Any Abu Garcia collectors out there?

[FirstBubba]

I've got three older Abu Garcia reels.
A 5000, 5000C and 6000C.
Seems I remember looking up the number on the reel foot and could get an approximate manufacture date.
The 5000, I bought for my grampa before he passed away in 1973.
The 6000C I bought for my dad for his b'day! No idea when, but he passed away in 1981.
I bought the 5000C and have used it for years. Think I bought it in the early 70's.
Where can I find information on the reel foot number?

[jhjimbo]

I have a couple but do not consider myself a collector.

[Solitario Lupo]

I don’t t really collect reels I do have some older ones myself. I’m more into collecting old time lures.

[crm3006]

#1 Bubba- Starting at the top, I have a 9000 CL, a 7000 SSC3, 3 6000s, (2 with clickers), a 6000 C with a clicker, a 5000 C (no clicker), and 2 5000s that date back to 1971. Also a Mitchel 300 and two AbuMatics. All of the above except for the 7000 are Swedish made, but the 7000 seems to have been made in China. Doesn't affect its performance, so far.
Don't know if that makes me a collector, or just someone who can't pass up garage sales and zero bids on E-bay. I just find that the Garcias are tough, castable, and only need maintenance about every three or four years, if washed off and lubed regularly. Didn't know that the little numbers on the reel feet were related to manufacture date, but will look into that. Other than a few Penns for salt water, a couple of Shimano Curados, and the Pfluger fly reels, Abu Garcia is what I mostly use.

[FirstBubba]

#1 Bubba- Starting at the top, I have a 9000 CL, a 7000 SSC3, 3 6000s, (2 with clickers), a 6000 C with a clicker, a 5000 C (no clicker), and 2 5000s that date back to 1971. Also a Mitchel 300 and two AbuMatics. All of the above except for the 7000 are Swedish made, but the 7000 seems to have been made in China. Doesn't affect its performance, so far.
Don't know if that makes me a collector, or just someone who can't pass up garage sales and zero bids on E-bay. I just find that the Garcias are tough, castable, and only need maintenance about every three or four years, if washed off and lubed regularly. Didn't know that the little numbers on the reel feet were related to manufacture date, but will look into that. Other than a few Penns for salt water, a couple of Shimano Curados, and the Pfluger fly reels, Abu Garcia is what I mostly use.

LOL!
Same reason I bought a 16 ga M12 Win for $100! Why not?

Was just hoping somebody may know how to read the numbers. Most interested in year of manufacture.

[Sarge01]

I am not a collector but I have a 308 and a 300 that I fish with that I bought in the 70's

[Pmacc60]

Sarge, I used to fish with the Mitchell 300 and 308 reels back in the early 70’s and into the eighties. At that time serious fresh water fisherman used Mitchell’s. The quality and durability of the reels was apparent to me when the family that lived close to me when I was growing up used them and they were 10 or 15 years old . They still functioned flawlessly. It was a lesson to me in my early teens that you get what you pay for. Later my best friend in high school would fish the Octoraro and Susquehanna using the 300 for rock fish and the 308 for smallmouth. The Mitchell reels always will remind me of great times with a great friend. When I was growing up it was one of my two most used possessions the other was my baseball glove. All are in the attic somewhere !

[8+bait]

Looking to buy a Abu 7700 if anyone has any information on where to find some

[Pmacc60]

Check out eBay , there are several on there now!

[jhjimbo]

Sarge, I used to fish with the Mitchell 300 and 308 reels back in the early 70’s and into the eighties. At that time serious fresh water fisherman used Mitchell’s. The quality and durability of the reels was apparent to me when the family that lived close to me when I was growing up used them and they were 10 or 15 years old . They still functioned flawlessly. It was a lesson to me in my early teens that you get what you pay for. Later my best friend in high school would fish the Octoraro and Susquehanna using the 300 for rock fish and the 308 for smallmouth. The Mitchell reels always will remind me of great times with a great friend. When I was growing up it was one of my two most used possessions the other was my baseball glove. All are in the attic somewhere !

I have the left hand version of the 300, can't remember the #. Made in France.

[jhjimbo]

I don’t t really collect reels I do have some older ones myself. I’m more into collecting old time lures.

A young couple had fishing gear at the flea market probably inherited. Tackle boxes full of wooden lures for two for a dollar. The gear they had looked like maybe from the '50's. I know there were probably collectors in the boxes but I am not a collector.

[Solitario Lupo]

I would have been in my glory. Just looking at some of them are fun. Some can be worth a lot.

[RustyGunz60]

I also have both a 308 and 300 from the old days that I recently brought out of retirement and am using again. As I get older I no long judge the day's success by how many fish I landed. I take more pleasure in simpler things, like catching a few nice fish on a classic rod/reel combo and tackle. When I'm not fly fishing for trout I'm using my old 308 on a Fenwick fiberglass rod, most likely tossing an Acme Phoebe or one of the other classic lures still made in the US. These things are what bring pleasure to me at the end of the day. I find little of the modern equipment to to the job much better and are mostly marketed to separate you from your money rather than catch you more fish.

[FirstBubba]

I also have both a 308 and 300 from the old days that I recently brought out of retirement and am using again. As I get older I no long judge the day's success by how many fish I landed. I take more pleasure in simpler things, like catching a few nice fish on a classic rod/reel combo and tackle. When I'm not fly fishing for trout I'm using my old 308 on a Fenwick fiberglass rod, most likely tossing an Acme Phoebe or one of the other classic lures still made in the US. These things are what bring pleasure to me at the end of the day. I find little of the modern equipment to to the job much better and are mostly marketed to separate you from your money rather than catch you more fish.

Agreed! I like using the older stuff.
Wish I had a bunch back that I let go due to youth and ignorance.