I own 1 and is some cases many of a lot of different conventionals. I have some great conven rods. I'm just not real happy with the casing distance I'm getting. So my question is what do you guys think the best distance casting conventional is?

I have all of the Abu, Calcutta, Newell, a couple of the newer Shimanos and naturally Penn Squidders

What are you casting, bait, plugs?

For a great all around reel, bait, live bait, plugs, swimbaits, iron - take a look at the Avet MXJ and MXL.

You also need to match the rod to the application of what you are throwing. but tossing virtually anything with the right rod and an Avet - I haven't been disapppointed with the distance.

With the conventional it is mostly eels. I like to be able to free spool when I get a take.

I'm sure it really depends on the person. For me it's a 400TE w/Spectron as that's the only convench I can reliably cast without making a nest the size of ROCKHOUNDS head :hihi:

-spence

I am sure a handful of people can eel fish a well setup conventional further than a well setup spinner but they can't do it in all conditions. I know on average I will cast further on my spinning setup than convench so I switched and have been pleased.

I'm also using circles so I don't guthook a fish which happens with a conv no matter how some say it doesn't

I'm sure it really depends on the person. For me it's a 400TE w/Spectron as that's the only convench I can reliably cast without making a nest the size of ROCKHOUNDS head :hihi:

-spence

The spool holds that much line? :rotf2:

ive been doing a lot of research on this as im making the jump to a few conv set ups for next season, will be used for jigging the ditch, and throwing some bait/eels and maybe some big custom wood plugs.

you get a lot of different answers from who you talk to and where they fish.

the guys in NC are big fans of the akios reels, lots of killer revies, and avaialble upgrades, Akios Fishing Rods, Reels and Accessories > Home (http://www.akiosfishingtackle.com/) some good threads on the other site too.

the other reel everyone keep stalking about is the daiwa Millionaire M7HTMAGST Surf Reel, its pretty crazy, fully magged, a lot of distance casters are using it right out of the box without tuning which is great sign. Daiwa | Reels | Millionaire M7HTMAGST Surf Reel (http://www.daiwa.com/reel/detail.aspx?id=595)

i did get to play around with a fully upgraded,magged, super tuned shimano trinidad 16 or 14, im far from good with a conv reel but was tossing 6 and bait further than ive ever thrown on spinning. the reel seemed to have endless adjustments, it was tuned by ryan white at hatteras jacks in NC. Trinidad A (http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/star_drag/trinidad_a.html)

still havent decided what route im going, probably a level wind for jigging and non level wind for bait/eels

I would talk to Jimmy Z he is a whiz with abu's from what understand.
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I like my abu's, only because I can't fish a non-level wind reel at all,

C'mon Paulie, you know the Newell 229 is where its at...total old school, no levelwind, power handle, and sounds like a tub grinder when you retrieve it. Casts like hell too and I've had em since I was 16....that's 26 years.

Levelwinds=sissy reels.

A levelwind is going to cost you 10-15 yards. If you plug it is worth it everywhere but the canal. For eels, probably not. The calcutta TE is a very powerful reel....just don't get it wet.

All conventionals without a levelwind will cast an eel about the same distance, the issue becomes how much help you need controlling them.
The smaller reels have better ergonomics which make them easier to cast, but the gears/drags/line capacity may not be up to the size fish you are probably looking for with an eel, particularly in current.

I don't own one, but the 525 Penn mag is supposedly a good casting reel with plenty of guts and some refinements. I like Newells, but that is with mono, with braid each mistake is a disaster. You can slow them with thick oil.

The rod is probably more important than the reel and the opposite of what you would expect. Unless you are throwing only aerodynamic stuff, stay away from fast blanks with conventional reels. They unload too violently and make the reel hard to control so you thumb more and lose distance.

level winds costing you distance is a farse if you have to tame a non level wind.. I can cast very far with my abu chrome 6500 cs

Whenever I fish eels (or bait for that matter) I use a conv. most of the time, for the same reason as piemma: like to free spool a little. I don't have any levelwind casting reels, so I can't compare them.
I fish a 525 Mag a lot, but also still use my 980 Mag in heavier water on a glass-that's right glass - 11 ft Fenglass rod. Use a 970 Mag when on a boat.
The 525 casts a freaking mile, but I also doubled up on the magnets to slow it down and stop the end of the cast backlash. But the reel is not the most solid, lotsa graphite and stamped parts. I'd like to try out an Avet when I meet up with someone who has one.
980 Mag is the best "weight" caster for me- you can really hump heavy bucktails, bait and big eels with one and keep the cast under control. Too bad they stopped making them.

I use a Shimano Cardiff 300, the level wind disconects when you cast so you can get out there. way longer than my calcutta 400 alot less money too.

Best casting reel I've tried is the Daiwa Sl20SHV,or A. The reel I liked the best was the Daiwa Saltist 20H. Both will hold 300 yards of 50 lb PowerPro and have great drags. You can get away with a levelwind at the canal because you won't get splashed by sand carrying waves or blasted by windborn sand into the levelwind worm.

Penn 525Mag is a sweet reel, but the Daiwa's flat out blow it away in my opinion.

I am back to Abus, a 7000i HSN because I have been unable to locate a replacement drag star for the one I stripped on my Saltist (don't crank it to 20 pounds, use your thumbs for more pressure)

Piemma Like you I'm an old squidder type. but Ive tried them all since then. I found that sometimes when slingin eels that a lighter tip rod helps with the distance usein an abu 6500 or the calcutta 400.I use either 30 or 40lb braid but also I do a good relube job using rocket juice or marvel mystry oil an take out all but one brake block an go with ceramic bearins.I've found the real high end ones hate the sand an grit of workin the surf.This might help. Ron

I've always felt that if you can control it, the Newell P-220 was the absolute best casting conventional.

I have switched over to spinners for about 90% of the time now, but i do miss the convench when it comes to eeling. I still use it exclusively for eeling the canal. I use an abu 7k levelwind, its way less frustration at night. I brought a newell with me a few times but i didnt tame the beast that well at night so i went back to the trusty abu. Its more about the rod then the reel in my opinion a lighter tip really helps with the eels.

Hey Mike what do you think of the 220-F out of curiosity?Got a couple that I've played with for a bit an still like the ABU better.Ron

Guys, thanks for all the answers. These is so much info here I have printed the entire thread.

I have been using conventionals for the last 35 years have tried them all but have stuck with Abu for many years now .I use 6501 c-3 (left hand ) but have replaced the bearings with ceramic bearings and change the blocks or removed one and have no problem getting distance. You need to play around for a little while until you get use to setting reel so as to not blow it up.There is a shop down south Hatteras Jack who has reels you can buy already set up or by the stuff to trick out your own.

I have been using conventionals for the last 35 years have tried them all but have stuck with Abu for many years now .I use 6501 c-3 (left hand ) but have replaced the bearings with ceramic bearings and change the blocks or removed one and have no problem getting distance. You need to play around for a little while until you get use to setting reel so as to not blow it up.There is a shop down south Hatteras Jack who has reels you can buy already set up or by the stuff to trick out your own.
Gonna find his website right now. I have 6 or 7 ABUs.

Gonna find his website right now. I have 6 or 7 ABUs.

Paul, Ryan will set you up. He can mag and tune just about any conventional out there. You may want to talk to him about the Akios 666SCMW, for the money you are getting a reel out of the box that has everything! Line it up and fish!!

Paul, Ryan will set you up. He can mag and tune just about any conventional out there. You may want to talk to him about the Akios 666SCMW, for the money you are getting a reel out of the box that has everything! Line it up and fish!!

Thanks Lou. just spoke with them. great guys. I'm deciding what to do. Either send a couple of Abus or buy the Akios

Thanks Lou. just spoke with them. great guys. I'm deciding what to do. Either send a couple of Abus or buy the Akios

Might as well have him send a Century Spod to go with the reel...:)

Hey Mike what do you think of the 220-F out of curiosity?Got a couple that I've played with for a bit an still like the ABU better.Ron

I've always preferred the originals (the blackies and P-series) with the aluminum spools. The later versions with the graphite spools weren't as good IMO, and the graphite would cook your thumb if you used the edge of the spool to control them.

I liked some of the CT versions of the Abus---those without the level wind. The 7500 C3 CT was a great casting reel, probably the best of the wider reels. I had one for many years but sold it in the spring. I don't use conventionals often enough any more to justify keeping them.

Abu C3, ceramic bearings, rocket lube, take off all the brakes. back off the sides a little. Matched to an XRA1322. Bombs away when you need to.

Abu C3, ceramic bearings, rocket lube, take off all the brakes. back off the sides a little. Matched to an XRA1322. Bombs away when you need to.

That's it then. C3 off to Ryan

As long as they are lefties, I enjoy my convenches

That's it then. C3 off to Ryan

I got to chuckle about this stuff. This was all the rage back in 1998. Abec 7 bearings , ceramic bearings , rocket fuel lube (3 different viscosities) , 1/16th wobble on the centering knob , spoeed bushings on the bearings of non levelwinds. No centrifigal breaks (maybe 1 if you must) , Special rare earth mag add ons for almost any Abu 6500 size.

All great stuff , all speed the reels up to thumb burning speeds , but all 15 year old technology.

I would look into whatever Ryan and that bunch is using for "the latest" technology.

I got to chuckle about this stuff. This was all the rage back in 1998. Abec 7 bearings , ceramic bearings , rocket fuel lube (3 different viscosities) , 1/16th wobble on the centering knob , spoeed bushings on the bearings of non levelwinds. No centrifigal breaks (maybe 1 if you must) , Special rare earth mag add ons for almost any Abu 6500 size.

All great stuff , all speed the reels up to thumb burning speeds , but all 15 year old technology.

I would look into whatever Ryan and that bunch is using for "the latest" technology.

Ok, you are in Cumberland and I'm in Pascoag so as soon as I get the reel back we can meet at Starbucks in Lincoln Mall and you can see what they did. At the same time you can build me a rod to pair with it. fair enough??

Fair enough! :)

Ryan is a great guy, build some of best conv reels out there, and is always improving on designs/set ups. Super nice people, megan in the office is top notch.

the more i look at those akios reels the more i want one. :)

want to pair a conv reel with the 1328 century for jigging the ditch, think that will be a great set up.

The " old " stuff still works fine for short money. But, technique trumps tech anytime.
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Just happened to have been test casting a GSB1201M blank this am with an old Newell P220. Seems like they were made for each other. I highly doubt you could find a better conventional set up to fish eels no matter what you pay.

the more i look at those akios reels the more i want one. :)

want to pair a conv reel with the 1328 century for jigging the ditch, think that will be a great set up.

Isn't the akios a fancier version of a 6500, or is it a beefier reel? Is it enough reel to jig with braid in the canal? I've stripped gears in an older version Diawa Millionaire (6hm) trying this, and the inside of the akios looks about the same. Does anyone know how they compare strength wise to an ABU 6500/Diawa Millionaire?

Also, isn't the 1328 the fast action Sling Shot blank? If so it is going to unload very, very fast unless you overload it, and accelerating a conventional spool that fast creates major control issues. You probably could get away with it throwing only lead (or maybe pencils) but that setup reeks of trouble if you try to throw less aerodynamic stuff.

Casting distance with conventional stuff is a lot more about how smoothly you can unload the rod than anything else.

Isn't the akios a fancier version of a 6500, or is it a beefier reel? Is it enough reel to jig with braid in the canal? I've stripped gears in an older version Diawa Millionaire (6hm) trying this, and the inside of the akios looks about the same. Does anyone know how they compare strength wise to an ABU 6500/Diawa Millionaire?

Also, isn't the 1328 the fast action Sling Shot blank? If so it is going to unload very, very fast unless you overload it, and accelerating a conventional spool that fast creates major control issues. You probably could get away with it throwing only lead (or maybe pencils) but that setup reeks of trouble if you try to throw less aerodynamic stuff.

Casting distance with conventional stuff is a lot more about how smoothly you can unload the rod than anything else.

numbskull im not sure about the guts of the akios, theres some good threads on sol about them, just another conv option out there.

this will be my first conv reel for the surf so looking for something that i can jig with, this will its sole purpose. i usually throw 3 to 5oz jigs, leadheads, etc.

as far as the blank goes, the 1328 is a mod fast rod, not too fast.

but looking at some other century blanks.

do no buy a daiwa saltist ANYTHING they are absolutely PH#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&G IMPOSSIBLE to get parts for. And they are designed to be sent in for service. You pretty much have to take apart the handle assembly and right side plate with all the drag etc inside it to change a ph#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g pawl! Stay away!!! Youve been warned!

do no buy a daiwa saltist ANYTHING they are absolutely PH#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&G IMPOSSIBLE to get parts for. And they are designed to be sent in for service. You pretty much have to take apart the handle assembly and right side plate with all the drag etc inside it to change a ph#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g pawl! Stay away!!! Youve been warned!

Thanks Vic. I am sending the reel I bought from you 2 years ago to have it "souped up".

My best casting conventional is a new style Abu 7000 iHSN with a ceramic pawl and ceramic bearing upgrade. It is now my go to eel/plug setup for the canal. I've got it matched to a Lami 120-1M. Personally, I like having the level wind. It's got way more balls than the 6500 and the narrow spool chucks it! Even with 50 lb braid!

Other reels I've owned are multiple style 6500's, Penn 965, 975 and Daiwa Saltist 30LH.

My primary jigging setup for the canal is a custom Abu 7000 prorocket with 5.3/1 gears spooled with 360yds of 55lb Diawa boat braid matched with a lamiglas arra 1261MH. I found the stock 4/1 gearing on my abu to be too slow for the canal. The high speed gearing was done by Mikes reel repair. It took a while for them to complete but I have been very satisfied with the final product. I throw 3-60z jigs with the above setup and found it to work large pencil poppers well.

I can't say what is best but when fishing with many of the older dogs I saw a lot of Abu Garcia reels. *shrug* Just my observation.

Wish I was taught how to cast conventional instead of spinning...but I'll suffer through it :P

do no buy a daiwa saltist ANYTHING they are absolutely PH#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&G IMPOSSIBLE to get parts for. And they are designed to be sent in for service. You pretty much have to take apart the handle assembly and right side plate with all the drag etc inside it to change a ph#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g pawl! Stay away!!! Youve been warned!
Hmmm.. Stewie liked his... I think... for a while... I think... Non level wind no good either TT?

Anyway, I'm not a distance caster. Only been using conventionals for a few years and really only getting confident that I won't get repeated blow-ups recently. I like Fireline or Cortland Braid 50lb on My two Newells P220/ R220. I find them user friendly and simple. For level winds, Abu Big Game 6000CL and 7000CL, upgraded Abu Sweden 7000, Chrome Rocket. I also have a Calcutta 400B that I like and it's mounted on a Sabre thatthe original owner used with the same model reel... I'm sentimental. However I would not use any of them if I knew they might get soaked by a wave... for that, 706Z.

Just happened to have been test casting a GSB1201M blank this am with an old Newell P220. Seems like they were made for each other. I highly doubt you could find a better conventional set up to fish eels no matter what you pay.

For me its a 1321m/235 - used that setup 30 yrs ago to throw everything from eels to plugs to bait. Still one of the easiest outfits to cast/control with good distance. Just a great FISHING outfit.

Just happened to have been test casting a GSB1201M blank this am with an old Newell P220. Seems like they were made for each other. I highly doubt you could find a better conventional set up to fish eels no matter what you pay.

Unless you could find someone willing to part with a Fisher 8720. ;)

A little late to this thread but I will throw in my thoughts. I used to fish convenitonals A LOT. I used them just about eeverywhere and I thought they were the only way to fish eels. I looked at guys throwing eels on spinning tackle as not knowing any better; boy was I wrong! While 99.9999% of what I do now in the surf is in a wetsuit, I can still cast an eel further on my spinners than I ever could with a revolving spool reel (and I tried tham all). Further, convenitonals do not like getting wet. Avets are supposed to be dunkable, and I played around with a magged SX in the surf a few years back, but I still found my spinners to do a better job. I no longer let the fish run when I get a take. I hold the rod tip veery high, get a hit, drp the rod and cross her eyes when the line comes tight. I do not miss any more fish than I used to by letyteing the fish run and probably actually hook more fish as they often dropped the eel before I set in the old days. If there is any sort of wind other than at my back, throwing an eel on a convenional is nothing short of a headache. With a spinner you just punch the eel out there and don't need to worry about a thing.

Unless you are talking pure casting competitions, and even then only in the hands of an expert, today's spinning reels and high-tech rods spooled with braid will out cast a conventional set-up under "fishing conditions" any day.

Now as far as what convenitonal I am still using these days, I have been fishing a Shimano Torium 14 going on 3+ years and absolutely love it. The only time I still break her out is in the breachways of SoCo, and it's matched up to a Lami 1231m. I love that combo when jigging and it works just fine plugging. The reel has been splashed pretty good and keeps going. The bearring on my first one crapped out after getting really soaked a few times, but that is to be expected.