going to name the brand that has been a serious problem, but I need some HONEST, no prostaff brown nosing, just honest comments on some reels that seem to work better for someone who fishes many days a year!!
Thanks, and I am not trying to start a problem here, just really need to find some options on reels since I can no longer keep enough reels working for clients!!
Chad Cain |
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| Avid AC 300, I love it. Rember most people who fish 100 plus days a year are sponsored. |
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Posts: 184
| That is why I am just looking for honest answers!!!!
Chad
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| Hey Chad, I would have to say the none of the reels on the market will last. There just aren't any made. I have cte 400 and the daiwa cvz300 and I am only fishing about 50 days a year now and they wear out as well. My only suggestion is the penn 965, it is the only on that will hold up. They also make a 955 that is a bit smaller for clients and such. Outside of the penns, they all break...Ben |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Chad,
I've never had a reel sponsorship and am not looking for one either. The most reliable reels I have are Abu Ultra-Casts which unfortunately are no longer made. Put a set of smootie drag washers in them and clean them every so often and that's it. Something about the heavier bearings and tighter tolerances that made them really sweet. I've got a few of them that saw three seasons in a row of heavy use with no problems. That's what has worked for me so far.
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| Chad,
Hope all is well....other than the reels of course. I have switched to ABU Garcia 7000 Big Game's these past two years. Some stay together, some don't. ABU Garcia / Pure Fishing, is real good about fixing them right away, and sending them back. I don't get paid either, and can't afford a TE.....so, I went with the 7000 Big Game. 
Hung any hawgs lately???
Regards,
Donnie |
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Posts: 389
Location: Presque Isle Wisconsin | Ill Second the Abu 7000 big game reels as probably your best all around reel for durability.Abu is also supposed to be upgrading the 6500 series reels for next year with more ball bearings and that should help.Ive had every type go down including TE 400s.There are no reels that will stand up to "everyday" use for Muskie fishing for very long but the 7000 big game is the closest ive ever gotten to that standard. |
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Posts: 38
| 7000 all the way!!! If you want a great way to get a return client, (not that you have that problem) Let them throw an eagletail with a 6500, and then a 7000. I am liquidating everything I have and going to 8' rods, and 7000 reels. I can't believe I have been struggling as long as I have when there is a 7000 out there.
Seriously though, a plan old C3 6500 will give you two good years fishing 100 days or more. The C4 maybe 1. I am excited to try the new 6500 C4 with the 5.3:1 ratio though.
Good luck! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | I use mostly 7000's of one kind or the other. For real big stuff that pulls hard I use the 7000B (4.1-1 gear ratio), and if I want something to go fast I use the 7000 Big Game (5.3-1 gear ratio). I have some 7000's that are 20 years old and are still going strong. I can't even imange how many casts I've made with some of these. They take a little getting used to as they are big and heavy, but pretty much bullet proof.
There where some pinion gear problems with the gold big game 7000's, but that seems to have been fixed. I use the 7000B
(bushing reel) and it works well and doesn't cost much. I have around 10-12 7000's, and so far I've only managed to break one of them.
The 7000BGN is a nice reel, slightly smaller than a regular 7000, with the same gears.
Also Pure Fishing does have a Captians and Guides program which will get you a nice discount on their products. I'm not sponcered by Garcia, but do take advantage of their guides program.
Doug Johnson |
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Location: Contrarian Island | all reels will break....no way around it.
But I do love the 7000 big games..the black ones...and the 7000 Pro Rocket with the 4.1:1
My Morrums have held up very well also.
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | Abu had a 6500C4 with a 5.3:1, it was the TCM. They will now offer this reel in either right or left hand, but it will not be engraved on the side like the musky, salmon, carp, etc reels. It is now just the Trophy reel. Not sure if Rollie and Helen's has any of the TCM's left or not. GREAT REEL!!!
The standard 7000's never had any problems. The reels that people had problems with are the Big Game 7000 series (HS, HSN and the 7001HS). They have a 5.3:1 gear ratio as opposed to the 4.1:1 of the standard 7000. The problem has been taken care of and the reels are total work horses. The hole in the pinion gear was too small and it would seize on spool axle. No more problems.
Oh, if you guys only new the GREAT changes that are coming for Abu. I was excited to hear about them, but seeing them first hand put me over the edge. Kind of like a kid at Christmas with all of his new toys.
Good Fishing,
Chuck |
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Posts: 38
| What is with the Austrailian??? That is the new C4 that is 5.3:1 right?? Pretty pink! I have a couple of the TCM's and they are working great. |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | No sponsorship here but I've used lot's of different reels and I would suggest the Shimano Calcutta.
The Abu 7000 is about the only Abu I would touch anymore and Tica I would stay far, far away from. |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | The 7000 looks and feels tough, that being said, I've had them blow up, and know of other people who have had them blow up VERY soon after purchase. I'm using pfluegers now, and I've been happy with them, but they haven't been problem free either.
Edited by tomyv 7/25/2005 9:10 AM
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| Chad:
I use Calcuttas and Pflueger Trion 66's. I fish approx. 200 days per year at LOTW and saltwater in the Gulf of Mexico. I have 5 or 6 Trion 66s and Calcuttas. I love the Calcuttas, but the Pfluegers hold up well for me and are good for the price. No reel will hold up well if it is not maintained. Regular cleaning and re-lubing will keep them trouble free. Is this for you guide business? If so, I know inexperienced casters can play heck on reels. Those partial thumb bar presses and the resulting sound have to round off the gears. I scrub down my reel's mechanical parts with WD-40, dry them and then re-lub with Hot Sauce oil and grease. It works for me. Of course, I used my old C-3's for 30 years until I found better reels. They can still be fished. Maintenance is the key. Keep a stock of spare parts; pawls, pinions gears, etc. |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Calcutta 400 for me, but I've never tried an ABU 7000. I think I would have issues with the size of it, even though my hands are on the big size.
I do maintain my reels. Yearly I disassemble, clean, relube and replace parts for the daily use reels. I even carry spare parts and lube in the boat, just in case, but usually for my friends reels.
Nobody can beat a 5500/6500 C3 for the money(I have a bunch), but when you approach the $200 mark, my experience is the Calcutta is the way to go. I have heard good things about the Diawa Millionare and St. Croix too, but don't have either.
I have been very satisfied with the factory customer service from both Shimano and ABU. Shimano returned a Calcutta back to me within a week (it only needed a cleaning) with spare parts I requested at no charge. ABU just got an EON back to me in a week and a half that I sent in because the thumb bar malfunctioned, at no charge.
Edited by Jomusky 7/25/2005 12:59 PM
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Posts: 2378
| hey PK, now I know why you sold me those Ticas... 
I havent had any problems with them yet, but once they go they will be replaced with better reels.
The best reels I have are the 7000's. The original red ones or the Black Big Game. Havent had any problems with any of them. Have not tried the HS, HSN, or any of the others |
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Posts: 286
Location: Eagan, MN | Chad
I only musky fish about 70 days a year. Maybe that is close enough?
After years of frustration with every kind of Abu and others, I committed to looking for the "best" musky reel I could find - spare no expense. Tried a couple of Calcutta TE's and still was unhappy (liked the handle though). I've now replaced my fleet with Diawa Millionaire CVZ300A's, outfitted with aftermarket Calcutta TE or Diawa power handles. While not 20 years like DougJ, I've got three seasons with these and VERY happy with the results. The Diawa won't do what the 7000 does (found that is not my game), but you sacrifice some things when you use the 7000 that I didn't particularly care for.
A vote for Diawa's here.
BrianF. |
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | I stand corrected Musky Dan. Yes, the pink/purple ones are the limited edition ones. They are also a C4 with 5.3:1. Being a limited edition reel, I forgot about that one right off the top of my head. They are a neat looking reel, that if for sure.
Have a good one. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Chad .. i find it hard giving you advice. seen and heard lots of great things about your experience and results. i do fit the bill for the 100 + day club so here goes. Calcuttas haven't let me down. prior to my musky fishing (8 serious years) i fished in the south on the bass tours for about 9 years. I've been with Calcutta's and the old Browning Lews (bass reels). the Calcuttas have taken a beating for me and haven't left me stranded. I'm not the type who takes really good care of my stuff and i pound it pretty hard all year. i fish the originals and just got one of the "b" series that has a couple of updates. i don't have alot to compare it to because i just never had a reason to use anything else. i've heard the racket from some of the other brand reels that breaks up the peace and quiet in my boat ..... actually, the noisy reels drive me nuts and i can't believe anyone could throw them all day without getting a headache.
short story of my 7 year old who was throwing an old left-behind corsair. he asked me if he could throw mine the other day, so i said sure. 5 minutes later he's telling me "hey, dad .... this one's smoother can it be mine?" |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I too fish too many days over 100 to make my wife happy. I ave been having lots of trouble with most of my reels the past couple years, but one has remained, for the most part, steadfast. It is the ABU Morumm. I don't know if I got a couple anomolies(I know others have had problems) but the 5600 and the 6600's that I have all have outlasted my calcutta TE(this reel has dissapointed me, but I will send it in again and hope for the best from a company that has treated me so well over the years), and my other ABU's(including my second favorite, the UC series). |
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Posts: 20263
Location: oswego, il | Unless you play baseball with it, you won't break a penn 955(5500 width) and 965(6500 width) reel. Nobody makes a stronger reel. |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I put a lot of time on the water too, and I just stick with Abu 5600 and 6500 C3's and C4's. I've gotten very good at doing any repairs and cleaning myself so it doesn't slow me down too much if I have a problem. I always carry spare parts, though I have had a few of these reels go 4-5 years without doing anything other than cleaning them. |
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Posts: 152
| I'm glad you brought this up. I have used C4's for several years, but they need to go to the real doctor after a hard year. I have two C5 mag series that are super smooth and have not given me any trouble. I have been looking at a Pen International 965, but I would like to hear from someone that has one before I put two hundred plus out for one. I have over two thousand hours on my Pen 310 and 320's trolling and have never had to have any repairs. Rich's Rod and Reel Repair in New Athens is a great place to get reels fixed. Rod and I had five Gacia's cleaned and parts replaced for $84.00. If you keep getting on fish like you have the last few days, you had better buy reels in six packs. |
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| Lots of days on the water every year, got a deal on a boat but not tackle........
Diawa 300's have held up very well for me as have my 10 year old 7000's but the big 7000 models do take a bit to master and probably not a good client reel. I did try the new HSN 7000 models last season and had a number of them puke.... it is my understanding that they have fixed the problem but I have not tried the "fixed" ones.
BT |
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Posts: 3913
| I'm no pro, but I fish 80-100 days a year easy. Most of those are 10+ hours on the water. Never needed to move beyond my Abus, I use 4000, 5000 and 6000 series. My best ones are the 5600ABs, after I stripped out the anti-backlash (crap) parts and added Smooothies and other reel candy (thank you, Treats, for the tips on these reels). I totally break down, clean and relube my reels upon purchase and at least once and maybe twice during the season. Reels are always PERFECT (as I can make them, anyway) at season's beginning. I spend about $100 tricking out each new reel. I like the Abus because they are so easy to work on. When traveling, I treat them just like a fine gun or my best girlfriend. Just my opinion, but if you disagree, and your best girlfriend is cute, I want her phone number. |
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Posts: 185
Location: Mendota Heights, MN | Been using the Abu 5600 and 6500's the last few years. Seems like every year I have to spend about $25/reel on repairs. Just bought a Diawa Millionaire CVZ-300A. $200 fully spooled. After using a friends oh what difference! Smooth, solid, plenty big. We shall see how she holds up to the 150 hours or so of fishing I do a year. So far I love it. I plan on replacing all my Abu's with Millionaires as I can afford it.
Steve |
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