looking for a baitcast reel

[clueless]

looking for ideas on a decent baitcasting reel. I have a decent trolling set up, but am loooking for a casting reel.
Thanks for the help!

[Goldpig]

I am partial to Shimano and would go w/ the Castaic or Curado.

[John Wayne]

I currently use an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5600 C4 for casting. I have 3 or them. I really like them. They are a good quality reel. You can pick on up for around $75.00...

John Wayne

[Mattman]

Abu Garcia. Good price, good quality, readily available, left hand models, spare parts are readily available and aftermarket upgrade parts are readily available. Can't go wrong.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[morriscode]

I agree with above posts. Abu is the way to go. Make sure you tighten all parts before fishing, i have lost a few little screws. I have a abu 6500 and the guide-bar doesnt go back and forth every time any ideas on how to fix this problem. Own a couple of these 6500 and this is the only problem i have had. Is something just not tight inside the reel or what?

[River_eye]

Putting the abu garcia ambasador beside the shimano Corsair, about the same price, there is no comparison. I have a Corsair, but I have casted with a friends ambassador and it is noticeably smoother and seems to backlash less often than my Corsair.

The one thing that is nicer about the Corsair is the casting button, nice and wide and right where you want it to be, it's also more attractive (I think), but the Abu beats it in casting hands down.

[REW]

Actually, I disagree with the other posts.
I would get a nice low profile bait casting reel, if you are going to do a bunch of casting for walleyes. There is no need for a big round reel, and I think that for an all day of casting, that the low profile reel, is much lesss tiring and more accurate for a long day of fishing.

get one with a good weight style brake system, at least 6 ball bearing, instant stopper on the drag, an d good star drag. Lots of various reels out there that meet these requirements.

Also, make sure that you put the reel on a rod in the store that you buy it from - and depending on if you are going to use your right or left hand to reel and the right or left hand to cast - get either a right or left handed reel.

If you happen to be a left handed person, and choose to use a typical reel - with the handle on the right side - make sure that the flipping switch is hinged from the center so that you can thumb the flipping switch easily with your left hand.

Many bait casters that have the handle on the right side - are designed to be cast with the right hand, and are designed so that the flipping switch activates very well with the right thumb, but because of the hinge point - binds up - if it is activated with the left thumb.

Take care
REW

[Mattman]

Interesting. My only low profile baitcaster (lefty) is a Browning Agressor (?) and it is very user friendly. The flippin switch works like a charm and is quite easy to use.

Low profile reels are OK. Maybe I'm just used to flogging water with a big Abu and Muskie or big Bass baits or something but that's the reel I prefer for everything now.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[RickK]

Take a look at www.ffo-tackle.com
I bought two ABU-GARCIA TP5600C Tournament Pro Casting Reels from them
Reg. price 154.95 paid $86.96 each. Very smooth, 4 SS BB, 5.3:1 gear
ratio, clicker, holds 175yds 12# mono. Very. very nice.

Rick

[Sunshine]

I just got done replying to a similar post about left-handed reels. I agree with REW about the low profile reels for casting. Here are my thoughts.

I like the Abu 6501 for trolling, musky fishing and downrigger fishing. I own 11 of them now. They're great for situations when you want or need large amounts of line like trolling. They have also held up to abusive musky techniques. For casting with a baitcaster I prefer the Shimano Curado 201b, I own 4 of these. I think that you're better off getting a reel with a flipping switch for bottom bouncing and vertical jigging in rivers. No suggestions there, I use old Abu's for this that you can't get anymore.

[vetspet(ind)]

gander mt has a 70 dollar reel for 30 dollars this wk...i posted asking if it is a good reel and the reply was yes....i think it was a shakespeare but forget...it was a bit on the small size for me...only held 100 yds of 10 lb test....four bearings...sounded like a good deal...steve

[eyeD]

I love my Quantum EX500's . I cast with them and pull bottom bouncers wtih them. I think whatever you get you should look for one that has a flippin' switch. This makes it easier to adjust depth with a bottom bouncer or three way rig. All you have to do is press the thumb bar and let out the line until it hits bottom then release it. I've done this for years and it really helps!eyeD (Denny Sharrone)

[Nick(IA)]

a very hot item among the bass guys is the new line of baitcasters from Pinnicle. they are exceptionally smooth in the store but no one seems to know if they will hold up. also a bit fast for my taste. might be something to look at.

[Fishinpox]

Hello morriscode; I had this problem a few years ago,if I remember correctly I replaced the nylon gear located on the end of the spool inside the cover opposit the handle end of the reel. It's pretty easy to do and the cost of the gear was only $1.50 or $2.00. I use the 6500 and the 6000 both, but I catch king salmon with them ( largest being 50lbs.)however, for casting for walleye my choice in a level wind reel is a shimano Calcutta 200 and I have it mounted on a Ron Boggs series Lamiglass Rod,BUT..bothe reels are exellent the choice is individual preference...Hope this helps.

[Mattman]

When I called the main place in Iowa (I think) to order a new return spring I told the lady she should probably send me out two so I would have a spare on hand. And I also thought I should order two to help justify the shipping on a cheap part. She said "Ok, I'll send them out today." And that was it. Free of charge. I couldn't believe it. Good company to deal with.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[perchjerker]

morriscode-
You need 2 parts. One is called the return pawl and the other is the worm shaft. The pawl is about $3 and the shaft, about $8. I know, I had the same problem. You can sometimes get by with just the pawl, but might as well replace both parts and be done with it.

[Hawgeye]

I would have to go with the Abu Garcia big round reel myself. My father purchased a SHimano "low profile" bait caster a couple years ago and he could not avoid backlashes. Being the "know it all" that I am, I told him, 'you just don't know how to set it up'! I took it, adjusted the spool tension, flipped out a cast and viola!, backlash! I tried practicing with that dang thing over and over with different spool tension adjustments as well as using the "thumb break" and could only cast on average about 10 times per backlash. I then found a 6500 C3 at a garage sale for $5 that didn't work. I ordered a $2 part, fixed it, cleaned it and it was like new. Casts so easy and NO backlashes since I have had it. Just my opinion but I felt it was an easy to use baitcast reel and find that it is easy to cast.

[morriscode]

Perchjerker, Mattman, Fishinpox thanks for the info! I thought I was going to have to buy a new reel. Abu Garcia and Fenwick are located in Spirit Lake Iowa, would that be the best place to order these parts? I really appreciate all of your help. This site has got to be the most informative fishing site of all time. thanks fish on!

[Mattman]

I'm pretty sure that's where I ordered my springs. Take a look at their web site. They had a listing of all of their service centers with addresses and phone numbers.

That reminds me... I got an Anti Backlash reel last year and one tiny little part broke right after I took it out of the box. Didn't even get to use it. The part was going to be X dollars. Service work was going to be about the same. So, I just sent it in to the service center with my check. I got the fixed reel back in a week with VOID written across the face of my check.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[zugbug]

The reel at Gander is a Quantum profile 400, 2001 model 4 bearings and flippin' switch for $29.99 but when they'r gone they'r gone

[BigBass~]

The Penn Natioanl is a great reel. Very smooth, but I wouldn't have spent that much money - Gift... I like the Diawa's, but the QUANTUM is a great reel for the cash!

BigBass~

[Norseman]

I also would be in the market not only for a decent Baitcaster but a good rod to use as well.

I will be using this setup on Crow Lake in Ontario vertical jigging for Lake Trout from about 100' of water. Any suggestions would be appreciated.



Norseman

[SUPERTROLLER]

I use a couple of Diawa reels for my baitcasting adventures. They cast very smooth as long as I don't try to be Hercules and cast acrossed the lake. The rods I use are two extremes. One is on a Gloomis GLX MBR782 C. This is for vertical jigging and light weight bouncing. The feel is unbelieveable. The other is on an UglyStik Lite. I use this for casting cranks and heavier jigs. The soft tip absorbs the jarring strikes of the pike and bass I always catch instead of the walleyes targeted. If you're fishing 100 ft. down, I'd suggest a superline would be the best thing to spool up with. That's a lot of stretch you have to overcome on any hookset. Buy what you can afford and enjoy your new combo.