Am I being silly?

[BRabbit]

Hey all, been reading for a while, just never signed up to post until now.

I've a little LB spot on the central Goldy (near home) off some rocks where there's a deep hole about a 30-40 metres cast. I use a Penn 9ft (Ultimate series) which is a really surprisingly good rod, that has held its own against some monster golden trevs at Double Island in the past.

My question is, I am an overhead reel kind of guy, and my shimano speedmaster is beyond repair, am I being silly putting an ABU 6600C4 on my Penn Rod and chasing tailor and possibly even jew with it? I only have about 290 metres of 15lb mono on the reel.

I can cast the distance to the hole easily, and the reel seems to manage, but I get the feeling I'm overloading it for a burnout. Is this possible, will I burn out my Abu reel fishing it like this? Its a great reel for estury and the bay and I don't wanna kill it on the rocks.

I miss my speedmaster. That baby could cast 70 metres without difficulty and hold 450 metres of 20lb braid ... My pb Trev @ DI was 90cm on a pilly -5 gang, that outfit got the trev back on the gaff in about 20 mins.

Can anyone recommend a good overhead for LB fishing other than the speedmaster?

Thanks in advance!

B

[mattooty]

Is it one of the older abu's or a recent one? I haven't heard any good reports about the current ones (6000, 7000 sizes). The old speed disaster (seize master), sounds like its really held up to the strain. Its always possible to get another one of these reels even though they're out of production. Try a wanted add in the classified section maybe?

[Outsider1]

Are you talking about the TSM4 Speedmaster?

You can still buy them new. Try M>O@ Tackle, they have them and I have seen them on a few other online tackle sites as well. There are a few used ones for sale on E-Bay (caveat emptor).

I don't know the 6600C4, though have seen them and they do look the part, but I have never used one to know their capability. I have a 6500C3 which is a lovely reel but too small for your style of fishing. I also have one of the red 7000s (the model with bushes not bearings) and reckon it would be ideal. Tough and reliable casting reel in my experience.

Cheers

Dave

[BRabbit]

Hey Dave. Which 7000 has the bushes not bearings? The latest ones?

I had a 7000 about 8 years ago, and it was the business. I got the speedmaster to replace it after my 7000 got pinched from my boat.

[Outsider1]

Hey Dave. Which 7000 has the bushes not bearings? The latest ones?

I had a 7000 about 8 years ago, and it was the business. I got the speedmaster to replace it after my 7000 got pinched from my boat.

Hi BRabbitt,

mine is years old (at least 12 years old) although still in as new nick.

There are some current 7000 models that have bushes and bearings but I don't know if they are comparable?, they look very similar!. Here are some links to some I found for sale;

http://store.tacklemania.com.au/Items/7925

This one looks the closest to my model;

http://www.toddstackle.com.au/component/page,shop.product_details/category_id,21/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,294/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,27/

http://www.gascatch.com/store/product.asp?ID=92

Cheers

Dave

[BRabbit]

Thanks Dave. Those last two are the ones I want. Pretty good price for that last chrome one too.

B

[tunaticer]

Keep your eye out for an Abu12 reel and get jack erskine drag upgrade for it. They will outlast anything on the market today still.

At least as good a caster as the Abu 6500 or 7000. Only downside is they have a line trap between the spool and body if you get an over run.

Jack.

[BRabbit]

I picked up a 7000 from Acemart, its in the old packaging, there's no mention of ball bearings, just says smooth starwheel drag and precision brass gears in the Specs listing.

Hopefully its one with the bushes. A few sessions with it will tell if its a goodun.