Baitcasters

[Gorgeherm]

If you have enough money go with the Calcutta or Corado. I love my Calcutta, you can't go wrong with it.

[timinthegorge]

Curado 200 BSF...... Very nice reel...... :cheers:

[rola76]

Definitely the Curado 200BSF. It's silky smooth and casts about a mile!!

[4Salt]

How much is the gift certificate worth?
Where do you fish mostly?
What species do you mainly target?
Do you need to cast light weight?
Will you use reel in salt or brackish water?
Will you use the reel to pull plugs or troll from a boat?

So many questions, so many models of baitcasting reels.

The Shimano's are awful sweet reels.

If you had to buy just one reel to cover all of your bases however, IMHO, it's hard to go wrong with the Abu's.

[ 11-15-2002, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: 4Salt ]

[Premo]

curado, calcutta or abu can't be beat.

[ampersat]

yeah, what 4salt said. "it depends" is a valid answer to your question. if it were me and i had your two choices, the Abu would be it. i was on joe's site just two days ago and they do have the curado online.

if you're bank bound, fish smaller rivers (clack, sandy, etc), generally drift fish, pitch spinners or lob the occasional bobber, the curado would get the nod, although i've done all three with an Abu 5600C4 for the last three years and have no complaints. the 6500 is probably too big a reel for normal bank fishing.

[JeepMcMuddy]

Your right I probably should have given more info... :smile: the gift cert was only 50, but I was planning on going more. (there only a startiing point right? Thats what i tell my wife;) Might do some Banking, but mostly from boating my small 11 foot sportcat (livingston style) Backwaters, mouth of kalama, cowlitz, that area. Joes only has limited selection online, and thats where I have to use this cert. Looking for something versitle that I can maybe plunk plugs one day and drift eggs or bobber n jig the next. I appreciate all your info!

[drifter]

Jeep: Reels ( like driftfishing rods) are one of those areas where it pays to buy the best. Calcutta, Calcutta, Calcutta.
151 - small stream steelheading
251 - large river steelheading, coho, chums, springers
401TE - fall chinook and Kenai River.

As you can see, I prefer a left handed reel. If your driftfishing, it just makes sense. Good luck, drifter.

[4Salt]

Jeep,

In that case, my recommendation is the Ambassadeur 5501C3. (5500 if you're one of them weird guys that can reel with their right hand :grin: )

I prefer the C3 over the C4 because of the spool disengage mechanism. The C3 is on the flange of the reel, the C4 is a thumb-bar. I like to hold my thumb lightly on the spool while fighting a fish (secondary drag) With the Abu thumb-bar design I was accidentally disengaging the spool. (sometimes with unpleasant results) The Shimano thumb-bar release on my Curados is lower, and doesn't get in my way. Play with some of the reels you're considering at a tackle store before you order one online. Whichever one feels best, and fits your plans and pocketbook best is the one you should buy. :smile:

[KingFisher85]

JeepMcMuddy
Abu 5500, 6000, or 6500
The best there is for the price.

[ampersat]

my abu has the thumb bar and i have yet to accidentally hit it while fighting a fish, but i've come close a couple of times. it's another something i have to think about while fighting a fish.

i use right hand bait casters and left hand spinning reels. for some reason, my left hand doesn't do the tighter radius of the smaller handle on bait casters as well as my right hand does (i'm right handed). i suppose i could train myself to do it, but that's just an old dog thing for me. switching the rod back and forth from retrieve to cast to fishing is just a rythym i've developed and am comfortable with.

i went out to www.epinions.com (http://www.epinions.com) to see what folks had to say about different reels. one point that was brought up there that i hadn't thought about was that the smaller profile of the curado makes it more difficult to pick out the inevitable backlash. it's not often i backlash but when i do it's usually because i snagged up on something behind me and i get a real doozy of a 'lash. the abu's give you plenty of room to get into the spool and dig out the mess.

another thing i discovered recently: i put together a jig outfit with a spinning reel recently and the rod stays in the right hand all day. normally, when i'm fishing my caster, it's in my left hand. at the end of five hours with the spinning outfit, my right shoulder was screaming. it's just not used to the work. when i go out this winter, i'll be taking both rods with me. i can jig fish slower and medium currents, then swap to drift the medium and fast currents. should keep either shoulder from getting too tired. just something to keep in mind.

[SafetyChain]

Ditto everything Ampersat said.

[Unskunked]

I finally got to fish for a solid day with my 5601 C4 and it was every bit as good as my Curado. And I mean every bit. Sure, its a full ounce heavier, but it makes up for it in capacity so I fell I'm breaking even there. The abu seems to have better drag and brake adjustment, where the Shimano is on/off I feel I get far more middle with the abu.

They're both great, but the C4 is $40 less.

[ 11-15-2002, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: HBJ ]

[JeepMcMuddy]

Thanks for all the input!! I think I have made up my mind with the 5600. I do like the look and feel of the corado, but with my big hands I think I like a bit more weight to my reel. Now all I have to do is wait for it to show up, and then learn how to cast the dang thing! (Thank goodness I have a 13,000 sf backyard to practice in!) :smile:

[husker]

Jeep practice in your back yard.....this isnt a put down in anyway shape or form.....

i remember when i was a young pup learning a baitcaster.....i almost gave up fishing and threw my pole and reel in the damm hole.....my bud caught my arm as i was getting ready to toss it......saving me 1 real good setup....abu 5000 w/ lci .....caught many fish with that rig.....

bird nests happen to everybody.....most are easily fixed.....but when your a rookie and people are catching fish.....its serious trauma.....take your time....and have fun....

my son is doing pretty good with his new reel took him about a week....

good luck!!

[ 11-15-2002, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: husker ]

[ampersat]

out of curiosity, has anyone tried the abu 4600 c4? i was comparing between the abu's and the curado's and didn't realize i wasn't looking at the abu 5600 (which is what i have now). that 4600 looks kinda cute. it's got the same side plates and all, it's just narrower. at only an ounce more than the curado, i'm willing to give it a shot.

[wetaline]

If your fishing out of a boat on anchor or trolling go w/ a abu 6500 c3 .... at least a good starting point for you...... curado's etc.. .are great but more for slinging light gear from the bank....

[SteelieSteve]

Shimano hands down. Simply the best.

[JeepMcMuddy]

I have no experience with Baitcasters...
Which one should I get? The Abu Garcia Ambassaduer 6500 C4 or the Shimano Catala? I have a online Joes gift cert I need to burn up (and might I add, they wont honor it in their stores! :mad: ), and since they dont sell much tackle online, I figured nows a good time to give a baitcaster a try, and retire my old coffee grinder.

Thanks for the advice!

[ 11-15-2002, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: JeepMcMuddy ]