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The Okuma Avenger ABF-50
goes well with an 8 or 9 foot rod.
It works well with 15 lb. test mono. |
Recently I replaced my two Shimano 3500B baitrunner reels with Okuma Avenger ABF-50 baitrunners. The Shimanos were real tanks for many years, and they have been real high quality reels. However, after fifteen years of heavy use, they are breaking down. And, I can tell you from experience that repairing a Shimano reel is a very costly affair, not worth it on an old reel that has been discontinued. I thought about buying the newer model 6000D Shimano baitrunners, but that reel is very expensive, selling for about $170. So, I've decided to go with the inexpensive, yet highly reliable Avengers on my every day 9 foot rods. You can get the Okuma Avengers for about $40 on sale, a steal for a quality baitrunner reel. This reel is probably a "best buy" these days for a baitrunner reel.
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This 18 lb. mirror was landed three nights ago
with the Okuma Avenger ABF-50. |
I've been using an Okuma Avenger for about 10 years now on one of my 12 foot rods. It has always performed flawlessly. That reel has accounted for numerous 30 lb. fish and landed the biggest carp I have caught this year at 33 lbs.
The Okuma Avenger ABF-50 is ideally suited to 7, 8, or 9 foot rods and works especially well with 15 lb. test monofilament line. If you use a bigger carp rod like a 12 foot Euro rod, you might want to consider the larger ABF-65 reel which would take 20 lb. test line.
Note that Okuma produces more baitrunner reels than any other company with no less than 5 different models. Check out their reels at
https://www.okumafishing.com/
I had bought an Avenger 40 after seeing your last post and spooled it up with 40lb power pro. When I have a fish on, mostly 1lb-2.5lb bullheads, the rod tip will bend like crazy, but the baitfeeder wont go. I set it on the lowest setting and still nothing. Any idea what's going on?
ReplyDeleteCouple of thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. Check the tension on the back knob. You said you did that. Move it off the lowest setting slightly. Could you possibly be at the highest setting?
2. Is the back lever UP freeing the spool?
3. Sometimes this reel does a quirky thing and is not in freespool even though the back lever is up. It appears that it hits a dead spot in the gearing. If that happens, turn the handle slightly and move the back lever up again. I pull line out to always try out the reel to make sure it is in freespool.
I have no experience with the ABS-40. I have only used the ABS-50. I have four of them and never had a problem.
Hope this helps.