Abu Garcia is a respected name in the fishing community, so I was very excited about the prospect of reviewing one of their new fishing reels. The Cardinal 500ALBi spinning reel boasted top-notch features, and I intended to find out just how well it was made.

I began my review on the choppy waves of Lake Mille Lacs. I was very pleased with its smooth reeling, even when the line was mucky. The drag seemed flutterless, and very consistent. I didn’t feel that “wavy” feeling you get from cheaper fishing reels.

I especially enjoyed the Abu Garcia Cardinal 500ALBi fishing reel’s light weight. Jigging for Walleye for 8 hours can take a toll on your wrists, but not with the Cardinal 500ALBi. Here are the specifications according to the Abu Garcia website for the Cardinal 500ALBi fishing reel:

“Designed to be more durable and dependable than ever, the Abu Garcia® Cardinal® 500ALBi Spinning Reel’s rigid body and reel stem cover are made from corrosion-resistant X-Craftic™ aluminum alloy. The Cardinal 500ALBi features include a super-smooth 10-bearing system, heavy-duty Carbon Matrix Drag™ System, corrosion-resistant Duragear™ brass gears, Everlast™ Bail System, Instant Anti-Reverse™, and a spare spool.”

Overall, I would rate my review of the Abu Garcia Cardinal 500ALBi spinning fishing reel as a 10 out of 10. Abu Garcia really lived up to their reputation with the Cardinal 500ALBi spinning reel. I hope I have the opportunity to review more Abu Garcia fishing reels in the future, and I hope they continue to contribute innovative technologies to the fishing market.