Fin-Nor AHAB Reels?

[Striper_Haven_03]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone ever fished with a Fin-Nor AHAB reel? Was thinking about buying one but havent heard much about them here in NE, but some boys down south brag about them and how the drag system is the best out there. If not maybe someone can make a recommendation on a reel between the $200-250 range. I have fished with a Penn 560 Slammer and like it but sometimes with heavier fish (25+lbs) the drag seems a little vunerable. Most of my fishing is in the surf w/artificials and some eeling - 20 # Yo-Zuri Hybrid line. Any help wouldbe great.

Fireman

[mikecc]

Ask MikeP he has one

[Slingah]

nice reels....very heavy....awesome drag...do not like sand...
I would like to hear feedback on the new ones as well........

[Striper_Haven_03]

Yes, noticed the weight difference on the AHAB 16 compared to the slammer or cabo I looked at. Although it did seem rugged. Still would like to hear from someone that fishs one. Any other suggestions on other reels or convincing comments for the Fin-Nor?

[Mike P]

It's a solid feeling reel. But the first time I took it out, spooled with 40# Stren Superbraid, I had 3 tangles in 4 casts.

Granted, it was windy, but I've been using braid on spinning reels for 7 years, and I know how to use it. Plus, it was spooled on very tight by mike cc's machine IMO the reel isn't braid friendly.

I'm going to switch over to 20# Fireline on it.

BTW it's the new Ahab 16.

[fishpoopoo]

+solid reel.

+great drag (teflon impregnated cork - replacements are cheep).

+can be dunked within reason

-a bit heavy.

i have an older beefier version where the body is made with some kind of metal/ceramic composite. the newer ones are made with a lighter plastic.

also - the older models had spools and handles made with surgical stainless steel. i'm not sure about the newer ones.

if you can score an older Ahab 16A - jump on it. check the innards - the gears were made of some fairly brittle metal - but are easily and economically replaceable.

as MikeP has said - it's not necessarily the most braid friendly reel, but fireline has worked for me.

YMMV.

[2na]

I have a dozen 8A’s and a dozen 12A’s along with a couple of 16A’s, and picked up my first new Fin Nor 12ABS (12 ABS being the new designation) at the MSBA show. For what I want out of a reel they rule. I use power pro15# and 20# and get wind knots like every other reel I have. The drag is the best, the quick-change spool allows for flexibility and the ability to have spools loaded with shock leaders etc for those times when a blue cuts you when fish are everywhere. I completely concur with Bassturbed’s four points, and add one more – the bail trips over during casts too frequently. I do not use them at night when I’m walking a beach because they are too heavy – that’s when I grab my Van Staal.

When I got the 12ABS home I broke it down. The reel is almost identical to the old ones and the parts are interchangeable – I spent a few hours switching most of them back + forth between old + new models - but there are a few important distinctions. The old pot metal parts, of special concern the oscillator slider (which governs the main shaft going up and down to lay line on the spool properly and was prone to breakage) are now made of solid metal (I am not sure if they are stainless, but certainly are no longer pot metal), and a number of the gears etc are also made of different metals, but seem to be stainless or some type of composite. The body of the reel is made of some type of composite and the reel is drastically lighter than the old models (20 oz vs. 26? (I think) for the old ones) – a major bitch about the old reel was it being too heavy. I believe that my comparable Van Staal (150) is 12 oz. They are made in China, which in my opinion is not necessarily a bad thing. One very important difference in the reels is the antireverse clutch assembly, which on the old ones was open and prone to water infiltration, causing rust and corrosion in the heart of the reel. The new ones have been altered in an attempt to cease that, and there is a spring retaining ring around the washer over the clutch for a tighter seal. This alteration was the only physical difference / part change I found (disclaimer - I did not open the retaining ring and look at the clutch assembly but from the schematics it appeared to be the same as the old model). One other alteration was the bail spring trip assembly. The parts seem to be the same, but the bail seemed to come over/not come over better than the old model – not that I would care, because I remove it and go bailless anyways. But I know that would be a concern to many. I just hope it would not come over as you cast, sending that plug to Portugal (why I go bailless…). On the old Ahabs I found the parts most likely to fail was the handle (made of Bakelite or something similar) and the aforementioned oscillator slider, and both have been changed (and hopefully improved).
Parts were difficult to obtain after the old owners of Fin Nor went out of biz 5 years ago, and I have bought a few on Ebay just for parts. But, as I have found, the parts to the new reels (at least in the case of the 12’s) are interchangeable. On top of that, Fin Nor is now owned by the same company that owns Van Staal (Zebco). I spoke with the service guy at Van Staal and asked about parts, and they are available.

I believe that the new reel is superior in many ways to the old model. Hope this is not too much information and helps you.

[Striper_Haven_03]

PTMIKE- Thanks your info. is very helpful. One more question...should I go with the 12 or 16? The 16 seems a little heavy and bulky but worried about line capacity if I go smaller to the 12. I use 20# Yo-Zuri Hybrid and do alot of plugging, more so then chunk or jigging. Which model do you think I should go with?

Thanks in advance - Fireman

[fishpoopoo]

i'm partial to the 16 - it's a full-sized surfcasting reel suitable for 10+ foot rods.

12 for lighter tackle.

[2na]

Just saw Bassturbed's post. To each his own - I use my 12 on 11' Arra. What feels good to me wouldn't to Bass, and vice versa. Even more important to get one in your hands and feel it out before you buy.

[fishpoopoo]

couldn't agree more with ptmike. if you're shopping around and have your rod with you, bring it to the store and strap one on and see how it feels.

[2na]

I prefer the size and weight of the 12, which carries about 300 yards of 15# power pro, and the 16 is heavier and bulkier. But knowing you are using 20# Yo-Zuri Hydrid, which I believe has a large diameter and fills the spool quickly, from a line capacity standpoint I would say the 16. I don't know how much you would be able to get on the 12. Maybe you can get one of each in your hands and see how it feels before you make your purchase, rather than buying online??

[Striper_Haven_03]

Thanks everyone for help on this. Guess I will have to bring the my rod to the shop and see what suits me best. I did hold the 16 (without the rod) and it seems a little heavy/bulky but very rugged. Alot has been mentioned about the Shimano Spheros, is this reel comparable?

Fireman