Has anyone used the new cardinal 800 series from Abu?

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98398_100001002_100000000_100001000_100-1-2

Anyone heard anything?

thanks

I have 3.

804 on Fenwick HMG 7' HM

802 on Fenwick HMG 7' M

802 on Fenwick HMX 6'6" ML

By far the best spinning reels I've used.  

First, they are very smooth.  The bail opens and closes with a refined click.  No gear feel.  No back play at all.  The spools (it comes with an extra) appear to be forged aluminum and are very nicely finished - inside and out.  

Second, they are build exceedingly well.   Everything about them appears overbuilt.  The main shaft is stainless steel, with the Abu Everslik coating.  The shaft has two stacked ball bearing that support the spool which eliminates spool wobble even under heavy drag pressure.   Try wobbling the spool by hand and it's rock solid.  The reel is all metal - aluminum body, sideplate, rotor, and bail arms.  The bail itself is overbuilt and very thick.  The finish is a dull black crinkle finish and appears very tough.

My brother in law has several he uses for saltwater striper fishing.  They get used extremely hard and get banged around in the boat and look and perform as well now as they did when he got them earlier this year.  

That is good news, I am going to look at one today.  I would have ordered one earlier, but wanted to put my hands on one before ordering it.  Not sure what size I am going to get, I am only using it for bass- shakeyhead and dropshotting.

That is good news, I am going to look at one today. I would have ordered one earlier, but wanted to put my hands on one before ordering it. Not sure what size I am going to get, I am only using it for bass- shakeyhead and dropshotting.

The 802 is a good size for that.