Reel Repair by Alan Tani

What are some unpopular takes you have on classic reels? I'll start with a doozie:
I'm not crazy about the Zebco Cardinals. I've picked up all sizes except the 3 over the years and still have them, but I don't fish them much. I feel like my Penn Z series have smoother retrieves, my Dam Quicks are better all around, my classic Daiwas have better drags, and all of the above are way easier to work on. I haven't sold my Zebco Cardinals yet, and I just got one of the newer black made-in-Japan models to try. But I'm just not crazy about the old green and white ones.

I sold my one and only Cardinal 7 instead of fishing it. Those c-clips can be a bugger, and the angular handle kinda clunky...but it's a fairly solid reel that does the job if a bit agrarian-feeling. Like you I gravitated towards the Daiwa BG's and Penn Z-series out of personal preference. If the Cardinal is an International Harvester Scout, then the BG is a later model Bronco with AC and power steering..

I think this specific discussion was started just to try to get my dander up and/or create a response since those style Cardinals are the only reel I would regularly fish or recommend, other than maybe my favorite, the American Classic IV. I consider or rate the other above listed reels totally opposite of how they are listed, but then fishermen's opinions are most always just plain subjective. 

It ain't going to work, though, since I could care less whether or not others appreciate the quality and ease of maintenance of the ABU & Zebco fulcrum drag Cardinal line of reels. I've been fishing them exclusively since 1970 with absolutely zero mishaps while on the water. It would be hard to find another line of reels, IMO, with that kind of track record. Their resale value, compared to most other mass produced vintage spinning reels of that era, clearly shows what most knowledgeable fishermen think of their quality.     

I wanted to like my 7 and fish it often but just couldn't because of that handle. Later realized they had the same model (earlier?) with a smoother, football-shaped knob. That one likely would have been a better match.

Weight thats it,,,, i use newer pflueger patriarch 7oz for smaller fish,,,, i got a penn torque 5 and a 706 there's not that much difference when fight a fish and less problems with the 706,,,,,

I used to steer clear of Cardinals
because of the look.Then after I  fished with one I liked it & actually had a need to adjust the rear drag while fighting a fish.

I have said it before,I never got why the plastic bail arms were used
On such a tank,but also  have never seen one fail.

There maybe prettier,lighter reels
Out there but Cardinals are dependable.I actually like the look now is classic.

My unpopular take is that the fondness for the mitchell 300 series is pure nostalgia, it's a complicated reel that's hard to work on and made of crap metal. But it was a lot of people's first reel. And that seems to matter more than anything. If that were a modern reel it would be universally panned.

I agree with the above on Cardinals and Mitchells, but that might have something to do with the particular examples I found cheap. Yes, mitchells are complicated and fragile. I lump in the older DAM Quick's, too as overly complicated. I also feel they are noisy and rough.

I'm a Penn guy, but the first generation of skirted spool Spinfishers are overrated. The only useful, to me, improvements over the cupped rotor models are the skirted spool and the manual close bail. The dual anti reverses are both too fragile and the reel is too heavy.

I like freshwater fishing with spin cast reels. Most are made with cheap parts, especialy the Shakespeare and Johnson I use most. I shouldn't be surprised, they were made to be inexpensive kid's reels.

This is a very unhealthy thread for the Ohana vibe I come here for.
-Steve

I love the look of the old Cardinals, and the quality of the finish (and parts in general) is top-notch. They just don't do it for me on the water.

I agree on the Mitchell 300 as well. All the old Mitchell reels were overly complicated, but that doesn't stop me from using a few (308s and 306s mainly). My 300s mostly sit on display.

Quote from: Midway Tommy on November 14, 2026, 06:25:44 AMI think this specific discussion was started just to try to get my dander up...   

Nah, everyone knows you are cool, calm and collected.  Nothing upsets you.      Dominick

Quote from: cbar45 on November 14, 2026, 07:02:34 AMI wanted to like my 7 and fish it often but just couldn't because of that handle. Later realized they had the same model (earlier?) with a smoother, football-shaped knob. That one likely would have been a better match.

I find that interesting and why I say fishermen's' opinions can be quite subjective. I'm not a fan of the torpedo type handle knob on any spinning reel, and especially not on the Cardinal line. I prefer the trapezoidal or plain paddle shaped style handle knobs. I like to keep the handle knob between my thumb and index finger, not inside a balled up clenched left hand. 

Quote from: Dominick on November 14, 2026, 05:55:53 PM

Quote from: Midway Tommy on November 14, 2026, 06:25:44 AMI think this specific discussion was started just to try to get my dander up...   

Nah, everyone knows you are cool, calm and collected.  Nothing upsets you.      Dominick

Glad you been observant young man.   

Love everything about the Zebco(Abu) Cardinals, but, (there's always godda be a "but") I buy used one's and have never gotten satisfactory drag performance, especially when it comes to "start-up". Would love to an affordable NIB model and see if it's the "used factor".

I notice that all the "unpopular takes" here relate to spinning reels rather than conventional reels.  Good job guys.  That is as it should be.