JOHN R

[capesams]

Hey JOHN R

? for ya, abu 6500 WITCH ONE have you found the best. they have to many now its makin my head spin. and I'm not about to go out an buy all the different ones to find out. maybe you can help me out here. cer.-704 washers etc. etc.

cal. 400's not needed here/ have them

.........thanks......steve

[John R]

Loaded question...

for starters - all ABU reels have inferior drag systems, the 7000 less so but they can all be improved. The common upgrade is to get Extreme Smoothies, about 6-8 bucks, to upgrade the drags - Mike T has them... The other option that I've done but am waiting to try on nice fish is to put some HT100 Penn drags in it. The drags I had were not from a 704, I got them from Paul the reel guy - proper inner diameter but I had to trim the edges. I squeezed in three and in static tests it's much better than stock and even the extreme smoothies.... Here is a link to a thread on my site: http://www.striped-bass.com/vbulleti...ight=penn+drag

I've souped up my existing bearings a little but I'm about to try the ceramics. I've seen them running on a reel but haven't casted one yet - about $40

OK for levelwinds - the best pure caster is the CS Mage Elite, it's a nice package and with a powerhanle (add-on) and the Penn Drags - very sweet. No clicker. Will outcast the Calcutta 400 a little

The Big Game 6500CL feels a little more solid casts almosts as well, can handle the same upgrades and has the clicker - solid reel.

"Cheap" Abu - 6500C4. Can handle all the upgrades but is less money. Comes with padle handle

Best value Abu - is the 6500TCST Trophy Striper. It's essentially a 4 bearing C-4 with marron sideplates and a power handle for about the same price as the C4 - also a good reel.

I have a couple Mag Elites and 6500CL - I like them all and like them better with the updates. The Calcutta is still my favorite big fish/eeling rod - especially in the suds and I'm looking to try the ceramics in it [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ... Oh yeh - and it come stock with the best drag system...

[capesams]

JOHN R::

thanks for the up date, I was to understand that the mag elite went south. Well around here anyways. So that means the ones that are left on the shelf in the stores should be half price RIGHT! wrong. I grew up w/6500's till the cal, 400 came along but after useing one every night for 3-4 hr's for one week ,I found the drag's got reel weak and started to chatter.
Once a week I had to break down the reel and redo the drag's. those were the day's when I got to go fishin[b.k---before kid]. I sold all my old 6500's but would like to pick up 1-2 of the new ones, for the boat and leave the 400's for the beach. those cow's don't stand a chance with those reels. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] .........steve