Am I asking too much from a reel

[spanner]

My main reel for east coast codding is a 535Mag and I love it. Tough as old boots and totally reliable. I find the mag very useful to tune the reel for the wind conditions, especially when its swirling and gusting, behind you one minute and in your face the next. I always use it with 35lb line and I think that helps as well.

 

I also use a 20yr old 7000C with levelwind, with 35lb on it. It also casts well but I find I have to keep it set slower to make sure it stays OK if the wind changes. If a birdie starts with a levelwind its all over, with the open cage of the 535mag I can thumb the edge of the spool and calm it back down and save the cast. Hence the 7000c is tuned slow to stay safe. The difference in speed is really obvious as well, the 6:1 of the 535 really helps in snaggy ground.

 

I also have a 525mag that I use with 17lb and it is more temperamental, mostly it is fine but if I really go for it or knock the mag down a notch as its nice and clam suddenly it blows up. I'm going to try 20lb or 25lb line with it to see if that makes it bombproof like my 535mag.

 

My 6500CTmag on the other hand never blows up with 15lb line, sweet.

 

 

I'd suggest that for rough ground codding you also want speed and strength as criteria. Based on that I'd recommend a 535mag, or if you are happy without mag brakes the slosh.

[Toerag]

I had a 6600LD and it were rubbish. Drag was very on/off, and it corroded badly inside the sideplate there the freespool lever/thumb-bar goes in (OK, so it did live on the boat, but it was washed down with fresh water every trip). SL30SH is much better, no lever drag to knock off/on, and it only corrodes on the outside.

[arthurcodsbody]

I know what your saying about the 535GS my mate uses one and he's a really good caster but he says "sh*t that thing scares the crap outa me, its gonna take me b@stard thumb off one day" maybe the MAG is better, Am now thinking between the 6500 CS mag with level wind or a 535MAG or 7000 LW considering it'll be used for east coast rough ground work which do you all think is best

 

Matt

[spanner]

6500CSmag does not have the guts for rough ground, lovely reel but the wrong place for it.

 

Maybe we could meet up for a session somewhere, I'm in Aberdeen, and then you could have a shot of my 535Mag and see what you think. I still have both my thumbs

[arthurcodsbody]

Yea i'm up for a session sometime, I think the 535MAG might be the way to go, I think the problem he has is with the GS saying its not the easiest reel to control would be an understatment maybe the MAG is better

[Guest jay_con]

535 mag is not the best of reels. A really crap casting reel. Very bulky with a strange knob (ooerrr matron) on the side. Only thing in its favour is its retrieve which is great. If your going to fish the rocks also stay clear of the 6500 sizes as they arent built for it. A great reel is the abu 7500 c3 which has a level wind, although I prefer the 7500 ct. Only thing wrong with abu reels are the side plates which corrode a little to fast for my liking and are probably designed like that to get you to buy some new side plates every 2 or 3 years.

[Glasgowdan]

seriously, try the 7000c synchro, its amazing, and has brass sideplates so rust - no!

[Guest jay_con]

I have one. Not a bad reel at all. Yes brass sideplates. Great casting real. Only thing is its got a slower retrieve than the 7500, slosh and penns, but that is not necasserily a negative uless fishing in the heaviest of ground.

[Guest jay_con]

I also put the syncro sideplates on my 7500 ct but had to fit a bush instead of the handle bearing. I dont notice any difference in performance.

[arthurcodsbody]

OK I think ive decided on a 7000 with LW so should it be a standard 7000 LW or 7500C3 LW

votes on these then?