I'm thinking about getting a vintage Cardinal 3 or 4 for Steelhead fishing. Does the spool have the traditional 4 degree upsweep, something less, or none at all? I struggle enough with the New Guide Concept and don't want to compound it with a parallel spool configuration. Thanks.

They have the same configuration as the existing Penn 4300 and 4400 SS SpinFishers. Which in my opinion are superior products, and you can get parts for them. The bail return spings on the Cardinals are a problem, lose one of those and you maight as well decorate the wall with it. The reels smooth reels of today are such a superior product, I wouldn't bother with one. I wore out 4 of the Cardinals and wouldn't look back for a second.

I use Cardinal 4's now for 28 years and wouldn't change. If you look you can find good to great reels. There are better
new reels out there but they just fit my needs when I'm fishing jigs and floats for steelhead.
Steve

You would have a hard time finding a better gear set in any modern reel than that found in the old ABu Cardinals and Quick Finessas and Champions. Only problem, is that those older reels don't offer the modern silent anti-reverse systems and lightweight skirted spools. Still, they're going to outlast anything on the market today.

I don't have one of those reels so can't give you a definite answer on the upsweep. If Spencer has compared them then you might as well go with his findings. You can probably locate those Penn reels at a local dealer and measure them yourself.

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I don't know what your price range is for a reel of the cardinal 4 type but the Mitchel 300 X is very similar , cheap and will probably outlast several cardinals.For the money it's a very good reel. The problem with the bail spring on the cardinal is very real. I've owned a couple and they always ended up with a weak or broken bail spring.

Dave

New Accurate Twin-Spin 30!

Finally! After months of waiting the new Accurate Twin-Spin

[www.charkbait.com]

$899.99 for a spinning reel ???

Now this is a spinning reel. It will handle any steelhead that the ocean has ever produced or will ever produce.

Scott

There is a place that sells reproduction Cardinal 4's and they have the silent anti reverse bearing.
With a little searching a oneway bearing should be out there.
Steve