Wind the clock back many, many years to the 1970’s and you would find me on the banks of a Scottish salmon river clad in a worn Barbour coat and thigh waders. Depending on the conditions I’d either be wielding a 15 foot Hardy fly rod or my trusty ABU Atlantic 423 Zoom spinning rod. Sometimes I’d carried them both with me so I could switch between methods as required, my tackle bag bulging with boxes of flies and baits. I still have that old Hardy fly rod but the Atlantic went missing many moons ago.
At the time I was living in a tiny flat in Aberdeen, so minute that there was no room for my rods and they were thus consigned to a cupboard under the communal stairs. I always fretted about their safety but the security system on the front door should have kept any thieves at bay. Alas it was not so! One day I noticed some of my rods were missing and among the haul the perpetrator had taken was my much-loved Atlantic 423. It was a disaster of immense proportions and I mourned for that 9 feet of Swedish fibreglass for a long, long time. Soon after the theft I moved away and became very busy at work so by the time I got around to buying a replacement heavy spinning rod there were some new kids on the block and I went for something a bit longer. Over the years I amassed a range of rods but none of them really replaced that champagne coloured Atlantic. Until now.
Picked up in Glasgow for a small amount I am now, after a gap of 30 years, the very happy and proud owner of an original ABU Atlantic 423 Zoom. To some of you this may look like a dinosaur of a rod, with its thick fibre glass and metal ferrules but to me I now have possibly the finest spinning rod every produced. The balance, power and strength of this rod put it in a class all of its own for me.
This rod is ringed for use with a fixed spool reel (the ba….d who stole my original rod also got away with my trusty ABU Cardinal 77 as well). I have a nice 4000 sized Okuma fixed spool reel which will fit perfectly on the new rod for now. I am afraid that even I baulk at the cost of an old Cardinal 77. They were absolute tanks of reels and a pure joy to fish with, but a good example is changing hands for €200 – €300. That’s too rich for me I’m afraid! (Update: I have now acquired an old Cardinal 66 to go with this rod).
Specification wise this beauty boasts a full cork handle, those lovely flexible stand-off rings, a keeper ring, shiny chromed metal male and female ferrules, a down locking reel seat and brown whippings over silver tipping. It is rated to cast 30 – 60 grams but trust me, it can hurl an 18 gram Toby clear across most rivers.
I’ll grant you that by modern standards the Atlantic is heavy. I personally don’t mind this in a spinning rod as I don’t have the patience to spin for hour after hour. Instead, I fish in short bursts and often stop to change baits (usually in an effort to keep close to the bottom). All that weight is nicely distributed and the rod is not top heavy, unlike so many beefy spinning rods. I willingly put up with increased weight for the security engendered by the thick fibreglass walls as opposed to a brittle, skinny wand made of cheap far eastern carbon.
I think that one of the big advantages this rod had over the competition was its ability to apply huge pressure when required. With such power in the butt section I always felt confident I could bully a fish out of difficult situations and only the biggest of salmon every got the better of it. My old one landed a good few 20 pounders back in the day.
Going ever so slightly overboard, around the same time that I bought the lovely Atlantic 423 I also acquired a somewhat less than pristine ABU Atlantic 443S Zoom. This rod was on offer at a very low price so I bought it to see how it compares to the Atlantic that I know so well. It will certainly handle differently as it is ringed for a multiplier reel and is equipped with one of those speedlock handles. I was confused when I saw this rod advertised as it was claimed to be 13 feet long and a beachcaster! I was sure these old 443’s were 9 feet long and cast 1-2 ounces and while they are grand for spinning in the sea you could not class them as beachcasters. Sure enough, when it landed in my sweaty paws it did indeed turn out to be a nine-footer.
As I said, the 443 has some damage and the handle needs attention before it can be used in anger. Cosmetically, the deep mustardy-yellow of the blank is not attractive to my eye but that is just my taste. What is more important is the strength of the blank and this is another powerful rod. Once I have repaired it I plan to use it with either my Ambassadeur 5500C or the 6000C for salmon spinning or possibly pair it with a bigger 6500C3 or even a 7000C for fishing off the rocks for Pollock.
Length is the only area where I think ABU could have improved on these rods. Nine feet is a wee bit short for my liking and an extra 12 or even 18 inches would have made a commanding weapon. I guess it would also have upset that perfect balance I was talking about so I will settle for just the 9 feet.
The 443 rod actually came with a reel attached to it when I bought it – an ABU Abumatic 350 closed faced spincaster. This seems to be an odd pairing of rod and reel to me, I would have thought a heavy spinning rod like the 443 would require a multiplier reel to get the best from it. Having never owned a spincasting reel like this before I am unsure about its capabilities. I always figured the Abumatics were grand for coarse fishing but would not be strong enough for salmon angling.
The 350’s were made from 1976 – 1982 and this particular one is dated June 1977, making it over 41 years old. Try as I might I can’t find out much more about the 350. There is lots of info online about the smaller and more popular ABU spincasting reels like the 120 or the 170 but this 350 remains a mystery. I’m guessing it will hold a descent shot of 10 pound line so I’ll try that for a start. First things first though, I will strip the Abumatic down, fix a dodgy return spring, the loose free spool toggle and the brake which is not functioning at all. It will then need a good clean and lubrication. Any other defects need to be found and repairs effected before I try to fish with it (as long as I can source spare parts). All of this is an ideal job for a wet Saturday afternoon with the radio on, listening to the football and drinking copious mugs of steaming hot coffee.
As a rule I purchase this kind of old gear to fish with and not just to collect dust in a display. To some people it may appear sacrilege subjecting such fine pieces of angling memorabilia to the muck and water of a day’s fishing. I do understand that point of view and accept that for some collectors my wanton disregard for varnished whippings and lacquered finishes borders on criminality. But my view is that some of these old rods and reels are arguably among the finest tackle every made by human hand and I get my joy from their use. The smooth retrieve of a well serviced reel or the powerful curve in a fibreglass rod are only accessible on the water. I still regularly use an old ABU Atlantic 410 for lighter spinning duties and harbour a sneaking suspicion that fibreglass may just be a better material for spinning rods than carbon.
After the unmitigated disaster that was the 2018 season I am now actually looking forward to Spring 2019 and the chance to use my latest purchases. Let’s hope there are a few more fish around to put a bend in the fibreglass ABU’s!
Claretbumbler 
Love this ‘post’, as I too love old fishing rods. Something that puzzles me about this post is that the fist photo shows an ABU Atlantic 432 zoom 9ft, rated at 30-60g, but further on the rod bag has printed on it ABU 423 Zoom 9ft, 18-60g!!. Were there two ABU 432 Zooms?, one rated for 30-60g, and another 423 rated for 18-60g?. Can anyone held with this ?
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Well spotted! I am just as confused about this as you are. From the post you will have gathered that I previously owned a 423 Zoom and that one was also rated 30 – 60 grams. I always thought that was it but the one I bought a few years ago secondhand came with a bag which, as you pointed out, states 18 – 60 gram despite the rod inside saying 30 – 60 gram. I suspect the labels on the rod are correct and that the bag is not an ABU original (it seems to be made from lighter cloth than I see on the other ABU rod bags). After saying all of that, the old Atlantic 423 Zoom casts an 18 gram lure for miles! Wonderful rods, I absolutely love them. Very glad to see there are like minded anglers out there.
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Hello Colin, I first got in contact with you in Dec 2020 and again recently regarding the Abu 423 zoom.
I purchased my 423 in 1972 and was interested in reading the enigma regarding the casting weight. My outfit, rod and bag is original and casting weight is 18g-30g on the rod and 30g – 60g on the rod bag label.
I would say your 423 purchase,rod and bag regarding this is correct.
I first came to Achill in 1969, my wife was born here in Dugort and I wanted to visit the place,i have been coming every year since.
I had been a Bass fisherman for nine years, since 1961, i originally used a homemade 11′ rod (made by my boat builder friend) and Pflueger Sea King reel on the North Wales storm beaches. Every springtide weekend we’d fish on Dinas beach on a Friday and Saturday night, each side of high water.
There were usually five of us youngsters, our tent was pitched on a grass verge by the side of the shore. When the session was over we had one mile trek and arrived back to our tent,depending on the time of high tide, at just breaking light, got our heads down for a couple of hours zzzzz. All rods and reels were left outside on our rod rests. On awaking, later on that morning, the frying pan came out to cook breakfast. One of the lads noticed a rod had gone missing, yes it was mine. I never saw my rod or reel ever again, surprisingly amongst all our tackle was an expensive Hardy’s split cane beachcaster ‘Piraura’ with a Penn Squidder reel attached, funnily enough, this was not robbed.
So my next purchase was a Leslie Moncrief ‘Springheel’ and a Penn Squidder, I still have the Squidder,it is like new. This combo was brought to Achill so that i could try for Bass on many of the islands lovely beaches. I got to know many of the locals and was told that, i might, if I’m lucky,catch one on the shore at Keel. I purchased an Abu Atlantic 484 and treated the cork handle with marine varnish to keep it in good condition,but this rod with a 5 ounce weight was, alas, too heavy for a slightly built guy like me, so i sold it and purchased the lighter Abu 414.
Back to Keel for the Bass. Unfortunately this was not to be,all I caught were dogfish on the lungworm bait.
I needed a change of tactics, the elder men here said they always caught fish by throwing out a slither of black bicycle inner tube and hook,attached to a piece of string.
The hardware shop, Sweeney’s,at the Sound had an abundance of fishing tackle at the time, a really good selection and i chose my first spinning rod, the Abu Atlantic 423 zoom and a fixed spool real. The pleasure I have had spinning for fish with the 423 is I’d say ‘out of the world’,whether i caught fish or not.
I then purchased an Abu Atlantic 403S
Speedlock and an Abu 6500c multiplier, which i used when i had company who needed a rod but had no experience with multipliers,so lent them my 423. I always reverted to my faithful 423 and still use it today.
The 414 was great for casting a 2/4 oz weight with feathers, jigging / spinning from the rocks or pier (weather and tide permitting) in Dooagh and the rocks opposite the Corrymore turn off. BUT, at the last named place, one could lose too much precious tackle due to getting snagged on the lobster pot lines close by, right in front of where the tackle lands. Guys fly fish from this place too.
On a nice calm day, many years ago,around 5pm,I decided to take my 423 and fish the neap tide at Dooagh at the first group of rocks on the left, so, directly adjacent to the shore. As I made my way over,I noticed a chap crouched down and judging by his arm action he was casting something into the water. Approaching slowly, as not to disturb him, I watched as he pulled in a five pound Coalfish with his piece of string and rubber eel,then I noticed four more large Coleys by his feet. Surprisingly, the silver haired man started packing up,showed me his string and rubber eel, then he pointed to my 423 and reel, how much did that cost you son he said, then departed. I caught a couple of small Coleys, put them back and then the fine green weed started to get wrapped around my line,the tide had turned and now i realised why yer man had departed. I learned a lesson on this day of fishing.
Back to Corrymore –
As i cannot manage,alas,descending and ascending places like these anymore , i decided to sell the nice Abu 414. Last summer i got talking to a chap from Limerick who was beachcasting on Dugort Strand, he came every year and i sold the 414 to him for 20euros, I might have got more, I don’t know.
I also sold the Leslie Moncrief rod at a car boot sale for £15 about six years ago.
I still have the Abu 403s Speedlock which I will give to you Colin, but,at the moment it is at home in Wales.
Stories from WOODY
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Fascinating! It is you who should be writing a blog, not me. Bass are scarce enough around the Mayo coast, as you have found out over a lifetime fishing for them. I know a really excellent sea angler (a fellow Scot) who lives in Westport and haunts the local rocks and beaches. In all his years he has landed one bass! Why there should be bass in Kerry but not Mayo seems crazy, but that is fishing for you. In the summer I used to spin the beaches on Achill for sea trout, chucking out ABU Krill and suchlike lures with limited success. Apart from the sea trout I would catch the odd mackerel and flattie. I hear that using the same tactic but fishing through the winter produces good sea trout, but I have not tried at this time of the year.
Like you, advancing years has curtailed my adventures clambering down cliffs to reach a ledge or rock to fish off. I used to love the thrill of getting to some spot that was virtually never fished and trying my luck with bait or spinner. Wrasse were one of my favourite fish, especially if I could tempt them on a float fished lug worm. I get such joy from seeing my float slide under as a wrasse grabs the bait, even after all these years it still makes me smile. Four pounders used to be common around here but the poor wrasse seem to be getting scare just like all the other fish these days. Even mackerel, which used to shoal in immense numbers, are becoming hard to find.
Those old ABU 403’s were such a classic rod. Back in the ‘70’s I promised myself I would buy one but somehow I never got around to it. My mate had one and I saw him catch a few salmon on it, spinning devon minnows slow and deep on the Aberdeenshire Dee and Don. The only drawback with the old ABU rods was the rings were prone to wearing. The grooves caused by the line seemed to be the downfall of many an otherwise perfect spinning rod. I suspect there must be hundreds of them in lofts and sheds which could be brought back to life just by removing the old damaged rings and whipping on a new set of modern SIC lined rings.
Strangely, I have never fished off Dugort strand, despite being there many, many times. Instead I fished off the rocks past the small pier (the pier itself being useless from what I can see). I recall fishing there with bait one time. I had landed a couple of pollock and mackerel so was having a decent session. Dropping the bait only a few yards out into a small cove resulted in a violent bite and when I lifted into the fish it took off like an express train. I was shocked at the power of the fish and it ran towards deeper water for maybe 30 yards before stopping and apparently shaking its head on the bottom. I heaved and pulled but nothing I could do moved the fish towards me. This tug-of-war went on for maybe 5 minutes before there was another mad dash by the monster and a loud snap as my 20 pound line parted. What that fish was I will never know. For weeks after I was haunted by the feeling I should have done something different and maybe I would have landed ‘it’.
We can meet up this summer for a few casts on Achill Keith. I’d love to hear about more of your fishing exploits!
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Thanks for replying Colin. I did take a photo of my 423 label and bag label to send to you as verification. But I don’t know the way to send it to you.
Dugort pier was the safest place to take my inexperienced angling friends, who were in Achill on holiday, otherwise i never fished it.
The end of July and August was/is the only time to catch mackerel on the rocks opposite Rose Bank cottage. It’s a place I’ve fished millions of times, close by and convenient. Never ever did i catch or see a coalfish landed here or in a boat on the bay.
Bye for now Colin
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