Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000I C3 CT Mag Hi Speed - 12/03/2009

The 7000i Mag was launched last year, but how has it stood up to a few months hard use, Roger Mortimore finds out…

If you missed the last review, the 7000i has a robust CT frame with wide crossbars front and rear to avoid frame twist. It has tough Durabrass gears giving a fast ratio of 5.3:1, making it ideal for fishing over rough ground when a fast retrieve is necessary, or when uptiding from a boat. It features a magnetic braking system, which can be adjusted with a knob on the left-hand sideplate. The settings are numbered from 1 to 12, with 12 giving maximum braking of the spool revs. Other features include two shielded stainless steel ball bearings and one corrosion resistant instant anti-reverse bearing. Also, a ratchet to warn you when a fish runs and a carbon Matrix drag system that gives line smoothly. The huge capacity of 270 yards of 20lb mono is also a bonus.

So how has it fared? It’s been used on boat trips for tope and cod and been filled with 25lb line for fishing rough ground. The fast retrieve was very useful in this context because I could lift the rod and move the rig over the rough stuff with minimum tackle loss. The drag still works smoothly – a must when you’re hooked in to a good tope! The large rubber knob was great for grip, especially when winter fishing with cold wet hands. abugarcia7000-220-2

Also, take care when the spool re-engages during a cast, it only takes a nudge on the handle to knock it back into gear.
My latest trip was aboard ‘Razorbill’ in West Mersea, in Essex. Stuart, the skipper, had caught some incredible codling and whiting in the previous weeks. So, the 7000i was put to good use that day when fishing both uptide and downtide. It had proved that it was one of the most versatile reels out there. It had great line capacity and could handle both mono and braided lines, and it will also cast a long way from boat or shore.

To sum up, it may not be the best shore reel or the best boat reel but you’d be hard pressed to find a reel that copes with both aspects as well as the 7000 does – all for a mere 150 quid!

INFORMATION FACTS AT A GLANCE