VHawk,

I bought 4 ABU 6500's about three years ago. Within a month one of them quit reeling, just all bound up, sent it in for repair. Within the next year two others the worm gear quit on. I repaired them at ollie and within a year both had quit again. I sent them in again, they were fixed and within a year both were broke again. I sent them to the parent company and asked for an exchange, one reel that worked for all three of the broken ones...they told me "too bad". I only have one ABU now that was given to me as a gift. While salmon fishing last week both of the little rubber handles came off while fighting fish. The point being...ABUs Suck!

You might take a look at Tica, as I understand it many of the musky fisherman are going to this reel and they really abuse their equipment.

I am done with ABU.

RM