From pulling weeds, washing cars, selling pecans and cutting lawns, I finally had enough money to purchase this reel. I was 9 years old and didn't know how to use a baitcasting reel. While on a camping/fishing trip with my church youth group, I was determined to learn, and while the other kids in the group caught catfish with their spinning and spincast reels, I finally figured it out. Imagine my sense of satisfaction (and everyone else's chagrin) when I reeled in the biggest fish of the day, a 12-pound catfish!

Brian Cope
Rembert, South Carolina

Does your Abu Garcia reel have some mileage? Then why not enter it in the Abu Garcia For Life! contest? Show us your "classic" or well-used Abu and you might win a new one. Click here to submit a picture of the reel, as well as a detailed story or two about its history.