Abu Garcia C4 Reel

[Gilly]

Hey guys... I got a C4 for Christmas the winch series 3.8 to 1 retrieve ratio. I wanted it for drift fishing for walleyes and night time still fishing/jerk fishing/whipping or whatever you may call it. I saw the C4 non-winch series had a 6.3 to 1 ratio and thought the reel might be more universal. Pike fishing, bass, etc. Do you guys think the higher gear ratio will be too high for my walleye drift/still fishing needs? A lot of the literature proclaims the slower gear ratios are needed to haul in the big ones. Any advice?

[Backwater Eddy]

I have several 5600 C-4’s and C-5’s and plan for several more in 2002. They are smooth and reliable reels.

The ratio will work well for cranking and you won't need any more power for walleye or big pike even. We use them for walleye and big catfish, they hold up very well.

The 5600C4 and the wench series are great reels for bait rigging. The higher ration reels works well for bait rigging for several reasons in my opinion.

When it is time to get the rigs up off the bottom the faster you do it the less likely your going to hang up, especially in rivers. You can pick up slop faster on trolling situations with the higher ratio reels, keeping the rod loaded up and the fish in tow.

You should find it to be a great reel.

[Rapaleye]

I used the 5600C4 with 50lb tuff line on my muskie rod. I have seen that reel land 48inch plus fish. Plenty of power and the extra speed to work a jerk bait well. I am sure it will handle any walleye or pike.
Jim

[Starfish]

I tried a 6500 C4 for chinook salmon and switched back to C3's because I felt the gear ratio was just a little too high. But it's really just a matter of preference-- they're all good reels.