Paging Alan Tani

I generally use 50# power pro with a 25# mono leader.  The fifty is a little nicer to work with, but you can't break it on a a yak, hence the 25# leader.  I will definitely get one of the 5 series, nice and compact.  After to switching to iron with a siwash I almost never get snagged anyway, I don't think I lost more than two jigs all year.

actually, if you use 30# mono or spectra and a soft brass treble hook, you will generally straighten out the hook and save the rig. 

I asked mike at mike's reel repair http://www.mikesreelrepair.com about the 8lb max drag figure, he said:

Abu gears can go up to approx. 15lbs without severe repercussions...I know, we have tested in shop here.
Over the years, I think they have used a different brass here or there, but what we found out was that the lower the ratio, the "stronger' the gear set. The 6.3:1's are not made for heavy conditions, although some of our customers are successful with them. The 3.8:1 and 5.3: ratios are best for heavy line. Keep in mind Abu rates their reels to 20-25# test MAX.

nothing like a little controversy, 

the gears are a little brass gear and a big brass gear. No doubt it is the teeth on the little wheel that go first. the lower ratios would have wheels that are closer in size and thus more equal pressure on the teeth. so maybe that's where that comment comes from. largely speculation on my part.

Mike also said that their ceramic bearings are indeed silicon nitride balls in stainless cages.

I upgraded the last of my abu's at lunch. I got two left handed reels and two right handed reels, I think I like the left-handed reels better. One of my boys is left handed, maybe I'll give him the right handed ones, 

I'll probably leave that penn 330 gti alone, I only once had a fish on big enough to tax it, a little tarpon, the drag was smooth then and it's really never been used, so me greasing it is probably a waste of time and there's the real risk I can't get it back together.

john

Brass Trebles?  I've never seen such.  What should I be looking for?
Pat

Brass Trebles?  I've never seen such.  What should I be looking for?
Pat

oops!  that should be bronze, or what ever those brown colored hooks are....

I asked mike at mike's reel repair http://www.mikesreelrepair.com about the 8lb max drag figure, he said:

Abu gears can go up to approx. 15lbs without severe repercussions...I know, we have tested in shop here.
Over the years, I think they have used a different brass here or there, but what we found out was that the lower the ratio, the "stronger' the gear set. The 6.3:1's are not made for heavy conditions, although some of our customers are successful with them. The 3.8:1 and 5.3: ratios are best for heavy line. Keep in mind Abu rates their reels to 20-25# test MAX.

nothing like a little controversy, 

the gears are a little brass gear and a big brass gear. No doubt it is the teeth on the little wheel that go first. the lower ratios would have wheels that are closer in size and thus more equal pressure on the teeth. so maybe that's where that comment comes from. largely speculation on my part.

Mike also said that their ceramic bearings are indeed silicon nitride balls in stainless cages.

I upgraded the last of my abu's at lunch. I got two left handed reels and two right handed reels, I think I like the left-handed reels better. One of my boys is left handed, maybe I'll give him the right handed ones, 

I'll probably leave that penn 330 gti alone, I only once had a fish on big enough to tax it, a little tarpon, the drag was smooth then and it's really never been used, so me greasing it is probably a waste of time and there's the real risk I can't get it back together.
john

any possibility that we could get you to load up one of those reels with 40 pound mono, set the drag to 15 pounds, tie it off to a trailer hitch and walk off about 75 yards?   

any possibility that we could get you to load up one of those reels with 40 pound mono, set the drag to 15 pounds, tie it off to a trailer hitch and walk off about 75 yards?

 

well, I paid $20 for two of the 4, and less than $45 for
the other two, so it's no great loss, but
I was really hoping to trick somebody else into that!

and who knows, I have buttoned them down trying to get
snags out more than once. maybe they are already hurting?
but they still go round and don't make too much noise, I think
they are largely okay.

I'll sacrifice them for big fish tho. That would be a worthy death
for a reel.

With spectra being put on these reels we should
see some fried gear trains if we can just hook up to a big enough
fish.  Can a 20lb ling pull out 12 lbs of drag? how many feet?

the 25lb-ish halibut I caught last week took out line like I had it
in free-spool, but it only went maybe 60 feet and to a sandy bottom.
all I had to do was be patient and trust in your smooth upgraded drag
to eventually tire that thing out, which it did (thanks!).

Has a 20lb albacore ever been caught on an abu 5500? and a
catfish rod,  ?

I'll donate one of my right handed models to that experiment!

regarding cool lightweight reels that can take higher drag pressures,
charkbait has left handed newell reels for $130. If I could just destroy
an abu or two I could convince myself I "needed" one.