The 7000 C3 is an awfully big reel. I'm wondering if John is right and I should go with a 6500 sized reel for my eeling and large plugs.

The 7000C3 is worth about 160 bucks. I didn't pay that but that's irrelevant. If you wanted to buy one, 160 is the price. You think it would be smart to put the 7000 up for a trade for a 6500 Mag?

Now keep in mind, this reel has never seen water, never seen line, and just like it did from Abu. Complete with box, full tube of oil, brakes, wrench and the mounting hardware. Not needed but it's there if you want it. All the paperwork and all the foam. Just like if you bought one from Abu.

I'm looking for one that rates a 9 or 10 cosmetically and 10 mechanincally.

Smart move or should I just stick what with I have or should I trade for something else?

Got motherboard? :D

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

In general you should use the smallest reel that will hold enough yards of the line you intend to use. For example , if you determine 35 lb spectron is the line you want to use , you can use a 6500 size reel cause it hold about 275-290 yards. If however you determine that you need 50 lb spectron , you'll find the 6500 size reel will only hold about 170 yards and thats not enough so you would need a 7000 or 7500 size reel. You figure the same for various weights of mono line. What do you want to use for line when eeling? 25 lb mono? You will need the bigger reel. 35 lb braid , you can use the smaller reel.

Another thing to consider is the rod you will use and the lure. A mag adjustable reel is nice for eeling. For tossing 3 OZ or larger jigs or 3.5 OZ poppers , I'd take the bigger reel.

Whatever you do , keep in mind that it takes some practice to cntrol the larger reel. Even if you are good with the smaller reel , it takes a while to get used to hanging onto the bigger spool during a cast , especially when you are tossing heavy stuff the spool tends to want to slip.

I don't know if you should trade or not Patrick. I have several 6500 size and two 7000 or 7500 size reels and can use either for almost any application. It takes practice.

The 7000 size reels are much more versatile. You can use 20-30 pound mono on them, or heavier braids, like 50# Spec, 50# Power Pro, and up to 80# Whiplash. With the 6500 size, you can't use any mono heavier than 20#. You can fit a full spool of 65# Whiplash on it, but your spool will be overfilled and harder to control. 50# Whip does better, and you can't fit a full 300 yard spool of Power Pro on it. You also get a larger, more comfortable handle on the 7000.

On paper, the stock 6500 series have faster retrieves than the 7000 series, 5.3:1 as opposed to 4.1:1. However, the effective retrieve on the 7000 size reels might be faster, because the spool is larger in diameter and a cast doesn't empty as much of the spool as it does in the smaller reel.

Then, there's the drag issue. Unless you intend to upgrade to Smoothies, the 6500 Abus have one of the wimpiest drags in the entire reel world. They were designed to handle 12-15 pound lines, and you are hard pressed to hold more than 5# of drag pressure. While the 7000 series drags aren't the greatest, they are still an improvement over the 6500 series stock drags.

You can make a 6500 Mag into a capable reel by adding Smoothies and a power handle, but the 7000 is a better performer right out of the box for the kinds of lines I use and on bigger fish. Once you spend the money upgrading a 6500, you're in the same price league as the 7000.

As far as casting goes, I prefer the 7000 size reels due to the exposed spool bell. With the 6500, you have to rely entirely on the brakes and/or mag to control the cast, or thumb the line itself. The 7000 size allows you to thumb the bell of the spool. That's how I learned, and that's what I'm most comfortable doing. After learning how to cast conventional on a Squidder, my 7000 was a walk in the park.

Well - you already have the 7000 but you did insist on getting it. Regardless of what you paid for it, it is now "used" and you would be lucky to get 70% of what you paid back for it. Keep that reel and save up for a tuned up 6500C3 or TCST or for one of my Mag Elites that may come available over the winter.

The last couple years ABU has had a spring promo for $15 off any C3 - So it would run you about 90 bucks for a well tuned 6500C3 or the same for the TCST - both with Extreme Smoothies.... If you spent 190 instead of 165 on the 7000 - you could have built your own 9 foot stick and got the TCST tuned up which would be more than big enough for your needs for your area....

The basic model 6500 is not a good surf reel IMHO but the top of the line models fit the bill nicely. I showed you my 700 set-up at the 4th leg. It is on a 10" Lami and I use 30 lb. Big game on it. It is a heavy outfit but will handle big fish with ease. I cast and use jigs up to 5 oz. but can also throw eels with it.

Actually, including shipping and handling, I paid just over a hundred for the reel.

I'll keep the 7000 I guess and whatever I need in the future, I'll save up more.

Pat,

Is this the reel you ordered from Down Under?

Rather than keep blowing your limited money on reels you won't be using nor need in your current situtation, why not stick with a good Penn reel (not cheap either, Penn just raised the prices again! :( ) and a good off-the-shelf rod?

Later as you get more experience you'lll know more of what you want and can appreciate the better quality rods and reels when you use it.

Yep, it's from Steve. The price was too good to let go. It's not that I have anything against off the shelf rods, just the thrill of having caught a fish on a rod you built. If I had the choice between having a rod built for me or off the shelf, I'd go with off the shelf but it's the feeling of accomplishment when you do it yourself. I'm sure you got that feeling when you catch fish on a fly you tied and the guys that make their own plugs get it too.