Reel sizes

[rich]

Can anybody tell me what the numbers used in conjunction with multipliers refer to?

i.e. 5500, 6500, 7000, 9000 ect

I can only assume it might be the spool width.

With that in mind, would an Abu 7000 be suitable for general fishing duties?

 

Rich

[TomBettle]

Hi Rich

 

Back in the 70's and early 80's Abu were the definitive in small multiplier manufacturers.

 

Back then, their Swedish built reels were as good as anything in the size range from anyone else.

Due to their excellence, we (the UK fishing public) adopted their reel models as a way to describe any reel from any manufacturer of the same sort of size.

 

For example:

 

A Penn 525 could be described as 6500 size

Or the Penn 535 as 7000 size

 

Another brand?

 

Say the Shimano Torium 16 could well be described as 7000 size and so on.

 

Another way of looking at it is rough line capacity.

So (and without checking for accuracy), An Abu 5500 takes about 270yards of 12lb

6500 about 300 yards of 15lb and 7000 about 300 yards of 20lb.

 

You could describe a similar capacity reel from an alternative manufacturer according to those model numbers and most anglers would know roughly what you meant.

 

An all round light to medium duty boat reel would be 7000 size.

 

Tom