Abu cardianl fishing reel

My first spinning reels was an ABU CARDINAL 50. It was a very durable reel and lasted years of fishing by my brother on the Isle of Man before it ever got to me. I believe it has been dropped down more cliffs than you would have thought possible. It still works to this day and I would never part with it as it landed my PB Bass at 9LB 6OZ

I guess because of the outstanding durability of my Cardinal, when I got a few quid together I went out and bought another…. Again I am very pleased with this reel. Its very well engineered, with no play and instant anti-reverse. Under pressure it works very well. I prefer the rear drag systems, just personal preference.

Anyway here is a brief run down of the Abu Cardinal range,

• Abu Cardinal 100 series – 5 bearings, the largest one holds 250 yds of 12lb line
• Abu Cardinal 170 series – Designed for saltwater, with stainless steel components. 4 bearings, gear ratio of 5.1:1, the largest one holding 325 yds of 20lb line
• Abu Cardinal 300 series – Instant anti-reverse. 5.1:1 ratio the largest holding 210 yds of 10lb line
• Abu Cardinal 500 ALB series – designed for saltwater use. 10 bearings with 5.1:1 gear ratio, holding 250 yards 12lb line. Multi disc drag system to manage your double figure Bass!!
• Abu Cardinal 600 ALBi series – 7 bearings, 5.1:1 gear ratio holding 250yds of 12lb line. Ideal for saltwater use with a Carbon matrix front drag.
• Abu Cardinal 700 LX series – built to last! saltwater reel. 7 high quality bearings, 5.1:1 gear ratio holding 250yds 17lb line. Carbon matrix drag.

There are lots of other models still out there which I have not mentioned here. If you own another model and would like to share you thoughts about it please comment on this post. Also, if you are interested in a particular model, then please ask and lets see if we can find you some help regarding the Abu Cardinal range.

Abu Garcia Reels

The first fishing reel off the production line was the Abu Record® C 1941 and then came a few names we know to this day – Ambassadeur® reel C 1952 and the Cardinal® spinning reel C 1965. The company is producing high quality, ground breaking reels to this day, as I am sure you know.

The quality of Abu Garcia fishing reels, is reflected by the accolade of being rewarded “Purveyor To The Royal Swedish Court,” That’s the small crest you will see on the side plates of Abu reels. This award is given to the manufactures of the best quality, well engineered products!

Abu Garcia have a large product range and they are constantly bringing out new reels to meet the tough requirements of modern anglers. Abu reels are sold across the globe and used for many, many different species, testing the tackle to the max!

The latest reel I know about is the Revo product line. I will, as I said before, introduce you to many of the Abu reels over the coming weeks. If you currently own an Abu reel, I would love for you to comment on this post at the fishing blog and share your thoughts and opinion about the reels you own. I am off now to photograph 3 of my Abu reels and will show you very soon.

In the mane time – tight lines!!

Beach and Boat reels

Value Sea fishing reel

Okuma have produced a well developed multiplier that is well priced for keen Kayak anglers and others, new to beach casting and boat fishing.

Why is it good a good multiplier for Kayak anglers? Well fishing reels are not designed to get fully submerged and constantly soaked. You need a reel that can take the abuse, yet affordable enough to replace when it starts to wear… This in my opinion means using reels of this type of quality, not cheap, yet not the end of the world.

Magnetix beach and boat multiplier range

Anyway, now the the facts about the Okuma MAGNETIX beach and boat multiplier reel range, starting from £69.99 (introductiry price), I quote from Okuma.

After 2 years in development and a global field testing project which saw the prototype models being used and tested under a variety of situations and conditions, Okuma is proud to unleash its’ Magnetix beach and boat multiplier range.

Okuma has taken the rigid, super strong body from the award winning Convector Pro range and incorporated its’ complex magnetic breaking system into the reel. Delivering an awesome tool for distance casting and ultimate spool control.

• Solid graphite body.
• Magnetic braking system.
• Solid frame with stainless components.
• Stainless power handle.
• High speed gear ratio 6.2:1.
• Aluminium spool.
• 2 stainless ball bearings.
• 1 Way clutch roller bearing.
• Rulidium drag system.
• Titanium coated level wind (level wind series only).
• Brass gears.
• 5 Year Warranty.

If you have used one of these reels then please comment on this post to let us all know how you found the reel, things you like about it as well as thing you don’t like.

Latest fishing tackle.

New tackle and reviews

Many of you keen anglers and readers of the fishing blog have been asking me for months and months, to bring you the latest fishing tackle. Well today I have started for you. I have spent the last 4 hours emailing many of the biggest names in the sea tackle industry, asking them to add me to their mailing lists, media packs and so on….

I hope soon to be in a position where I can bring you the latest fishing tackle news.

Fishing Tackle replies so far,

• Rapala have replied and offered some interesting information and ideas. Lets hope others will follow suite.

• I have just come of the phone (1410hrs) to a gentleman who is, at this time, in the final stages of developing a new “super lube” for fishing reels. Adding distance to casts and longevity to the internal workings. The best thing about this fishing reel lube is, it is very affordable!!! More information to follow very soon.

• Hardy and Greys have added me as well now!

• Tronix – Lots to talk about in the new year….

If you would like to send me information for publishing on this blog about tackle you have tried and would recommend, then please comment on this post or email the fishing blog or if you produce fishing tackle and would like a bit of free promotion like wise, comment or contact us.

BTW – I had to laugh when I saw found the photograph I used here… hope you are not to upset by it.

Fitting a fish finder

This as you will hear is a US video on how to fit a fish finder. The terms “Captain Dick” uses may not sound familiar but it may well be of use to you in some way and provide you with some ideas for fitting your fish finder.

FIsh finders can be a really useful tool to help locate fish holding areas and check out the sea bed for gullies, reefs and other sea bed features that may in the future hold fish. I use a GPS to mark these areas, have a look here – fitting a gps to your kayak . If you are interested in buying a GPS have a look at our store over here – GPS systems

Let me us know please if you use a GPS system or fish finder on your kayak. If you do what system do you use and do you find it a useful attachmant. Let us know by commenting on this post.

If you are new to sea fishing it may be a brand new beach casting set up or maybe you are looking to upgrade that 20 year old mag braked multiplier.

Future of sea tackle

I would like to hear where the future of sea angling is going and the best way to achieve this, is looking at what anglers require.

One thing that I have noticed over the past few years is the clothing range available to sea anglers has become fashionable and is now cut to fit. Before it was very un-inspired, covered in pockets etc. So with this in mind and having been fishing for 30 years I have most things I want, except some well designed outer clothing for use when spinning / surf fishing.

What sea fishing items are you most interested in buying or knowing more about, let us know here so we can all help out in your choice of sea tackle.

There seems to be no easy fix for this problem. Over time the joint becomes a perfect fit and combine that with some water and you have an airtight seal. With some extreme temperature you have a recipe for disaster.

The best thing to try before brute force, is allowing your fishing rod to dry out and reach room temperature. This often allows the rod sections to part. The application of some candle wax can also prevent this happening again in the future.

Having a fused rod will not effect its capacity, but have you tried getting a 14 foot cod rod into a mini!!!

Some people match their hook colours with their bait. For example, using red hooks with rag worm and silver hooks for sand eel and fish baits. I once saw someone using white hooks for mulleting with bread!

I am not so sure that hook colour is that important. The thing that I focus on more is not to use stainless steel hooks as they do not degrade and will stay in lost fish for a long time!!

Quality fixed spool reels

The most important factor when choosing a fixed spool reel is the line lay. Line lay is the way the line is added to the spool. Taller spools generally have a better line lay than shorter ones. Different reels have slightly different systems for laying the line evenly on the spool preventing it biting or becoming twisted. This factor will improve you cast with a fixed spool reel.

In essence, don’t worry too much about bearings, but focus and a quality spool oscillation and line lay.

Surf over to this site and have a quick read of this paper . We are very focused on line wear from faulty rod rings / liners or abrasion on rocks and the sea bed. This is visual damage and can be felt on the line with your finger-tips. I mentioned it here
checking your line while beach fishing, but do we care for our lines at other times?

Fishing line storage

• Where did you get your fishing line from? Was it from a glass cabinet just inside the window of your local angling store where sunlight had been focused on the line causing UV damage and possible heat damage.

• When you are steaming out to your wreck mark is your line lying close to an exhaust or an engine water cooling system. When the skipper is brewing up is your rod close to the cooker?

• Where do you keep and dry your fishing gear at home – Garden shed (frost damage) in the airing cupboard to close to the tank, or in the window sill to dry off?

• Do you carry your gear to the beach in your car or on your motor bike? Both offer possible heat sources that could be detrimental to your gear with temperature having a negative effect on your line.

Un-explained fishing line breakages

I am sure if you have been fishing on a regular basis with other people you have seen line breakages that are un explained. Diligent people who care for their line that twangs off for some reason, maybe it because of one of the factors mentioned above where temperature at some time has effected the strength of the line.

As a good rule of practice it is worth changing your fishing line at least once a season of not more frequently.

As a foot note and one to remember, I have seen more than one good fish lost because someone has managed to touch a lit cigarette accidentally to a line. Normally it’s the nets man or gaffer, not the angler!

What’s your opinion on the effects of temperature on fishing line. As we have a few American readers do you ice fish and take any special measures? Please let us know of any stories or information you have.

To give you an idea how popular this book is its ranked 6117 against all books sold by Amazon. That is truly outstanding for a niche book on Sea fishing. To purchase or see more details click on the image!

Reviews by Amazon,

If you are new to sea fishing then this book will help you through the minefield of technical names and jargon. It will show you how to make simple and effective rigs which do catch fish, believe me i am a serious match fisherman! it then explains the various types of sea baits and their usages how to hook worms etc…..bait presentation is just as important as the rig you are using. This book certainly helped me no end when i started back beach fishing 4 years ago, it will give you the confidence to go into your tackle shop and not look like a complete novice, and also save you money in the long run.

I have only had this book for a few days and only being a beginner to the world of Sea Angling i have found it very useful. It has show me things that you would never know unless you belong to a club, instead of bying rigs it shows you how to build your own therefore saving money. it also shows how to keep your bait fresh and re-usable for your next fishing trip, that also saves money. All in all a very cheap but valuble book for the beginner to Sea Angling.

If you own this sea fishing book, we would love to hear from you. Give us your opinion on it by commenting on this post.

This sea fishing book is currently available for just £6.99

Tight lines

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You fish every chance you have got, you get home and pack your gear away – damp, dirty and disorganised. You look in the bottom of your tackle box and there is a red hue in the corners from rust. Your tackle has a sticky coating, salt! All in all your gear is a mess.

What you need to do is give things a damn good clean out, throw away all those rusty hooks – they just pass rust around, they have no point and are no use to you. While you are doing that check your lures, change the split rings and trebles (when I dispose of hooks I cut the point off and take them to the dump).

Beads that are tainted or bleached might as well go, old nylon fishing line becomes brittle, tubes for booms break, the list is endless. You need to be ruthless and get rid!

Why is this so important? Well, to increase your chances of hooking and landing fish you need fishing tackle to be in tip top condition. Hooks sharp, line strong and your whole rig in perfect working order. Loosing a fish because your tube boom is split and it cuts the line is no-one’s fault but your own.

I know of lots of fish that have been lost because of old tackle. It’s a shame to think you have spent hours upon hours to locate fish only to loose it because of you faulty tackle!

Winter is creeping around the corner and people are getting excited about the winter species making their way closer to our shores. Hooks are sharpened and new rigs are being carefully tied. You invest all this time and money into your fishing tackle but your safety is the most important thing.

One of the most productive times to go fishing is just after a storm. The swells are still running, the sea temperature is cold and I guess the tide will be flowing well. But what would happen if you walked to the waters edge, only to be caught out by a large swell that pulls your feet from under you. You try to hold onto your rod for a brief second until you become submerged in the water. The weight of your water proof clad jeans, wellies, 4 t-shirts, jumper and old waterproof jacket over comes you as the cold has drained all your energy. No one knows you have gone, you have no chance of swimming.

I know it’s a bleak thought, and of course it would never happen to you. But just in case, why not consider waiting a few months for that new reel, instead buy some clothing that will not only allow you to stay warm easily, but that might just save your life.

Floatation suites are now very well designed. They allow you great movement and, they are now versatile so you can have two piece suites, with enough floatation in just the jacket to give you a chance. I think the numbers to look out for are ISO 15027-1 or EN 393 but, check that out first!

If you shop around you can get a bit of kit for as much as it costs to fill your car up with fuel. Picking up a copy of Sea Angler I have found a half price offer in the first half dozen pages for a 2 piece Mustad Floatation suite, your for £49.99 RRP £119.99 (Glasgow Angling Centre)

Let me know what you decide to buy and, how you came to this decision.

Pier fishing rig

10lb or 15lb line straight through will be plenty (I go a bit lighter when possible). Feed a bead onto the main line, then a pencil float, then a ball weight to “cock” the float and a swivel. Attach your leader length to the swivel about 2 to 4 foot tied to your hook. Now the float can be fished at any depth you desire by adding a stop knot or float stop on the line above the float. Fish at all depths until you find the fish!!

Improve your fishing skills

Float fishing is a very exciting way to fish and it hones your skills at striking. Watching the float then suddenly seeing it shoot under the surface is great fun. You can also drift thr rig out in tides or the wind to cover a huge area of water.  A float fished sand eel in the back of surf from the beach is also a sound Bass fishing method.