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ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:43 pm
by Tonytoned
Hello Everyone
Does anybody on the forum that owns an ABU Cardinal use it like a glorified baitrunner when fishing for carp, releasing the tension underneath the reel, so the spool becomes quite free running? Obviously re-adjusting when you have a fish on.
This is just out of interest. Thank you for your time
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:09 pm
by Olly
Yes!
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:10 pm
by Dave Burr
I have used 66's and a 77 for a lot of my barbel and carping and yes, I have slackened off the clutch bait runner style. However, no two Abu's seem to have the same tension on their clutch and the numbered gauge is a waste of space. I just slacken until it feels right and then put my hand over the spool to strike or lean into a running fish, I quickly wind the clutch up to a fairly light setting and play the fish off that along with some light finger pressure on the edge of the spool. It can seem fiddly but it is very satisfying.
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:17 pm
by Tonytoned
Olly wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:09 pmYes!
Thanks Olly
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:20 pm
by Tonytoned
Dave Burr wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:10 pm
I have used 66's and a 77 for a lot of my barbel and carping and yes, I have slackened off the clutch bait runner style. However, no two Abu's seem to have the same tension on their clutch and the numbered gauge is a waste of space. I just slacken until it feels right and then put my hand over the spool to strike or lean into a running fish, I quickly wind the clutch up to a fairly light setting and play the fish off that along with some light finger pressure on the edge of the spool. It can seem fiddly but it is very satisfying.
Thank you Dave. That's interesting and very practical. I will try that on my next fishing trip.
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:10 pm
by Olly
That was one reason I chose some older - 66 & 77 - reels as I had used it previously on my 55s.
Modern big spool reels don't always have the bait-runner facility, or costalotta, so I use the same on the front drag reels as well.
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:33 pm
by Tonytoned
Olly wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:10 pm
That was one reason I chose some older - 66 & 77 - reels as I had used it previously on my 55s.
Modern big spool reels don't always have the bait-runner facility, or costalotta, so I use the same on the front drag reels as well.
That's interesting Olly. I have the 40 as you can see, so I might try and pick up another one. "He says" ....
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:40 pm
by Shropshire Lad
Yes Cardinal 66 my go to reels for carp, and I have a 40 I use for barbel
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:03 am
by Mitch300
I too use my 44 and 66 this way, but for a different reason. I do enjoy reading and bird-watching while fishing, and have been known to take the occasional nap at the bank side on a warm afternoon. I don't want my rod to be pulled in by an enthusiastic Cyprinus Carpio when I am not giving the bobbin my undivided attention, so I set the drag to almost nothing as a precaution. The older ABU Cardinals were so well engineered that they are still great reels for this kind of fishing.
G. B.
Re: ABU CARDINALS for Carp fishing
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:46 am
by Aitch
Fishing in this manner will impart twist into your mainline... I found this out whilst using this method on my Mitchell 400's... and its darned fiddly trying to do up the drag on a Mitchell in the middle of a tussle