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Who Makes A Good Quality Overhead Castable Reel?


Kirks

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Hey Guys

I am looking to get a second Breakwall jew combo and I was thinking of going for an overhead reel due to the bigger line capacity for using heavy mono.

The reel has to be small and compact so looking for a size 30 size.

Price maybe $300 and lower because its going to get a hiding on the rocks so nothing to fancy.

Cheers

Steve

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G'day Steve.

The ABU 7000 is one of the best casting o/heads ever made.

I use a 7000 & a 10000 & they are tough & reliable & a dream to cast. Also very well priced. If you go the 7000 get the drag upgraded for wall work.

Daiwa sealines are also good although I did bend the shaft in one on a big breakwall jew. :wacko:

Cheers,

Grant.

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I have a Daiwa saltist 50H and it's great for casting. Even though it's a big reel, it has no problem casting a 40 gm lure, and could probably go even lighter if you were willing to try. Very solid and smooth drag too.

I also have an Abu 6000 and although it casts well, the drag is crap. I've tried everything I can think of, including replacing the washers and working the steel washers (polishing on a flat surface) and still have had no luck with it. Not sure what the 7000s are like, but if the drag is anything like my 6000 then I'd stay well clear...

On another note, despite what reel you choose the rod has to be up to the task. If the rod isn't a good casting rod then any reel you put on it, no matter how supposedly great it may be, will not perform as well as it should and may give you the opinion that the reel is crap...

Edited by abecedarian
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The Saltist 50 would be a good choice, in the low speed (4.9:1) model. I think the ABU 7000 would be too small as you would want to be using quite heavy mono for breakwall jews. Also the Saltist is a much stronger and better built reel than the ABU (drag included).

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I also have an Abu 6000 and although it casts well, the drag is crap. I've tried everything I can think of, including replacing the washers and working the steel washers (polishing on a flat surface) and still have had no luck with it. Not sure what the 7000s are like, but if the drag is anything like my 6000 then I'd stay well clear...

Carbonex drag (fiber) drag washers are a good way to improve the ABU drag (and other reels). They can be ordered from Jack Erskines in Cairns. They are best greased with a special drag grease such as Cal's grease which he also supplies.

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Carbonex drag (fiber) drag washers are a good way to improve the ABU drag (and other reels). They can be ordered from Jack Erskines in Cairns. They are best greased with a special drag grease such as Cal's grease which he also supplies.

Cheers, I might give that a go. I only replaced them with the standard ones which I suppose aren't ideal. Would that smooth out the jerkiness when a fish takes line though? Maybe I might need to try and find new metal washers too.

It would be nice to get the abu going again as it's a good reel for spinning for salmon and tailor, the saltist 50 is just overkill...

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Agree- ABU 7000c3 are the best casting reels ever.

Used Penn's, Daiwa Sealine's, Shimano TLD's none come close to the ABU for castability and price.

Castability is important, but not the only thing to consider. How the reel handles a big fish on the end of the line (drag quality, reel strength) is more important than being able to cast a mile in my opinion...

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Cheers, I might give that a go. I only replaced them with the standard ones which I suppose aren't ideal. Would that smooth out the jerkiness when a fish takes line though? Maybe I might need to try and find new metal washers too.

Well thats the idea - with the new carbonex washers it should be smooth as silk and more powerful too. I'm surprised tough that they new standard washers are also jerky - unless they aren't that new anymore. There might be a bit more to your problem in that case.

Cheers, I might give that a go. I only replaced them with the standard ones which I suppose aren't ideal. Would that smooth out the jerkiness when a fish takes line though? Maybe I might need to try and find new metal washers too.

It would be nice to get the abu going again as it's a good reel for spinning for salmon and tailor, the saltist 50 is just overkill...

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Castability is important, but not the only thing to consider. How the reel handles a big fish on the end of the line (drag quality, reel strength) is more important than being able to cast a mile in my opinion...

You won't be needing big casts for breakwall jews. On the North NSW coast a lot of locals use a 4/0 or 4.5/0 Penn Senators or same sized Daiwa Sealines because they have the capacity and drag to handle 50-60lb line. These aren't what you would regard as casting reels but can handle the distance required for this sort of fishing.

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Hey Guys

Thanks for the reply's. I am going to run it over a Daiwa sensor surf 20-40lb rod. I was thinking a daiwa saltist 20-30 or torium in the same size. its Actually going to be a lure casting outfit. with probably 30lb mono.

Cheers

Steve

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You could also check out the shimano speedmaster tsm1V, a fantastic casting reel, I have had a few and they will fit a heap of line and are top value, great for working lures as they're 6:1 ratio.

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For something a bit cheaper (but feature packed) have a look a the Okuma MagSystem range (eg the MS-30CS). As the name implies it has a magnetic anti-backlash control which would come in handy for casting the sort of bulky lures you will be using for jews. The Torium and Speedmasters don't have any form of anti backlash control (don't know about the Saltist) and I know the the Speedmaster in particular is rather backlash prone.

PS: You can add magnets to these reel (either static or controlled) to tame them and it's quite effective and easy to do.

Edited by billfisher
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Hey Guys

Thanks for the reply's. I am going to run it over a Daiwa sensor surf 20-40lb rod. I was thinking a daiwa saltist 20-30 or torium in the same size. its Actually going to be a lure casting outfit. with probably 30lb mono.

Cheers

Steve

30 lb would be a good choice, and you could even go heavier. These breakwall jews will drag you along the sumerged rocks and heavy line will give some abrasion resistance. Also it is not always possible to chase after the fish on a rough breakwall and heavy line can pull them up or make them change direction. I wouldn't be worried about losing a bit of casting distance as the jews wil be in quite close.

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Abu7500C3 are great at casting, but even with carbontex or smooth drag the drag isnt as good as other reels out there. Depending on the line class you want to use, look at the saltist o/h or toriums. And you can upgrade the drag stacks in those if needed (carbontex and drag stack metals) and it will pull even more. They are under $300.

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