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The rugged Alvey 650GRC |
This
is an unusual Alvey reel in that it is geared whilst all other models
are fixed centre pin reels. It has been engineered as a high-speed
spinning reel for chasing seriously big fish like tailor, mackerel, and
tuna from the rocks in Australia .
The
current model of this reel is the 650GRBC. It has a slightly slower
retrieve speed of 2:1 and is also a bit lighter. Reviewed here is
650GRC which has been around for at least a decade.
The
650GRC has a gear ratio of 2.5:1 or in other words the spool turns two
and a half times for each turn of the reel handle. With a full spool of
line that gives an incredible rate of retrieve of some 48 inches
or
about 1.25m per turn of the handle. Now that is quick! The fast
retrieve speed makes it excellent to use in New Zealand to spin for
kahawai, particularly at river mouths. It also works well for
yellowtail kingfish both for spinners and poppers as well as
live-baits. Poppers in particular cast very well with this reel with
the bonus of no chance of a “birds nest.”
The
650GRC does of course work very well as a rugged heavy duty surfcasting
reel. In which roll the extra retrieve speed is nice to have but is not
really necessary.
The 650GRC is a
very “solid” virtually indestructible surfcasting reel. It weighs 1.4kg
(3lbs) fully loaded with monofilament line. The 650GRC feels heavy in
the hand and very heavy at the bottom of a light-weight rod. I mostly
surf cast with a 1:1 green Alvey 650C which weighs in at 1.2kg (2lb 12
oz) but somehow feels lighter. Surprisingly these are not the heaviest
Alveys. My fully spooled 651C weighs in at a hefty 1.6kg (3lb 6oz). The
700C5 is even heavier. One of the things that you notice with this
geared model is that there is a type of "fly-wheel" effect from the
weight of the spool. In other words it takes a couple of turns of the
handle to get the spool turning at full speed. When you are about to
stop winding you begin winding slower and stop the handle. If you wind
flat-out and just let go of the handle the reel will keep spinning!
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The ten drag washers. |
If
all you were wanting to do was spin for kahawai you would be better
using a much lighter Abu Ambassadeur 7000C which weighs just 17oz or
approximately a third of the weight of this Alvey spinning reel.
Don't
forget surfcasting and spinning are completely different forms of
fishing. A surfcaster might cast out his baited hooks, place his rod in
a rod spike, and then sit down and have a rest for ten minutes. The
spin fisherman on the other hand will be constantly casting and
retrieving all the while bearing the full weight of rod and reel. It
takes much more effort to point the rod tip at the sea and wind
flat-out as one might when spinning for kahawai than to stand or sit
next to your rod waiting for a bite!
That
said I see the 650GRC as a surfcasting reel that you can also use for
high–speed spinning. To me it is mostly a surfcasting reel with a quick
rate of retrieve.
Line capacity
is 650 m of 9kg line (700 yards of 20lb mono). I would be inclined to
load the reel with say 400 m of old used 9kg mono, and then top-shot it
with 240 metres of good 9kg mono, then finally
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The
stainless steel back of the 650 GRC. Those familiar with Alvey reels
will note there is no "fish alarm." The lever is to place the reel in
or out of gear. Push down to engage. |
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Not much can go wrong here. |
tie
of about two rod lengths of 40 lb or even 50 lb mono as a shock leader.
This is not just better economics. The shock leader also reduces
bust-offs when casting. If you regularly fish a shingle beach where you
tend to get a bit of stone damage I would spool up with a hard 30 lb
mono. This will reduce casting distance a little but will be much more
durable.
As with all Alvey
side-cast reels it is recommended that you use a swivel at the top of
your rig to reduce line twist. With the heavy shock leader use a no. 9
or 10 swivel. A larger swivel won't work properly as the lighter line
will struggle to turn it.
As you
can see from the picture the drag system is a monster. It features no
fewer than ten large drag washers of various materials: Tygaflor,
Nomex, Nitrile and stainless steel. The drag in keeping with the
general construction of this reel is extremely rugged. It is very
smooth even when wet. No problem stopping the largest kingfish with
this drag!
The manufacturer advises that owners lube their reels with light oil rather than grease which tends to make the sand stick.
The
Alvey GRC, like many of the large reels from this manufacturer, can be
used very effectively for other types of fishing. It makes an excellent
boat reel even when fishing quite deep water for big fish. There aren't
many long distance surfcasting reels you could say that about!
Perhaps
the stand-out feature of this reel is its durability. Alvey have been
making reels for over 80 years. Each one is built to last.
The
Alvey 650GRC has plenty of performance room to spare should that really
big fish just happen to take your bait at the beach!
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