Conventional Setup Advise

[SocalStriper]

I've had problems with the calcuttas, thats why i switched to daiwa.

the drags in the calcuttas are dartanium and very fragile. After a few big fish they will most likely give you problems. You can upgrade the drags however. The calcutta TE's are another story, I'm not sure what drags are in them, but i hear good things, but expensive!

[Stewie]

Changing the drag washers in a 6500 is no big deal to any good tackle shop. I have Penn HT100's in mine. I believe they are from a 965. For less than $150 you can get a Swedish 6500CS Rocket from that guy in Australia. This is arguably the best levelwind ever from Abu. 6500's are so easy that you really don't need the magged versions unless you are casting non-levelwinds in distance tournaments. The levelwind hardware adds just enough resistance to the cast to control most backlashes.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I wouldnt trade my 525 mag for anything; but you have to be able to thumb the line in the dark w/o looking
the 6500 mag elite is an expensive starter reel, but good to learn on, crank the mags up a hair to limit backlashes at first; back them off a bit and the distance will come...

[Stewie]

Changing the drag washers in a 6500 is no big deal to any good tackle shop. I have Penn HT100's in mine. I believe they are from a 965. For less than $150 you can get a Swedish 6500CS Rocket from that guy in Australia. This is arguably the best levelwind ever from Abu. 6500's are so easy that you really don't need the magged versions unless you are casting non-levelwinds in distance tournaments. The levelwind hardware adds just enough resistance to the cast to control most backlashes.

[likwid]

Magged Avet.

[Christian]

always switch the drag out on the abu 6500s. ive got extreme smoothies in all mine. awsome drag. i dont think the washers are more than like, $10. it takes no time to put them in.

abu 6500s rock.

[scoobe]

Seems like level wind would be the way to go for a beginner. I've thought about buying a conventional outfit for fishing the ditch where the extra casting distance would really help. How much distance would the level wind take off vs non-level wind? A level wind will still cast much farther than a spinner, right?

[Back Beach]

You might want to look at the larger abu too. When I was checking them out this spring, I learned that the the 7000 size has a bigger and better drag system than the 6500. If you are fishing braid, you might get away with the narrow spooled version of the 7000, which will hold around 300+-yards of 50# braid. I think JHABS has the narrow spooled one with the conversion kit and mentioned that it casts extremely well. The 400 TE calcuttas are real nice, and I will be purchasing another one for next year. We fished the 400 TE for the last five years during rhody commercial season, and they hold up extremely well.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by scoobe

A level wind will still cast much farther than a spinner, right?

I believe tha "much farther" is usually an overstatement.. One reason is that in many places you don't have the room to get a nice long drop and full back swing. I find it is easier to punch it out there with a spinner in those situations and it is often hard to put more than 75 or 80% power into it with a conventional. 95% with a spinner definately outshoots 75 or 80% with convench. That said, I still stick to my abu 7000's at the canal. Any way, many of the guns there really bang it out w/ con. even in tight spots. When I push it, I inevitably send a jig across the canal sans an attached line If room to cast isn't an issue, I figure the convench in the hands of someone who can use it will go farther than a spinner in them same hands

[Saltheart]

IMO , there's no contest. the black BG reels were the best ABU made. Glad to see the 6500's coming back. Now how about bringing back the Black BG7000's too.!

I've posted a million times that the BG 7000CL is my canal reel. For beaches , I have both a BG6500cl and a Clacutta 400. For areas where I don't need big distance and for eels I like the Calcutta for the drag. Anywhere I need distance and am fishing lures , I like the BG6500 better. On very bad wind in your face days with eels , I like the 6500CS Mag.

[Saltheart]

Oh , BTW , on ABU's both CS and CL are levelwinds. CT is non levelwind.

[snake slinger]

calcutta 400

[eelman]

Originally Posted by snake slinger

calcutta 400

yup, best there is