What do you guys think of this reel? I am planning on buying it. Anyone care to share their thoughts about it?

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 CT MAG HS Baitcast Reel 7000iC3 CT MAG HS

Not sure about the 7000 but I own a 6500 and I love it

a lot of responses are going to be the abu6000 6500 and 6600.
a lot of the cat fishermen use them and love them, including myself.

As far as ive seen, thats a nice reel. I was going to get a 7000 a couple weeks ago, but was talked out of it, and im glad i was. I decided based on some advice it was probably overkill. I got a 6500 c3 instead. It will handle pretty much any catfish you are going to come across.

I would take an 6500 C3 over the 7000 model in a heartbeat, that is of corse with an added duel bearing levewind added to the 6500....lol !!!

We used to use 7000 here in OK on the dam for cats and snagging. I would rather have the 6500 for comfort and feel. The 7000 would hold more line though. That is why we used them there, so we had enough line to hit the honey hole.

I purchased one last October and it's a hoss of a reel. Long term use and abuse I will have to wait and see. I Mounted it on a 10' pro angler rod and it out cast my Toro's by a third are more.

Mine was on a 16' Fenwick rod. Could cast a 4oz just about out of site.

Yep. Ive got this reel fully tricked out. So nice. Probably gunna end up doing it to a couple more.

Yeah I know of a guy that has a $500 Shimano Calcutta setup and my tricked out 6500 cast just a well as his.

The 7000 is a nice reel, I have 5 of them and like them. The 6500 are more comfortable if you do a lot of casting because they are lighter.. As far as the Calcuttas go,,,, I have 2 of the 700 models and personally I think they are junk.. Stick with the ABU equipment and you'll be happy for years to come.

I would say for this neck of the woods you probably don't NEED a 7000 but say if I was to buy a ugly stick tiger or somethin, I'd prolly put a 7000 on it. Or if u ever go to the coast and do any surf casting or offshore, it'd prolly come in handy. I know the mississippi and mizzou guys use em a lot, maybe because of current n what not, they use heavier rods, idk.. I have a bunch of 6500's and love em, I wouldn't mind owning a 7000, but it's not at the top of my fishin priority list I guess. I watched an episode of G3 sportsman the other day and the guide was rigged out with 7000's and Garcia Toro Winch's with power handles on the cat rods, looked pretty sexy I won't lie, and they were catchin huge blues, looked pretty sweet. Made me wanna add 6 more pro anglers with toro Winch's packed with 50lb braid to the arsenal lol prolly only cost about $1800.. LOL

For lake fishing the 6500 C3 is a great reel! And there are a lot of upgrades out there!

Just make sure the ABU you buy is made in Sweden and not China. It will be stamped on the reel.