Reel recommendation

Hi guys,
This winter I'm planning to do a fair bit of spinning on the local
rivers, (Thame, Thames, Windrush Andy?) and have decided that my 35 year
old ABU 504 needs to be retired and replaced.
What's the best closed face reel on the market in your opinion?
Cheers,
Alec
--
Alec Powell

(Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards)

Watlington
Oxfordshire
UK

"Alec Powell" wrote in message
...
Hi guys,
This winter I'm planning to do a fair bit of spinning on the local rivers,
(Thame, Thames, Windrush Andy?) and have decided that my 35 year old ABU
504 needs to be retired and replaced.
What's the best closed face reel on the market in your opinion?
Cheers,
Alec
--
Alec Powell

(Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards)

Watlington
Oxfordshire
UK


Well..... first of all, any particular reason for a closed face reel? The
504 was realy designed for float or even short distance light lead fishing.

Abu now have a 704 rrp £80 ish but can pick up from around £55. Diawa have
the 125M rrp £70 ish again pick up for around £55. Both are really aimed at
the match fishermen and float fishing. I would suggest both reels are about
the same in terms of build quality as they're probably both made in
China/Taiwan now..

There are 'spin cast' closed face reels available (I've never used one) but
they tend not to have much line capacity especialy if you need heavier mono
(although using braid would get over that problem). Cheap versions tend to
have cheap metal gearing and not very good drag systems. Abu make some such
as the Abumatic 1076 and holds around 110 yds of 6lb mono.

I assume your after Pike? I would personaly use ether an open faced fixed
spool reel or even a small multiplier as both will hold more line, better
gearing and drag/clutch systems.

Small multipliers, well, really depends if you feel brave enough to use one.
Good on short length rods 6-7 ft as used for Bass fishing in the US and has
had some popularity over here casting lures like jelly worms & shads. May
struggle with light lures of less than 1/2 oz or less though.

I would suggest, for fixed spool, you wont go far wrong with an entry level
Shimano and something like a Catana or Nexave from around £20 - £35.

A tackle dealer told me recently that nearly all reels now come out of the
same Asian factories, just with different branding names.

ATB

Andy