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[ocean_going]

I own several Ambassadors and a Calcutta.  They are all excellent reels but my preference has to be the Shimano Calcutta. Much smoother

have to agree   Calcutta is sweet never looked back  since i got mine, however my g/f  uses an abassador and I don't see anything wrong with them, use it sometimes too

[casinoJim]

Casino Jim,

I don't mind this gear being nylon as there is little pressure on these gears anyways.  Also, they are cheap to replace.

Thanks bud! good points! I feel better about my c-4 now.
CJ.

[Bantam_50]

The rod, I've had for eons.  But its a goodie.  shimano makes great rods but really $h*tty reels.  abu's the only way to go.

 

Bite your tongue there f_c....nothing wrong with Shimano reels.  

[dennisK]

Dennis K do you know if those Abu Rockets come in big lefties. Can't stand any of the Abu's, they make me want to pin fish all the time.

Patches - my lefty buddy is in the same boat - but sadly Abu do not make a left handed rocket. silly Abu....best reel i've owned, no way you can join the "right side"?

[rln]

I think abu is absoluty horrible. The  guys at  stores say that too. i just got a calcatta about  a year ago. paid 200$ and now its broken lol. so i dono what to buy now.

Don't know what to buy? This may be a little expensive , but look at the Daiwa millionare Z300A reel. Top end price but an amazingly smooth casting reel with a great drag. It will be very hard to find one to check out on the lower mainland, I don't think many dealers have this in stock, maybe the new guys at Jaymers. This reel is nothing like any of the previous millionare reels. If you take one apart and compare it to any of the abu's or calcutta's it will really impress you. The hard part to swallow will be the price around $369.00.

[dennisK]

hmmm

[JP PATCHES]

Dennisk, no i can't join you righties, my rod is in my right hand & reel with left.......for ALL types of fishing. Why are all bc's made for righties?
most everyone I know casts with their right hand, then switches the rod to the left hand so they can reel in with their right.......seems bass ackwards to me. That Rocket sure looks cool though. The Calcutta TE does come in a big leftie FYI. I thinks it's about $600 though.

[MGD]

Hey RLN before you buy a Diawa have you tried an Abu Morrum?Ive had mine for 3yrs never had a problem.Also have a couple of Calcuttas.But still come back to the Morrum. Goodluck on what ever reel you choose.                    HAPPY FISHING

[rln]

Hey RLN before you buy a Diawa have you tried an Abu Morrum?Ive had mine for 3yrs never had a problem.Also have a couple of Calcuttas.But still come back to the Morrum. Goodluck on what ever reel you choose.                    HAPPY FISHING

I have tried most of the abu products including a Morrum. I just feel that the m-cv-z300a Daiwa is the best levelwind out there at this time. It's quite bullet proof and smooth in both drag and casting. Others that I have let try the reel have gone out and purchased them afterwards. There are lots of good levelwinds out there by most makers.

[dennisK]

morrums are NICE reels, but wayy too small for our rivers and holey $$$$$$ - does not hold much line and I do not want to use fireline.  morrums are great for bass fishing and short chucks, i agree that the daiwa is a nice reel but it has a thumb release which is personally not my cup of tea - otherwise looks pretty excellent. I like the release button on the side of the reel so my thumb is not interfered with when it is on the spool.

[Koho]

Since we're totally off thread topic here, Shimano also makes (along with their reels) High perf bike accesories

I think they have a good understanding of how to make solidly built machines and components in general.  Like their Deore XT and XTR .  Although I wasn't too excited about their Biopace chainwheels.  Are those still used??

[pinkwool]

Shimano Calcutta - smooth, but expensive, plastic levelwinder breaks (met the guy who had it broken 3 times), sometime engages the gears during the cast (heard the grinding noise during the cast from other reels including the newest TE). Own a copy of Calcutta 700 (had gears misengagements)

Abu's - different models (from cheap versions for combos to more expensive rocket or magnetic cast control). Standard reels (6500 C3) can be modified to get better cast (extra bearings into levelwind) and smoother drag for big springs (as the standard ones can go only one-two seasons). Never had a misengagement problem. If you want a good reel - get the one with magnetic cast control and extra tension dial on the left side (like in 7000 models or Rockets). Own 3 abus: 6500 C3, 6500 CS (limited edition - magnetic control, 4 bearings, tension dial, extra long casts), BG7000HSN (resently).  The BG is a good reel for Chinook (both bar and floss), but requires experience to for extra long casts.

My dream reel: BG7000HSN with super stopper roller bearing, extra two bearings in levelwinder, magnetic cast control.

Both reels should be regularly maintained, avoided contact with sand, and used only to fiight the fish not snags.

[dennisK]

any suggestions for fighting a snag without burning drag or hands? a mcgyver tool?

[norm_2]

Pinkwool: good info on the reels.  Could you explain a little more about the Abu BG's?  What do you mean they require experience for extra long casts?  Can you cast as far as with your Calcutta?  How is the drag?  How is the construction solid?  what does it sell for?

I am thinking about a BG.  It appears to be a bit bigger than a 6500 but smaller than a 7000.  Also it can be used in salt water.

Thanks.

[pinkwool]

dennisK, I usually start with a quick move by rod to release it. If it's just a weight stuck on the rock then it works in 70%, in 20% I put the rod horizontally and grab the line with hands to pull it out, in 10%  of the hardest snags I use the help from the friend to hold the rod, then grab the line BEFORE the rod and wrap it 5-6 times on the 6" piece of 1" plastic pipe (your friend should release some line from the reel) and then try to pull it out or break the line.
If it's your main like wrapped around the rock (pulls hard), then I use the friend method described above.
Remember - never pull the snag with your rod the same way as you fight the fish - you can easily break any rod this way. Also, never pull the snag with your reel as you will eat the teeth on your main gears. Also, never have your line break when you pulling it out with your rod in horizontal position. The shock wave from the breaking line can shatter the rod in many pieces.