The Rooster Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 It's about time!!! I finally got a good spinning reel for once. I actually ordered a Abu Garcia 502ALBi first. I really really like the design of it a lot, and wanted it to be a good one for me. It got here today (ordered from BPS) and for some reason it has a roughness in it just like the Pflueger Presidents I've had did, and it's actually a little worse feeling, and that's brand new out of the box. I was extremely disappointed. Don't know if I got a bad one or what. Also don't know if cleaning and lubing would help, but it has never worked for either President, so I'm just shipping it back to Bass Pro Shops. I'm not chancing taking it apart and voiding any warranty I might have. The Presidents I have had didn't feel this bad when "dry cranked" and they get awful out on the water with the resistance of the lure behind them. I can only imagine what this Abu would feel like if I keep it to find out. So I'm just sending it back while I can. I already went to a local tackle shop here in town and got a Shimano Symetre 2500FJ, and it's as smooth as silk feeling. I couldn't be happier. Now with a new Curado E7, last year's Citica E, and a new Symetre, I'm Shimanoed up and ready for the new season!!! :D Quote
OHIO Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Nice man. I have a feeling you will be pleased with the reel. It's weird that you don't like the Pflueger or Abu you had. I've fished my Abu a lot and it works great. I just got the President for Christmas, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. It feels like a great reel so far, but only time will tell. I hope you have better luck with your new Shimano though. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted February 3, 2011 Super User Posted February 3, 2011 on RW's recommendation i bought the same reel. it took me a while to get used to a spinning reel but i love the thing. and i have 5 now.....heh. Quote
The Rooster Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 Nice man. I have a feeling you will be pleased with the reel. It's weird that you don't like the Pflueger or Abu you had. I've fished my Abu a lot and it works great. I just got the President for Christmas, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. It feels like a great reel so far, but only time will tell. I hope you have better luck with your new Shimano though. Both the Abu Garcia and the Pflueger reels feel solid, like they could take on 10 pound fish and be just fine. I don't like the gears in the ones I have though. They feel just too rough for my taste. I haven't fished the Abu at all, but it's the roughest feeling one of them all just cranked with no line on it. The Pfluegers felt like that too but not as bad and then when fished they feel downright awful, I don't enjoy using them at all, so I can only imagine that the Abu would be even worse. I think the Symetre is just about the smoothest, most fluid feeling reel I've ever handled though. I'm sure it will fish just as smooth. Just dry cranking it though, the word "buttery" doesn't describe how sweet it is. There's no gear feeling AT ALL. I was sold on Shimano before. Decided to try just one more reel on the basis that it was built very well (Abu has brass gears and all aluminum frame). I see what I get for my trouble now. Should have just stuck to the plan and got a Symetre like I have been saying I want now for a while. I finally did though. Only thing I might regret later......while looking at it, I mentioned to my wife that the Saros was a better reel and she said get it but I got the Symetre instead. I probably should have upgraded it right there. ;D Quote
Super User islandbass Posted February 3, 2011 Super User Posted February 3, 2011 Congrats! You won't go wrong with the FJ. I agree that the Saros beckons when you buy a Symetre.The CI4 starts to whisper in your ear too, but you won't really hear it unless you bought the Saros. ;D Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted February 3, 2011 Super User Posted February 3, 2011 I don't want to rain on your parade but There were a few people on here that said their symetre's were binding reallly bad when they got really wet . I didn't heed their warnings and went ahead and bought one. I got caught in a heavy rain storm last summer and guess what happened .I'll never buy another one. Quote
Super User senile1 Posted February 3, 2011 Super User Posted February 3, 2011 I must have missed the thread about the binding when wet during one of my many sabbaticals from the forum.  I have two Symetres and I've never experienced this. Maybe I just haven't got them wet enough. For the price range I think they are great reels. Quote
The Rooster Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 I don't want to rain on your parade but There were a few people on here that said their symetre's were binding reallly bad when they got really wet . I didn't heed their warnings and went ahead and bought one.I got caught in a heavy rain storm last summer and guess what happened .I'll never buy another one. To me the operative word there is "heavy". I won't be fishing in heavy rain. If it starts that then I'm done. A light rain I am ok with. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 3, 2011 Super User Posted February 3, 2011 I think you will like the reel just fine. I recently purchased a 500 series for an ultralite combo. Let's both post a review after using these reels for a few months. 8-) Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 3, 2011 Global Moderator Posted February 3, 2011 I've got one of the new FJ Symetres and I have fished in heavy rain with it and never had a problem with it binding. The model before the FJ that I had did have problems with binding. It would not only bind in a heavy rain but also if I had used it all day. RW-You'll love that 500. They're smooth as the bigger sizes and a blast to catch panfish and trout on! Quote
zero limit Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 I picked up a symetre 3000 last spring for salmon fishing. Have no problems with it at all. Including many rainy day's harbor fishing. Up graded to a stratic 4000 this winter, but the symetre will still be in the rotation Quote
Ern Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 I have never had the binding issue with a symetre. I have had 4 generations of them. I use them river wading both for trout and smallmouth. I have used them in the ocean surf casting. I have only had issue with a 750FI that I abused. I have a 1000FJ that has two years of heavy use on smallmouths and trout that is as smooth as new. I have a 500FJ that is close to year of spinner cranking for tailrace browns that is flawless. I have a new 2500FJ waiting to be put to it this spring. It replaced a 2000FH that I used everywhere from bluegill to surf to rivers and then sold here. (wish I had kept it!) No binding. They have been dunked, drowned and sprayed. Great reels. Quote
The Rooster Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 I think you will like the reel just fine. I recentlypurchased a 500 series for an ultralite combo. Let's both post a review after using these reels for a few months. 8-) I'll be glad to give you all a detailed review of the reel in a few months. Looking forward to it. I have a brand new Curado E7 I'll review too, and compare it to the Citica E I got last year. I'm pretty easy on my reels as far as usage goes though, I take care of them very well, so I'm pretty sure that unless I just have some sort of accident then they will never see any abuse. Quote
Guest beowulfx71 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 I bought a 2500 2 years ago and it seems like every club tournament the last two seasons it rained and I had no problems at all. I do have one complaint though-the 3000 has more line capacity and is lighter, I wish I had known that before I bought one. Quote
zero limit Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 I bought a 2500 2 years ago and it seems like every club tournament the last two seasons it rained and I had no problems at all. I do have one complaint though-the 3000 has more line capacity and is lighter, I wish I had known that before I bought one. Not sure about the lighter part, Same as a 2500 for weight. The line cap. is why I got it Quote
triwbass Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 im gonna be interested in yalls reviews myself as ive just about swapped to all curados and now headed toward either a sahra or symetre spinning reel ,,,i love the handle on the sahara and symetre 3000 series,,,,good cranking handle for a spinning reel i think Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted February 4, 2011 Super User Posted February 4, 2011 how was the binding fixed by those having that problem? Quote
OHIO Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 how was the binding fixed by those having that problem? The Flea Market section. ;D Quote
The Rooster Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 im gonna be interested in yalls reviews myself as ive just about swapped to all curados and now headed toward either a sahra or symetre spinning reel ,,,i love the handle on the sahara and symetre 3000 series,,,,good cranking handle for a spinning reel i think If you're considering a Sahara or a Symetre, in my opinion I'd just go straight to the Symetre. I looked at the Sahara too, and for $20 more on the Symetre I got a one piece bail wire and an extra bearing on the main drive gear. The Sahara has one bearing on the left side of the drive gear and a bushing on the right. The Symetre has bearings on both sides. The right side is where I put the crank since I reel right handed and cast left and I didn't want any added pressure on that side to wear out a bushing (if it would happen to be made of a non-metal material). Bearings on either side of the gear lets me not worry about which side the handle is on, just fish knowing it will be fine no matter what. Otherwise, the Sahara seems like a fine reel. For me though it was only a debate between the Symetre and the Saros. I kept the cost reasonable since I was actually spending more than I had at the moment just to get the Symetre. Wait till the wife finds out that Symetre will "only look truly good on a Crucial". I've got a birthday coming up in April......hmm.... 8-) Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted February 5, 2011 Super User Posted February 5, 2011 Staying within the Shimano family the stradic is a near perfect freshwater reel, I'd be looking for a good deal on one of those. Other manufacturers offer performance at a good value also. Quote
flippin and pitchin Posted February 5, 2011 Posted February 5, 2011 Congrats! You won't go wrong with the FJ. I agree that the Saros beckons when you buy a Symetre.The CI4 starts to whisper in your ear too, but you won't really hear it unless you bought the Saros. ;D I bought three Soros 3000's and haven't heard that whisper yet. Maybe i'm hearing impaired. Quote
misfit1III8 Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 Nice Reel. I picked on up at the beginning of last season and put in on my new TFO Loomis Signature and I love it. I also still use my Pflueger President and have to say that has been a great reel as well but the Symetre is great.. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted February 6, 2011 Global Moderator Posted February 6, 2011 I have the 3000 also. I think its the perfect size to do what ever you want. I have it on a 6 6 MH rod that I've been useing to PITCH with until I get my new baitcaster and figure out how to use it! Mike Quote
crankbait2009 Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 The Rooster knows my take on all this and with all the responses ive read I was hoping somewhere in this mix, there'd be a little LOVE for the Abu Garcia 502albi that he returned.....but nothing. not even a hint!!!! :'( Hail Abu!!! ;D Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.