BillBrett

I have owned the entire series of vintage Abu Morrum reels from the model 1600 to the model 7700 reels. These are beautifully made, precision reels. I sold my M5500 reels because they cast poorly. The reason they cast poorly is because this model has a disengaged level wind system combined with a relatively wide spool. No matter the position of the level wind guide when you cast, there is too much line friction across the wide spool. There is nothing you can do to minimize this mechanical problem.

I fish with Abu Garcia 3600 Morrums and never had this problem. I suggest you spool the reel(s) with just plain line (any type) using NO backing and NO leaders, and cast as usual. If the "snap back" issue goes away the problem is your leader-to line or backing-to-line connections passing through the level wind mechanism.

Thank you, everyone. Great suggestions. The rods you mentioned on eBay look like they will work just fine. I'll try 5 1/2 foot length, pistol grip fiberglass rods with this reel.

I'm looking to purchase a fishing rod to use with a vintage Abu Garcia Abumatic 170 Spin Cast reel that weighs 12 ounces and will be spooled with 12 to 15 lb. monofilament line for freshwater fishing. Outfit is for my grandchildren who are 8 years old. I don't want a seven foot rod. Something shorter. Prefer fiberglass for durability. Any suggestions? Thanks, guys.

Try reducing the amount of line on the spool. I've experienced backlashes on both Shimano Calcutta Conquest 50, 100, & 200 reels and Abu Garcia 1600, 3600, and 6600 reels when the spool is filled to much. Problem goes away when the spool has less line on it. Honest.

Around 2006 I taught myself to use a bait casting reel using (relatively heavy) Penn Squidders to fish for striped bass in salt water. Shortly thereafter I discovered high end Abu Garcia Morrum reels and Shimano Calcutta reels (including the Japan Domestic Model Conquest series). Now, 12 years later, I'm fishing fresh water for large mouth bass and salt water using bait casting reels almost all the time. My spinning reels are in retirement. I must admit I don't understand the appeal of low profile reels. Both round reels and low profile reels use the same round (cylindrical) spools and the line comes off the top of the spool. What is the difference between a low profile reel and a round reel? Mechanically they seem identical to me but cosmetically they look very different. What am I missing?

I've been fishing salt water for the past 30 years (striped bass) and fresh water for just the past year here in Eastern, Massachusetts, using artificial lures exclusively and bait casting reels spooled with traditional braided Dacron Greenspot line (the orgininal braided line) as well as fluorocarbon line and monofilament line. My experience is that fluorocarbon leaders make a HUGE difference. I have friends that fish the brine for striped bass using live bait (many have fished for striped bass their entire adult lives) and they swear that fluorocarbon leaders make a big difference in getting bass to strike. I use 30# to 50# fluorocarbon leaders when fishing for striped bass (boat & surf) and 12# & 15# fluorocarbon leaders when fishing fresh water. I would not fish without a fluorocarbon leader unless of course I was casting straight fluorocarbon line.

For what it's worth, I fish a shallow (ave. 3 feet deep) heavily stained, slow moving, weedy river from shore using 3/8 ounce spinnerbaits (white and chartreuse/white) on which I thread 4-inch Bass Pro Tripple Ripple white grub tails. Bass hook themselves on this type of lure, as do chain pickerel, yellow perch, and black crappies. I've never felt the need to set the hook and don't think I've ever lost a fish other than when small bass jump completely out of the water and throw the hook. I also never use a trailer hook because that would result in more weed pick-up. I should add that my spinnerbaits all have double Colorado or combination of Colorado/Indiana blades which slows down my presentation. Willow blades don't work for me in shallow water because they make my spinnerbaits swim too fast. Way too fast.

I own several of these Abu Garcia Morrum reels, both the Mag (lower gear ratio) version and the High Speed version (like yours in the photo) with a higher gear ratio. They are terrific reels and much better behaved than equivalent size Shimano Calcutta TE's and Shimano Calcutta Conquests when tossing lightweight lures.