newtontoney 57 Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Anyone have one of these ? what is it like compared to the older abu's for distance casting ? they look like the nicest range of the "new style" abu's to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cal 480 Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Great reel NT,excellent casting reel,I think the pro rockets are actually slightly tweaked especially for that purpose. cheers newtontoney 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Abu is a funny company, they don't seem to make it easy to decipher the differences in their many model variations. I've tried to figure out the difference between rockets, pro rockets and standard C3 Abus before, including asking around on some of the US forums where many guys seem to know a fair bit about them. No one was really able to tell me definitively what the difference in construction and subsequent casting performance was, other than obvious external features. The pro rocket has the left-side spool tension adjustment, wheras the C3s do not, but apart from being able to adjust how centered the spool is, I see no obvious benefit to casting performance. Looking at the scematics there seems to be very little internal differences, same number and placement of bearings and spindle design. The one thing that can defintely increase casting performance is the elimination of the levelwind (CT versions) but all the pro rockets I have seen are levelwind (CS versions). In the end, the inference is that the pro rocket is a better casting reel, but the C3 is a great casting reel as well and I couldn't find any good reason to pay a fair bit extra for the pro rocket. Hope that my ramblings are helpful. Cal and Moggy23 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr_Willy 3 Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 My mate has a pro rocket - i got it for him at the original fishermans paradise at thier closing down sale the first time for about $120. It casts magnificently better than the normal ones.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Here's an interesting thread from a catfishing forum in the US, apparently another difference with pro rockets is some have a heavier duty frame, but some don't. http://catfishingpro.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1498 Warning, this may result in more confusion than clarity. Perhaps it's just that Swedish doesn't translate well, maybe that's why Ikea instructions are only pictures. Moggy23 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
newtontoney 57 Posted April 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 cheers for the input so far lads......abu have made it clear as mud though hey. I was thinking of getting a pro rocket but cannot justify how they are that much better from the other abu's, im wanting maximum distance from my reel and my 6500 c3 does a fairly good job in the right conditions, just curious if these rockets are in another league or is it all talk. What is making them better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 If you want to optimize distance than go for a non-levelwind reel (if you don't need the levelwind, they are handy for lure fishing). The spinning spool powers the levelwind mechanism and therefore steals a lot of the spool's energy. If you really want a levelwind you can get bearing upgrades for Abus that replace the bushings on either side of the worm gear which will help a bit. Otherwise go for a CT Abu or one of the many other good distance casting reels like Akios, Daiwa 7HT or Penn Squall 12 or 15. You can also get a CT frame to replace the frame on your current Abu. Have a search around online, heaps of good articles on tuning a reel for distance. newtontoney 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
newtontoney 57 Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 cheers plankton. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 No worries mate, always like talking tackle, plus I'm trying to get my post count up again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moggy23 625 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I have a Big Game 6500 CL & I'm pretty impressed with it's casting range for a lever wind, nice drag system on them too. newtontoney 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trihull 177 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 This might give you a little more insight into ABU's Enjoy .................... ABU Insight A = Small arbor spool, larger line capacity than the standard spool (for example 5000A) AB = Anti-backlash, (for example 5600AB) B = Small arbor spool, larger line capacity and a line out alarm (for example 5000B) C = Reel has 2 ball bearings in the spool or around the spool axle depending on spool design CI = Reel produced for Independent dealers C3 = Reel has two ball bearings in the spool plus a one-way roller bearing for the anti-reverse (the 7000C3/7500C3 reels have two ball bearings at the ends of the spool axle plus a third ball bearing around the crank shaft) C4 = Reel has two ball bearings in the spool, one ball bearing in the level wind plus a one-way roller bearing for the anti-reverse C5 = The reel has two ball bearings in the spool, two ball bearings in the level wind plus a one-way roller bearing for the anti-reverse CB = Self-centering – disengaging level wind (for example 4600CB) 1980’s CS = C stands for ball bearings, the S is short for "Sports", as in "6500C Sports Rocket CT = Non level wind model D = Direct drive - Drag works only when your hand is off the handle grips. (For example 5000D) DA = Direct drive with palming side plate DL = Deluxe = Gold plated model GR = Graphite construction HCL = The H stands for High-speed, the CL for ball bearings and level wind, as in "Big Game 6500HCL" HS = High speed reel HSI = High Speed with Infini spool design HSN = High speed narrow frame reel IAR = Instant Anti Reverse (for example 2500CIAR) IVCB = Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake J-speed = the "J" stands for Japan, the J-speeds (8000/9000/10000) are high-speed saltwater reels made for the Japanese market. L = Level wind (for example 6500CL, 9000CL; originally used for the 9000CL and 10000CL to indicate that those models had a level wind. LC = Line counter reel LD = Lever drag reel LDN = Lever drag reel with narrow frame SP = Sprint 6.3:1 gear ratio ST = Striper model W = Winch 3.8:1 gear ratio Abu Garcia reels come in the following sizes: 1x00, 2x00, 3x00, 4x00, 5x00, 6x00, 7x00, 8x00, 9000, 10000. The 7x00 and up models are larger reels, with the 7x00 holding 300 yds of Berkley Big Game 25# line and the 10000 holding well over 300 yds of Big Game 40# line. The X in the size when replaced with a 5 represents a push button free spool release model and a 6 is a thumbar free spool release model. Note that other size designations have been used. For example the 521/522/523, 821/822/823 or 1021/1022 made during the eighties, or the Ultra Mag I, II, III, IV, V, VI. "1" or "I" means a 4000-size reel, a "2" or "II" means a 5000-size reel, a "3" or "III" means a 6000-size reel and so on up. Zorgs and newtontoney 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
newtontoney 57 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 thanks trihull ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rooboy123 9 Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Great info there Tri. Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.