The Abu 7000/7500 series you can move the handle almost half way around before it trips the spool into gear.
The 975 on the other hand if you move it the handle at all it trips the spool into gear. I like the 975 for large jigs and 5" Storm Wildeyes. Its my go to reel out of a boat. I am extra careful not to bump the handle when I am casting. Is this the problem you guys are having, or no? I haven't taken the handle off to see how well balanced it is balance (may be that is the problem?).
I have a Shimano Calcutta 400S I picked up used. I'm surprized how much drag pressure I can exert with the thing. May be I am too use to how much I have to crank down on the stock washers on the 6500 sized Abu's.
400S is a super casting reel with a non-magnetic anti-backlash system that works very well. I find the 700 size abit big and the 400 a bit small. Too bad Shimano didn't make a 500, or 600 size in the Calcutta line.
If I had to turn some one on to conventional reel for plugging it would be the recently discontinued Abu 6600 C-5 mag-x line: pissa out of the box, or if you can find an 6500CS. Newbies should stick with a levelwind IMHO.
Once you get use to it and you feel like u really NEED a bit extra distance then get a CT conversion kit, or buy a speedster.....lol. If you change the drag washers & put on a power handle you can really winch in some nice fish w/out much problem.
