I want a ABU 7000 but I have been told that the new models are junk and I should get a vintage 7000 on EBay. There are so many types does anyone have any advice on the best model or color Garcia 7000 to get?
Which Vintage ABU Garcia 7000 is good?
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cat_daddy1
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Ask how many have been spooled? Then of those, if any, ask how many times.
I have fished for over 60 years and have never been spooled. And that is on a 6500 or the equivalent. If you get spooled using a 7000 which will hold close to 300 yards of line, engage the drag because you must have it on free spool.
Just my thoughts.
I have fished for over 60 years and have never been spooled. And that is on a 6500 or the equivalent. If you get spooled using a 7000 which will hold close to 300 yards of line, engage the drag because you must have it on free spool.
Just my thoughts.
I really dont understand. Why are u trying to make the 7000 something it is not. It is a nice medium size reel in the realm of big fish. If you want a reel with specs and performance you are referring to then for the same money get a Penn Fathom or spend more and get a Torque. They both have 30lbs+ drag and are meant for large powerful fish. Dont try and make the 7000 something it is not.
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The 7000 is a great reel for big fish. Works great on big flatheads. I’ve never chased 100 pound blues. What exactly do you consider “large powerful fish”? I consider a fifty pound flat a large powerful fish and I think the 7000 is perfect for them.
I agree a 50# flatty is a powerful fish but a 20# drag is not gonna stop that fish from getting in cover close by. The 7000 is a great reel for large fish in open water. I have caught a few good size fish offshore on them but all in open water. Get a 20# snapper next to a rig and he will be in it.
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Well this was in the missour river and it was flowing Pretty fast , drag didnt slow it down one bit , he pull up anchor ....( wasn't fishing for Monster fish he was Fishing for Channels with a tiny dough ball no less !) Chased it ... almost spooled him i said 17 # test !! 80 +100+ pound blue cat IDK. But what i mean is that he couldn't contol Anything !!!!! He had it done with , 40# tiger ugly stick , big bait casting Reel also.. im not arguing here , im stating Fact , there are fish that won't come up or that you can't turn ..in a reasonable time frame and break off or snag up !! Another catfisher man had it happen on the Kansas River too ... saw the fish on sonar and side scan .. huge Blob... tossed him bait waited 2hrs ...took it ! ran past a wing dike, out in the current . Couldn't turn him 80# pro braid . 80# mono Broke him off .. nouth teeth rock idk ...clean break in middle of line ! That point is that these fish are not Slowed soon enough Period.. i love a fight too . Play them whatever!! .. but let's not get played !!
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When you first hook a big cat they are hard to control because they don't want to come off the bottom. They do not generally run and since a 7000 will hold 300 yards of 65 pound line you should never get spooled. Now if someone is fishing for channel cats with 17# test line then their drag would not be set very heavy but I still can't see a big cat running 300 yards. The 7000 has been an excellent catfish reel for 50 years or more. If someone doesn't like it they should buy something else.
Are there catfish in the US fresh water system that might be able to spool a 7000 full of heavy line, maybe but the odd of hooking one are very very slim. Are there sturgeon that could maybe.
If you have heard many stories, you need to realize those are called fishing stories. You should also learn enough about your own gear to know if it had bushings or bearings before commenting on how good or bad it is. You should be able to find out in less than a minute at the most.
You will lose a lot more fish because you had a dull hook or the hook just pilled out than you will by a big fish spooling you when you have 300 yards of line on.
tight lines
Are there catfish in the US fresh water system that might be able to spool a 7000 full of heavy line, maybe but the odd of hooking one are very very slim. Are there sturgeon that could maybe.
If you have heard many stories, you need to realize those are called fishing stories. You should also learn enough about your own gear to know if it had bushings or bearings before commenting on how good or bad it is. You should be able to find out in less than a minute at the most.
You will lose a lot more fish because you had a dull hook or the hook just pilled out than you will by a big fish spooling you when you have 300 yards of line on.
tight lines
those people that have said a cat spooled them with a 7000 spooled with 80 lb test, either the drag washers were wore out or don't know how to fight a fish, or there wasn't any line on the reel to begin with. I have fished all over the united states for giant cats, and have never come close to being spooled, as a matter of fact I caught a 72 lb blue on 20 lb test on a 6500, in current that took 10 oz to hold on bottom, and never came close to being spooled.there is not a catfish swimming in the united states that could spool me using a 7000 and 80 lb test. As far as the best 7000 to buy, I would stick with any thing with a C at the end, so you have bearings instead of bushings.
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Thank you for your post Jumpster , but i don't know Where all this totally Spooled using a 7000 comes from ... not me ! The story gets exaggerated and changes as time goes on ! I just know of a guy that was almost spooled and it wasnt on a abu 7000 it was an okuma. In a flooding River , not on a lake fishing straight down in a lake , he pulled anchor chased it fought it fo a long time until i broke him off somehow and yes he can fish ... its all he does 5 days a week , mo River Night and Day My Cousin, The other gentleman was a Catfisherman using something else and he was not spooled but the fish ran into the downriver current and broke him off on something Sharp, rock , teeth Who Knows , it was a clean center of #80 lb mono leader break , he says from a side scan shot of the Biggest fish he's ever seen big river fishing , took him 15 mins to get it to move using a stiff catfish rod. His buddy has caught 3 all over 100 last year . He said he don't know what it was or for sure what happened ... and FOLKS that's what keeps us Going back!! My main concerns were how to get a cat to stop moving HIS DIRECTION.. ASAP so he is turned and is coming towards YOU... he cant fight as hard if he's Coming in !! And by way i meant Stiffer drags , different washer materials something has to help .. But in deep, rocky , brushy piling infested 40 deep Foot Holes on the Missouri.. i know Nothing can stop Short or even long Runs for cover by a Fresh BIG Full of fight Blue / Flatty but i know the proper gear and setup can Lessen the odds of Him tying A Fisherman up almost without looking like he's Working Hard at it !! (( Nothing like not knowing what is in The Ancient Big River of the US)) But its nice to be as Prepaired as Possible! Thank you ,for your ideas and thoughts. I'm The adventurous Huck Finn ! And No I Don't spread fish Stories , But i have read of Monsters in various catfish magazines articles from near by Fisherman from years ago, and i know what was Reported in Fish markets in the late 1800's and we havent brought in the Likes as of late ... I just like to be Prepared or plan on being prepared for what it takes to bring em in soon and in my Retirement age when i go back Home to fish the Wide Missouri ! Oh got two pics for you Guys !
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your right that is what keeps me going back, and i hope to find that fish that i cant turn one day myself.
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I've never seen a 7000 but have been using a 5000 for a lot of years. Also have a very nice 2500 and a 6500, never found anything to complain about. They have far exceeded my expectations. Be hard for me to believe Garcia would shoot themselves in the foot by down grading intentionally or other wise! If I though I had a need for a 7000, I might just go buy one. I've got a Kastking Rover 40. Didn't need it but some guy was trashing it so bad I had to find out if it was that bad. I don't think he'd ever even seen one. It didn't cost that much, about $45 if I recall, and he was one of those "you get what you pay for guys". Actually it may not be a ABU but it sure does seem to me to be a nice reel. For $45 I'd call it a steal! The guy that started that discussion was looking for an entry level level wind!
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Cat_daddy,
First time poster, but I had to chime in.
I own at least a dozen Abu Ambassadeur reels. 4000s, 5000s and a couple 6000s. I don't fish for large game fish so I never had a need for a 7000 model, however they are all basically the same. All of mine are vintage I bought on Ebay for $20 or less and restored and repaired them, except one that is "modern" (about 20 years old, lol). My family used to fish for King Salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska years ago and all we ever used were the 5000s and 6000s. A 60 pound King is a screaming strong fish and those reels always did the job. My brother liked to use a little 4000 and he caught a 82+ pound King with it back in 1980. It was spooled with 45 pound mono. Generally we spooled them with 60 pound mono for the Kings.
I use 4000s and 5000s to fish for channel cats and troll for trout. I have some red, black, gold, green and even a brown one. The green and brown are 4000D direct drives. Very nice, but you have to learn to let go of the handle when the fish runs.
So, what I am saying is an old Abu Ambassadeur 7000 will do you good for big cats. Get a red one. They generally have two brass bushings as the main bearings, but for $10-15 or less you can replace those with a stainless steel ball bearings making casting a lot smoother. I did that with one of my nicer reds. But you need to learn to set the bearing tension for casting and thumb the line. A lot trickier with those old reels.
A quick search on Ebay shows there are older Red 7000s in the $70 to $100 range. It will last you a lifetime when cared for. If you get an old one take it apart and service it. Replace the drag washers and use good oil and grease. You will love it!
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I have a 7000 C3 that I purchased new in 1990...it is still in use today.
Had ceramic bearings installed a few years ago and it still casts as well or better than new.
I do agree though that a Fathom II 20 size is a better option for true trophy catfishing...for the Ohio River and lakes/reservoirs with big fish ...that is my first choice.
Good luck with your search.
Had ceramic bearings installed a few years ago and it still casts as well or better than new.
I do agree though that a Fathom II 20 size is a better option for true trophy catfishing...for the Ohio River and lakes/reservoirs with big fish ...that is my first choice.
Good luck with your search.
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Tom:
I did notice a difference in casting distance and reel felt a little bit smoother so I think the $20.00 upgrade was well worth it.
I did notice a difference in casting distance and reel felt a little bit smoother so I think the $20.00 upgrade was well worth it.
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