Hi everybody,

Thanks to a buddy I am given the opportunity to purchase a brand new Abu Record RCN51 (left hand) round baitcasting reel. I actually do have this reel now for testing which I should begin sometime next week. I am using low profile casting reels for more than a year now, but this is my first foray into round reels. If purchased, the reel will be used for largemouth bass fishing (mostly swimbaits, but also for other applications), as well as the very occasional saltwater fishing with large jerkbaits in the surf (for bonito, amberjack, barracuda, crevaille jack).

I would appreciate any comments or feedback regarding both positive and negative aspects of this reel from those who know it /have used it. I should mention that this type of reel (any brand) is not available at all out-of-the-shelf here in Cyprus, so there are no local persons (except for this buddy of mine) who could give me feedback, nor can I compare it directly with other similar models. I have already made a few casts with it using a swimbait and it seems to be quite nice, but testing it in earness as I said above will commence next week.

Thanks,

Cybasser

I have the RCN40. It's a great reel and it will last forever. I was very impressed with how well it will cast lighter baits. It has 30" per turn retrieve rate and smooth drag.

Falcon

I have a RCN 40 that I use on one of my bigger flipping rods.  This reel is very narrow and lighter than the other round reel sizes and can be palmed easily.  The drag is very good.      

I have an RCN 50 on my swimbait rod and loaded up with braid.  Casts very well.  Only negative:  Not as quiet as my Revos but that doesn't really effect their effectiveness.

These reels have the large arbor spools with the holes in them and they cast very well.  If you load them up with a thick mono and throw a heavy weight you literally can cast all the line off your reel.  I don't use them in such applications or I use a braid.

Thanks for the input guys, I will be most likely putchasing this reel....

I think you will be happy with it.

Falcon