yak haibut reel feedback

when I fished out of a PB I used the same gear for near shore and deep water hailbut, (heavy ugly stick tiger rods and Penn 113's).  For PB use it made little difference, as there was plenty of room on the boat and it didn't matter if they were overkill when used in near shore spots,  not so on the yak. I am working at coming up with a strong, light combo that would work well for yak halibut.   For a rod I plan to use a lighter lamiglass 7ft one piece (much like a stand-up tuna rod). 
The quandary I have is the reel, I want something compact, decent drag, able to handle the riggers of halibut fishing.  Obviously the 113 is way to big. Of my other choices,  I have narrowed it down to three (which I happen to have sitting around) a new abu 6501c3, Penn 320gti, or a shimano tr200.  I am leaning heavily towards the abu as it is small and with 30 braid will hold more than enough line.  I was also thinking of swapping out the drag for better washers.  I know the shimano will work but it is a tad bigger,  and its not a lefty  What do you think? will a 6500 handle a halibut?  If not any suggestions ?(and no I will not be using my only avet as a halibut reel )

I don't like the Abu with heavier lead.  The freespool doesn't engage for me unless I thumb it back.  While I certainly think the reel can handle a butt, it just feels light to me.  Upgrade the washers to greased carbon fiber washers whether you use this for butts or not.  Love the feel.

I use an Avet SX!!!     I started with a TLD15, big and cluncky, relatively speaking.  Then downsized to a Pro Gear 251 (basically Penn 500 guts), then to a Pro Gear 255 (narrow frame 251), then finally to the Avet.  I love the feel of the Avet, but I'm starting to find that you need to service them more often than other reels when kayak fishing (and yes, Alan Tani has been saying this forever).  They are relatively easy to service and worth the effort IMO.

-Allen

I think I've read that the new C4 Abus are coming out stock with fiber drags. I don't know about the freespool issue Alan talks about.

Every Penn I've handled has been a tank. Kind of heavy and crude, but they function. I haven't used the Shimano but I've heard of good things about them

All my Oregon halibut experience has been inshore and the currents were mellow compared to what I experience in WA. 100-150' and up to 6-8oz, so I think you can get away with a relatively light reel as long as it has a good drag.

I think I've read that the new C4 Abus are coming out stock with fiber drags. I don't know about the freespool issue Alan talks about.

Yes, the newer ones come with carbon fiber drags ... non-greased I believe.

-Allen

I have a 3 year-old Abu C4, where do I get carbon fiber drag washers?

I have a 3 year-old Abu C4, where do I get carbon fiber drag washers?

http://www.mikesreelrepair.com

-Allen

I have a 3 year-old Abu C4, where do I get carbon fiber drag washers?

http://www.smoothdrag.com/  (760) 949-0271

very fast service, very nice lady that aanswers the phone. For $9, you get 3 carbontex washers to replace the originals and a 4th to replace the fiber washer underneath the drag stack. She also carries Cal's drag grease.

Jay

I have a 3 year-old Abu C4, where do I get carbon fiber drag washers?

http://www.mikesreelrepair.com

-Allen

Mikes is great as well but, since they're shipped from the great white north, they will take about 2 weeks to show up. I ordered some replacement bearings and pawls through them. Great stuff, just don't be in a hurry. Also they have a wonderful reel repair forum.

You'll have the drags from smoothdrag in about 2-3 days.

Jay

I don't like the Abu with heavier lead.  The freespool doesn't engage for me unless I thumb it back. 

-Allen

 I forgot about that issue, I have the same problem when a running divers in heavy current, the tension on the spool doesn't allow it to engage into free spool as easy as I would like.  I am not keen on using my avet as it is my nicest reel (ever ), used it for casting iron to tuna,  and a butt reel doesn't need to be that "fancy" to get the job done, the idea of it sloshing around in the bilge of my yak gives me a twitch .  Maybe I'll upgrade the drag on the shimmano and use it. 

Getting close to chasing some halibut, have talked to some friends who have scored in my area out of PB's so its just a matter of waiting for the right forecast

I have a 3 year-old Abu C4, where do I get carbon fiber drag washers?

http://www.smoothdrag.com/  (760) 949-0271

very fast service, very nice lady that aanswers the phone. For $9, you get 3 carbontex washers to replace the originals and a 4th to replace the fiber washer underneath the drag stack. She also carries Cal's drag grease.

Jay

I chatted with Alan Tani via Ifish just after picking up my Abu 6500 C3 from Joes sale.  He too suggested www.smoothdrag.com for some of the pre salt use mods he suggest I do to it.  I then e-mailed smoothdrag, and got a quick reply back from Dawn about Cal's drag grease and Carbonex washers. Turns out she said I'm good to go as far as washers go, if mine came with part #1116906 washers already.   I wanted to get it set up right for salt before I ever spool it with any line. 

I'm still a 113 advocate, especially when I have to use barbless hooks and speed to the surface is a factor, like for sturgeon and big ling cod.  And its reliable.  When the skunk is out of the boat, I switch to my lighter gear for more of a fair fight.