This reel was the first reel I ever bought with my own money. I was about to turn 11 years old and I'd saved up the money for a new reel. My dad took me to Walmart and said, "Pick out a reel." I looked into the glass case they keep the reels in and I saw a pretty, gold reel. I thought to myself, "That's the reel."

I picked that reel because it looked cool, but I never thought it would turn out to be the best reel I ever used.

My most memorable story of the reel is one that just happened. I've recently started fishing local tournaments. On Oct. 24, 2009 I was fishing a tournament at Bay Springs. It was a hard day of fishing, so I decided to put down the crankbait and slow down with a Texas-rig. I picked up "old faithful" – the 4600c. I was fishing some offshore structure with a green-pumpkin lizard. I'd caught about 8 pounds with three fish, but I new I needed a limit.

I was pulling the lizard through the structure with my Abu Garcia and all of a sudden the rod was almost pulled out of my hand. When I set the hook, I couldn't move the fish. After a few pulls I thought I was hung. So I trolled toward the line and I felt another tug. I said to myself, "I have a fish."

I fought that fish for what seemed like an eternity. As the fish came up to the boat my eyes just about popped out of my head. It wasn't a bass – it was a 32-pound catfish. My heart just dropped because I thought I had a state-record bass.

I tell that story to my buddies all the time now. Even though it wasn't a bass I caught, it was still a fun catch with my nearly 20-year-old Abu Garcia.

Scott Edwards
Smithville, Mississippi

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. Entries must include a photo of the reel and are judged each month based on content, detail and theme.

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