Mendo SBA festivus

I got my big one last Sunday using a 1/2oz weight and letting lots of line out.

Same thing with the B@M one.

anybody use a line counter to measure line out?

if not, are you guesstimating or do you measure somehow?

and abus are the coolest.  . 

hate to break your heart J....but my abus will be replaced by Shimano Corvalus  What I don't ike about the Abu - is that the thumb bar release is located on the very top of the reel - when IT SHOULD BE right by the spool - just ike every other bait casting reel

...and I agree with Mike, Calcuttas ARE THE COOLEST (expensive but worth every dime)

Just my 2 cents.....

The thumbar on the nicer Abus is the best in the biz, you just gotta buy better Abus.  I agree the little push button is LAME.  I have several Shimano Cardiffs (the nicer version of the Corvalus) and they work great for freshwater but they don't look like they would be all that durable in salt.  They also have a dead level wind in freespool (except the 400s) which make Spectra a no-no.

I had a corvalus for about 10 years and it finally died.... it finally died from a stripped screw hole after constant cleanings in Baja.  They're great low end reels.  I've since upgraded to the Cardiff which is much better built, but not nearly as expensive as the Calcutta.

Brian

, you just gotta buy better Abus

Sean, unfortunately- being a left-hand-retrieve guy, I don't have a wide selection to play with 

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if not, are you guesstimating or do you measure somehow?
J, I measure by using the length of my rod. Say, If my rod was 7 ft., I'd start out by pointing my rod to the bow and release my line out as I point the rod back to the Stearn of my yak = that would be 7 ft of line on the first sweep. I repeat the process and add on another 7 ft  - which is now 14 ft behind the yak.....I do this while my yak is gliding of course...you get the picture. I do the same when I'm stripping line when mooching down for salmon.

mooch, I have left handed abus with thumbar.  several of them in fact.
look for 5601 C4's, but also reels like the royal express (basically a graphite footed 560X C4). they all
have thumbars and usually clickers too. the 4601 C3's all have thumbars.
ebay is a good source of used abus for those who enjoy the occaisional bargain.

sometimes I like the pushbutton like when I'm trolling, I don't hit it accidentally when I grab the rod from
the holder like I do with the thumbar. 

mooch, I'm trying to understand if it's really a rod length on each sweep? sounds good tho. works for
both spinning and casting reels?

mooch, I'm trying to understand if it's really a rod length on each sweep? sounds good tho. works for
both spinning and casting reels?

Yes it is....and it does work for both spinning and casting reels - I'll have to show it to you sometime. I find this a lot easier than counting a foot at a time - like many do when sending bait down to specific depth - when mooching 

  BINGO!Thats his story and i am sticking to it!I was using a 20.00$ Quantum/rear-drag w/powerpro 8lb.dia@approx.30lb.line and speed was no more than .09 mph.on the GPS and stuck to the 40ft - 20ft. drop

finally got John to send me my pic......

Thanks John!

just got back pics/underwater shots of the SBA Tourney.Wanted to share(I know its late)
top 2 pics=friday pre-fish 28" C&R /picture taken by friend of Sqawfish
3rd pic=    My second 28"of the day. C&R at 3:oo not a vessel on the lake(all@weigh-in)
4th pic=    My first 28" of the day C&R /picture taken by front-paddler of Allans' tandom yak(right -on man!)
5th+ pic=  Underwater shot of the above 28" with disposable cam.
Last pic=   shot of me taking the above underwater shots