Abu Garcia ambassadeur 5501-C3

[Cannon]

Does anyone own one of these? If so, what do you think of it? Also does it have a line out clicker? The Abu Garcia site has little info on it.

[coltrain82]

Originally Posted by Cannon

Does anyone own one of these? If so, what do you think of it? Also does it have a line out clicker? The Abu Garcia site has little info on it.

They are good reels. We almost use them exclusively for steelhead and lake trolling for trout and kokes. I know the 6501's have the clicker i don't think the 5501's do. Good reels though easy to maintenance.

[fish-on-bend]

I believe thats what mine is. I don't think too much of it. I have 4 Shimano Tritons, clickers and flip bail. The Garcia's with the little metal click bail does not release if your line is under tension,such as when loaded on a downrigger and no clicker either. My Shimanos are inexpensive and I've never had one break. A couple of them have over 250 days on them. Sorry for the Shimano plug, but thats my answer.

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by fish-on-bend

I have 4 Shimano Tritons, clickers and flip bail.

what model?

[7mmstw]

have 4 5501s never had an issue 15+ yrs old... no clicker on mine
i pull the side plates and grease regularly
also a second vote for shimanos i must have 16-18 of them corsairs,301,(401s have clicker),cardiff,201s calcutta 151 &201
they seem to be unbreakeable cardiff 401s have clickers also
dont know if you can still get them my only complaint is the change up the models & outdate them all the time .... abu-garcia is still making
most of the stuff that worked 25 yrs ago!!

[fish-on-bend]

Originally Posted by Cannon

what model?

3 TR200-G's 1 TR100-G. I love 'em.

[SEAWEED PETE]

I have a dozen or so. Very few problems. I use them a ton for steelhead and tiger musky. No clicker until you get up to the 6500 series. Good reel for the price.

[Smokerjet]

if you step up to the 5601 c4 you get a clicker

[muggers]

Yep! I have 2 -smooth,very reliable,not a lot of flash, just darn good reels. Use for salmon trolling. No clickers.

[DirectDrive]

Originally Posted by fish-on-bend

The Garcia's with the little metal click bail does not release if your line is under tension,such as when loaded on a downrigger and no clicker either.

Whoa !
Never hit the push button (release) without rolling back the spool a bit and taking the pressure off the pinion. Once you see the damage caused by not doing this, you will almost always roll that spool back before hitting the release.

I trashed the pinion in my first Shimano Bantam in a few short months by willy-nilly hitting the release button while back-bouncing with 2,3,4 oz weights.
The heavier lead will chew up the pinion faster.

If I was to find myself in a survival situation and could have only one reel, I would probably choose an Ambassdeur 5 series reel.