TonyG Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 what say you fishers about this reel. ABU 6500C-3; weight- 10.5oz; ratio- 5.3:1; line capacity- 155yds/20# test; cost- $75. wish to have any and all comments, please! thanks for for helping! tony TonyGFish when you can - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Williams Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 I think it's the best reel for the money out there, bar none. For 75 bucks you get a reel that can cast extremely well and is quite durable. I've had two 6500's for 7 years and still use them. I clean them several times a year and they perform great. My biggest beef with them is that I like power handls instead of the double-paddle handle and the drag is wimpy, one of Abu Garcia's only weak points. The BG and Mag Elites and even the Sports Rocket and ProShop are better reels, primarily with thicker sideplates, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 6500c3 for relatively light work. It wouldn't be my choice for 8 and bait. But for three or four ounces, it's just fine. At least that's my opion. I'm spoiled and I usually go with more high-end gear these days. As a "first" casting reel, the 6500 is hard to beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achez Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 I thinks its the best reel in its class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 Tony, I'm another big fan of Abu, especially on the price/peformance scale. They offer good performance at an attractive price. You might check with board sponsor Steve Barratt (great guy to deal with) for very good prices of Abu reels. I believe the prices listed on his site include shipping, at least they used to. He also has good info on parts and maintenance. If you're in a tremendous hurry, like need the reel within a couple days, you might pursue other options. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospector Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 Tony, go for it. For the price you can't do much better. One of the biggest problems though is that they corrode from the inside out. Do as I do with every new reel I get, open it up and make sure it's properly lubricated, coat the insides of the sideplates with some kind of light grease and with some TLC it's a good buy. They cast very good but the drags are a bit lacking but IMO theirs are probably better than the Mags. They can and do handle the Large, my best with the 6501 is 28lbs. Good Luck. Prospector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltheart Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 Great reel for the money. I'd also look at the 6500-C4 though. For $5 more than the C3 , you get the 6.3/1 gears instead of the 5.3/1 and you get the bearing levelwind. It casts well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swfly Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 I agree with Saltheart. I have a 6500c4 and love it. The only problem i have experianced is the little paw that rides the channel for the level wind wore out and had to be replaced. BIG bucks from abu, think it was something like 95 cents so i got a few for spares. BTW, abu's speedy service was great also. Walt ------------------ Swfly99@cs.com http://communities.msn.com/WaltsWorldofPics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyG Posted January 27, 2001 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2001 i certainly do thank you all for the comebacks. now i must exercise the noggin sifting through all this advice. all's i wants to do is retire my 2, 6000's that are between 30 - 40 years old and look like they just came out of their leather case for the first time. thanks, for the help. tony [This message has been edited by TonyG (edited 01-26-2001).] TonyGFish when you can - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCX Posted January 27, 2001 Report Share Posted January 27, 2001 love the reel but the drag sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Klein Posted January 27, 2001 Report Share Posted January 27, 2001 Hi Tony! Sorry to be slow jumping in on this one. Figured you be halfway back to Florida by now The 6500C3 is my second oldest Abu, and still one of my favorites, It's the basic M-1 version of the reel and I think you'll be quite happy with it; mine is yet to let me down and it's wearing well. You sure rang a bell with that reference to 6000's coming in the nifty little leather case. I still fish one of those, purchased in '72, and it still looks and performs beautifully. While I dislike the latest Abu high speed reels, I did get an Abu retro-fit speedup kit for my 6000 years ago... upped the old girl from it's original 3.3 : 1 to a blazing fast 4.7 : 1 [This message has been edited by Bill Klein (edited 01-27-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyG Posted January 27, 2001 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2001 bill, good to hear from you. coupled the 6000's to a 6'-9" fast taper conventional from garcia. my fishing partner and i surely brought to net a hugh number of fluke and winter flounders with those rigs. she got me into catch and release before we tied the knot. still do c&r. maybe i should look at that 'abu retro-fit speedup kit.' make em feel like a different reel. like - reborn again! advise where these things can be obtained? tony TonyGFish when you can - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Klein Posted January 29, 2001 Report Share Posted January 29, 2001 Tony, the kits I bought are so old, they are labeled Abu Garcia, so we can forget that source. I imagine the current main gear and pinnion might be compatible with the really old 6000's, but I'm not sure. I think there was a drag redesign at some early point, and a new set of drag washers may be needed as well, if not another part ot two. I'll flag this thread to Steve Barratt's attention for some real expert advice. [This message has been edited by Bill Klein (edited 01-29-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyG Posted January 30, 2001 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 bill use his ol rite, tanx. 9ish, taking a drink break from bandsaw! tony [This message has been edited by TonyG (edited 01-30-2001).] [This message has been edited by TonyG (edited 01-30-2001).] TonyGFish when you can - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBushellJr Posted January 30, 2001 Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 I agree with everyone. One of the better reels in that price range. The only one that comes close is that Corsair 400, but I'm not too crazy about them. JBJ Betty and Nicks ------------------ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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