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Do you guys think a Abu Garcia 6500 is a good size or a little small when you have common catches over 80LBs? With heavy braid, I know some use them, I'm just not sure.
reel size for big James river blue catfish
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6500 is an excellent reel and damned good for James River fishing but if you're targeting 80LB fish continuously I would step up to a 7000 series/Penn 320/Okuma 450/Arsenal HD 20/ ya know bigger style reels. I have 7 6500s/Ming Yang CL60 size reels on TWC Rods and Im not taking them off my boat, as long as you dont have the drag cranked all the way down you should be ok with 6500s, Mike(Bluecat69) has 16 of them on his boat and they have done just fine for years, and we have caught 60 and 70LB Blues from his boat.
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TWC CL70
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Now if those were still for sale I'd say perfect, fortunately I was able to buy one lol
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I now have 8 Penn 320GT's on my boat and one of them is over twenty years old. Never had a break down and they have plenty of power. And half the money of a 7000. Tried a 209 and a 309 from my trolling days but they cast like crap. Jump on any charter boat out of VA Beach that targets big striper and cobia and that will be the primary reel.
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Yep I have 2 of the Penn 320GT2 and 2 Penn 309s also, and If I had to choose one reel to use only from my boat for big cats the Penn 320GT2 would be it. Its combination of smoothness, Drag, Castability, Line capacity, Clicker, reliability and price is definetly unbeatable and now that greentop has them for $65 they are even cheaper than the 6500s, so you can get 2 for the price of one 7000. That is crazy
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Does anyone use spinning reels? If so, what kind?
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Some do, few, but some. Spinning reels will work, but most of us like casters because of they're power, price, drag, etc. They're better suited for large species. Spinning reels will land any cat though, the old world record 121 pounder was caught on one.
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I have 2 Shimano Baitrunner 4500 spinning reels on Shakespeare Power Rods (30-50lb). They have an adjustable baitrunner feature (not a clicker) that is really nice for catfishing. I would probably use them exclusively if they did have a clicker. But most of my reels are baitcaster/trolling types. The Penns have a much louder bait clicker than any others I have heard....But I prefer Abu 6500 and larger. The Abu 7000 is by far my favorite reel I have.
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I use shimano 3500 baitrunners exclusively. I can adjust the baitrunner feature whether in a strong current or calm lake. I've used them in the james without a problem,didn't catch anything big there but I can say the 50lb flatheads I've caught didn't phase them. It's not just the reel that makes the difference, most nowadays have come a long way as far as quality drag and construction. You need a ROD that can handle the type of fishing you do.
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I've not really explored the baitrunner side of things. I just seem to get better casts with the spinner.
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I too always used spinning reels in the past because of casting distance. However, I have a couple 6500c3 w/ 80lb power pro and I can cast them twice as far (and more accurately) than my Shimano spinning reel. I still love the Shimanos though
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Nice. I may have to0 save up and give one a try.
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OK I just had to try one. Went to Green top on Friday and picked up a 7000C3. The only Abu I carry on the boat is a 5500 for bass. So this weekend I will test the castability compared to my Penn 320's. Don't expect it to have the pulling power of the Penn's but it is alot lighter and we will have to see if it is worth the extra 20$. Also I filled it with 65# Spiderwire in stead of my Sufix 65#. Spider had no Hi Vis yellow so I went with DK Green. I do have to say that the feel is softer than any of my other lines. Will get back to you with a report.
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Doug........I wouldn't be surprised if you are selling all of those PENNS soon and replacing them with those 7000's...........
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A fishfinder and eight 320's. Do you have a opening bid Larry. Heck I should be fishing with Zebco's for the size of fish I catch.
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Doug I wont lie that 7000 is wayyyyyyyyyy smoother than our Penn's but the Penn's seem to cast further and are definetly stronger. I do like that 7000 though its an excellent reel. I do have the cheaper 7000i so yours might be alot better than mine.
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