Burntmypiston
blue gill
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Posts: 29
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« on: January 12, 2008, 02:38:53 PM » |
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Howdy folks. Just bought my first baitcaster, an Abu Garcia 5500C3. Got a good deal on it so I bought it without really knowing anything about them. Good reel for general fishing and slaying the big kitties? The sticker on the box says it's good for 205 yards of 12lb line, but I plan on spooling it with some 20lb braided stuff. Opinions? Thanks for helping a rookie.
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Esdaddy
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« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2008, 02:44:15 PM » |
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depending on how big of fish your fishing for..... the gear ratio isnt the best for monster cats..... but i think anything under 25# it will do alright...... if you hook into a monster it will be hard to gain any ground on him........
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Fish on!!!
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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Posts: 29
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« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2008, 02:48:23 PM » |
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Well, based on my recent luck, hooking a big fish isn't a real fear for me LOL! You think it'll handle a bluegill?
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Še§perado™
Team Mud Shark
channel catfish
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« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2008, 03:38:07 PM » |
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That 5000 reel is a good reel, but it is best for channel cat fishing, bass fishing and such. But if you move into flatheads, blue cats, you might just move up to the 6500 and the 7000 series reels.
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Bowfishing Assn. of America
State Rep. for Ohio
Professional Redneck
ALWAYS LEAVE THE OUTDOORS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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Posts: 29
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« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2008, 03:59:54 PM » |
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What's your best recommendation for baits for cats?[/quote]
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Doug158
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« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2008, 04:15:04 PM » |
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I use bait that is native to the area bluegills crappie shad herring like that I usually use cutbait this time of the year :wink: :thumbsup
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Gottafish
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« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2008, 06:46:25 PM » |
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You don't use the reel to fight a fish - sooo - the retrieve ratio has nothing to do with "gaining ground" on a fish (sorry esdaddy). Use your rod to gain ground, use your reel to store line.
The 5500 is pretty much identical to the 6500 internally. It just holds less line. It might even BE identical.
The prior comments about handling big fish ring true, but primarily because the drag stinks and needs an upgrade to carbontex.
Regarding braid - it'll hold plenty of braid but it's not DESIGNED for braid. In other words, the levelwind moves too slow. Braid, under load, will dig into itself and cause casting problems. I have so much trouble with this on my bigger ABUs that I'm replacing all braid with mono.
IMO, braid is best used on spinning outfits. Stick with some good quality mono for the 5500, 12-15 lb max in breaking strength. If you target fish suitable for fishing with that line size you won't have drag issues either.
By the way, it doesn't sound like it in this post, but I'm an ABU lover!!
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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Posts: 29
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« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2008, 07:16:21 PM » |
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Guess I asked the questions in the right place. Thanks for the wealth of information. What line would you put on this reel? I've got it mated to a 7' graphite medium duty rod I picked up cheap at Wally World.
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Doug158
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« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2008, 04:04:27 AM » |
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I would use 20lb cajun red line that will give you plenty of strength to handle some big cats :mrgreen:
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FISH HUNTER
new account
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« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2008, 05:53:31 AM » |
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In my opinion, if your fishing a lake without lots of stumps and trees use mono.If you are gonna be in with a lake like Lake Marion I would suggest braided line. Just my opinion!
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ANTEE FISH HUNTER
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tcba1987
Tournament Director's
flathead catfish
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Posts: 200
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« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2008, 08:36:45 AM » |
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that reel will make you a GOOD cat reel...........i use nothing but Abu 6000 reels (i think they are about the same) and theyve handled anything that ive hooked into so far. i use mine for channel cats and flatheads and LOVE them !! i string ALL of my reels with 30 lb Vicious Fishing Line !!!
Good Luck catching your first Big Fish on the NEW reel !!!
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Brian Huff
TCBA President
Thanks to our sponsors.............Chef Jims Penn Reels.........Rusty's Catfish Baits............Driftmaster Rod Holders
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2008, 11:19:52 AM » |
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That 38lber I caught last weekend pretty well maxed out my 6500,,I just was locked down on the drag and he would still manage to rip a few inches once in awhile and there was no gaining on him with that ratio,,,so the night stick did all the work,,,I truly dont want a bigger fish than it on my 6500's. Dropping down reel ratio's from 5.2 :1 ratio to 4.1 :1 is really the way to go for big cats. Line there are a bunch of good ones in the 15 to 30lb class, Cajun advantage, suffix elite, Berkley big game, Vicious, triplefish, and of course Ande premium. I also dont care for braided lines
But you should have a lot of fun learning on big channels and smaller blues and flatheads on the 5000. Get yerself some quality 5/0 circles like VMC sureset, daichi, and gamma. some heavy swivels and an assortment of egg sinkers and your coming out of the starting box for sure.
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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Gottafish
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« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2008, 11:53:06 AM » |
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I recently caught a 7 foot shark pushing 300 pounds on an ABU 6500!! :shock: I think it can handle a 65 pound blue cat :wink:
Come say it - you disagree with me on the reel ratio thing!! Reel ratio means nothing when it comes to fighting a fish. All it means is how FAST or how SLOW you can recover line.
Pump your rod to gain ground - drop the tip and REEL to gain line!!!
Somebody needs to make a "How to fight a fish" tutorial video. Maybe I'll do that!!
Come on, somebody bite....Let's have some fun :mrgreen:
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2008, 12:03:55 PM » |
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hehehehe sorry scott,,,I come from the old school of winching in that brush pile,,,but I have caught a honda trail 90 on 14 lb test in the potomac,,,and a couple of car doors...my best out of the James was about a 600lb tree from the pump house hole,,,but that took two rods / two people and some 100lb power pro :mrgreen:
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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Gottafish
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« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2008, 12:17:43 PM » |
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Awww MAN!!
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