CRASH TEST Abu-Garcia Linecounter 6500

When Abu-Garcia's engineers re-designed their workhorse Ambassadeur round baitcaster reels two years ago, they also put a little extra effort into designing a palmable linecounter in the 5500 and 6500 sizes. The first time I hit the free spool button on the 6500LC aboard Buzz Ramsey's Willie Raptor and watched the linecounter go to work, I knew the Abu boys had gotten it right.

The 6500LC is built on the framework of the uber-popular C3 platform, one of the most dependable reels ever produced. Like the C3 (and its speedier cousin, the C4), the 6500LC got all the improvements that made an incredibly sound reel even smoother and stronger: a new Carbon Matrix Drag system, adjustable, six-pin centrifugal spool brake, tighter gear tolerances, re-designed levelwind and handle. But for you trollers and moochers who want a little more precision in your presentation, the Abu design team also took the time to build an accurate linecounter into the 6500. "We didn't just slap a linecounter on the thing and call it good," says Ramsey. "The designers did a nice job of building the counter into the reel in a way that made it functional."

Ultimately, the 6500LC is about functionality: if you've been counting "passes" or "pulls" when you're rolling divers out at Buoy 10 or dropping a crescent sinker and herring into Puget Sound, you've been guessing. The 6500LC accurately measures the amount of line out and instantly re-sets at the touch of a button, so you know exactly how deep and/or how far behind the boat you're fishing.

The improvements to the reel's guts are worth noting, too. The 6500LC is noticeably smoother and quieter than the old C3, and Abu's patented Carbon Matrix Drag system allows you to tighten the drag 35 percent more - if you need to horse a fish in to avoid becoming "seal bait", you can certainly do it.

The 6500LC retails for roughly $95-$100. It's well worth the cost. --J.S.