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More for the money...the redesigned Cardinal 502ALB spinning
reel
| Date: |
2/27/06 |
| Tackle type: |
Reels |
| Manufacturer: |
Abu Garcia |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.50
Introduction:
Abu Garcia has completely
redone their Cardinal Series of spinning reels for the 2006 season. Sitting on
top of the lineup are the redesigned Cardinal 500 ALB reels. The Cardinals have always
offered anglers a lot of features and performance for the money, and we take a
look at the C502ALB to see if the same can be said about this freshly revamped
offering.
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Abu Garcia
Cardinal (C502ALB) Specifications |
| Line
Capacity (lb/yds) |
6/175 |
| Gear
Ratio |
5.1:1 |
| Line
retrieve per crank |
25.5
inches |
|
Weight |
9.7
oz |
|
Bearings |
10BB |
|
Additional Features |
Instant anti reverse,
Aluminum body, "Everlast" spring system, anodized ported spool, oversized
line roller, spare graphite spool, advanced oscillation |
| MSRP |
$64.95 |
The new Abu Garcia Cardinal is the
most modern looking Abu spinning reel released to date
Impressions:
The new Cardinal reels
are a bit of a departure from reels of previous seasons. These reels appear
cleaner and more utilitarian in design. Gone are the wooden knobs, painted
fames, and gold highlights. Instead the new reels are almost completely metallic
in appearance with varying shades of metallic tones. The 300 series reels
feature a darker titanium-like façade, while the 100 and the 500 have an
aluminum and platinum tone finish. One of the things I like best about the
C502ALB is the machined aluminum handle, which matches the other metal plates on
the reel’s frame nicely.
A look at the side of the Cardinal 502ALB
When I first pulled the reel
out of the box I was instantly impressed with the Cardinal’s finish and quality
materials used in it’s construction. The spool that comes mounted on the reel
looks fantastic. Not only is it ported for weight reduction it is also anodized
for corrosion resistance. The only thing that put me off a bit was the fact the
reel comes bundled with a graphite spool rather than an aluminum one. The
average angler rarely uses the spare spool, but it is nice to have the option if
you are planning to fish the reel for multiple species. With the alternative is
a graphite spool I can guarantee you I won’t be switching out spools unless my
fishing trip absolutely depended on it. Once I got over the graphite spool I
began to appreciate the clean rotor implementation and oversized bail wire
design. When compared to the previous generation reel I prefer the new cleaner
more unpretentious yet chic execution.
The Cardinal 502ALB features an oversized
bail design
The reel sits a fair distance from most rods,
but it is easy to grab the line with your index finger for quick casts
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The rotor is ported for better balancing |
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Another look at that thick bail |
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The Cardinal's "accu-balanced" rotor |
Real World Test: These days
I find myself employing baitcast gear for the vast majority of all my bass
fishing. But there are applications where I still find a spinning reel more
advantageous, including fishing tiny jigs, dart heads, and drop shotting. For
the field tests I mounted the new Cardinal 502ALB on a G.Loomis Drop Shot rod.
With this combo I could toss everything from a medium sized crank to a single
tail grub. All field tests were conducted on the cuts and sloughs of the
California Delta or on local reservoirs.
Next Section: Moving
on to the field tests
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