BEST reel for plugging salmon/steelies?

SHOUGALNITE · 12-17-2003, 12:03 PM

6500 series :smile:

rola76 · 12-17-2003, 12:07 PM

Forgot to mention, I'm strickly a lefty!! Right now my "arsenal" consists of some Curados, Calais, one ABU 5001, and a few Cabela's reels.

Being a lefty sometimes has its limitations.

The Bloodletter · 12-17-2003, 12:28 PM

I agree w/ the other guys. The only down fall of the Abu's is drag life. All of the ones I have owned need to be taken in every other year to have the drag rebuilt. I have also used Calcuttas but have all but sworn them off for lack of retrieve speed. They are smooth as silk but try catching up to a fish that is "freight trainin'" toward the boat. If you are fishing w/ line larger than 14lb., I would go w/ the 6500 for capacity. If you ever plan on using it for casting spinners or drift fishing, get the 5500, it is much easier to handle. Also, if you buy the Abu, make sure you always back the drag tension off before storage. If left tight for any amount of time you will loose all of your drag adjustment. It will either be on or off.

Lundman · 12-17-2003, 12:50 PM

I also am in the new reel mode and have been doing a little research into the Abu Garica Ambassaduer reels.

I went out to the old standby - Cabelas and was looking at the different models and came acrossed the NEW Abu Garcia C5 reel. It will be available after the 1st of the year.

Price was around $90

Either enter C5 into the Cabelas search tool or
Here is the link:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0017578&navAction=jump&navCount=0&ind exId=&parentId=&parentType=&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas %2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcata log%2Fpod-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=search

It looks like a good reel that might be waiting for. You can backorder the rod/reel combo or wait until after the 1st.

Good Luck

rola76 · 12-17-2003, 01:00 PM

Only problem with that reel is it's only for righties :depressed:

Lure Dragger · 12-17-2003, 01:07 PM

I have had ambassadors for all my fishing years and never had any problems with the drag or anything else. Had one for 25 years and up until the day it was stolen it still cast and worked perfectly. The new ones to me are the easiest casting reel there is, in my opinion.

Tanner · 12-17-2003, 01:21 PM

I am with Lure Dragger. I have been fishing Amasadeur reels for 16 years now and have never experienced a problem with the drags on them. I still have the first 5501 I bought and have caught literally hundreds of chinook and steelhead on it and the only maintenance it has ever seen is a little oil every few years and a good cleaning even less often.

Silver Hilton · 12-17-2003, 01:31 PM

I have a bunch of ambassadeurs as well, and don't think there is a better boat reel for the PNW. The drag washers do compress over time, but so do most drag washers. Store the reels with the drag backed off, and it will last for years. Then when it get's tired, you go by Ollie Damon's, buy a new drag washer for a buck, and the drag is as good as new.

skrimmy · 12-17-2003, 01:44 PM

I have used Ambassadeurs for about 30 years and currently have about a dozen of them. Never learned about the trick of backing off the drag until a couple years ago. That probably explains the one drag I did have to replace this year, but that reel was a dozen years old by then. Great reel, especially for the money.

dampainter · 12-17-2003, 02:45 PM

I have asked around on the same thing....I bank fish alot and throw 2oz weight with my spinners, was told that if you want to really chuck it out there to get a 6500 cs rocket it is one of abu`s farthest casting reels, I guess they use them in casting tournaments. I went off a little and bought two!....one from australia, than I found out about a dealer on the east coast(hatterasoutfitters.com) cost me at both places 135.00. I have had a chance to play with them and OH YEAH!!! I suppose if someone wanted one (brand new in the box), I would trade one of these for a drift fishing reel that I have been eyeballing, the curado bsf? not sure that is correct, anyway the new one that is out...deal anyone?? send me an email.

The Bloodletter · 12-17-2003, 03:24 PM

Whoa Guys!!!!
I think awoke the sleeping Abu Dragons! I didn't mean that Abu drags were crap. They are very durable. I have just found that after a hundred or so blistering coho and steelhead runs, they tend to loose their smoothness. Like when a fish takes off they kind of jerk a little bit rather than pay out line smoothly. Judging by the fact that I have a half dozen of them, I think they're alright.

Rdfish52 · 12-17-2003, 03:48 PM

Hey- I'm onboard for Abu,20+ yrs, BUT the drag is a maintenance problem. Not water or oil friendly, but regular replacement is a good thing. Backing off is a must for all reels. My motto is come or bleed,so I'm heavy on the drag. Ultimately you get what you pay for "sometimes". My vote Calcutta 251 loaded with 65# whiplash, or similar Dia. line for Columbia deep water.

Silver Hilton · 12-17-2003, 04:21 PM

Bloodletter, take those reels that are jerking, and dissassemble them, clean the drag gear faces with acetone, and reassemble with new drag washers, and life will be bueno again.

weekend warrior · 12-17-2003, 04:24 PM

Rola this is the same problem I run into. If Shimano would just make a calcutta 401 it would solve all my problems.
If you want something that is functional the abu 5501 or 6501 will work(I prefer the 5501). Make sure you get it with a clicker also. One of my 5501's doesn't have one. I thought it was standard.
Just remeber if you buy that abu it will not even come close to how nice and smooth your curado and calais are.

Later Geoff

Corkie Monster · 12-17-2003, 04:38 PM

6500 C-4. A little more $$ than the C-3 but it has the bait clicker.

CM

salmurai · 12-17-2003, 04:44 PM

Rola 76, For a rod as nice as a TH, I would put a Calcutta 300 TE on it.
Weekend Warrior, Shimano makes a 401 but it's a TE.
Before the rest of you ABU lovers jump on me, I've got a new 6500C and I've worn out a 6000C and am planning on sending it to the Reelmeister as soon as I can scrape up the $75.00 :shocked: for the rebuild with all the upgrades. Yes, I know I can go out and buy a C3 for less money but it won't be as s-m-o-o-t-h as my old one when the reelmeister gets done with it. Has anyone tried smooth drags or the super smoothies in their ABUs?

salmurai · 12-17-2003, 04:47 PM

CM, I think the C3 has a clicker. It is the grey plastic sliding thing on the edge of the side plate.....

Spooled · 12-17-2003, 05:19 PM

If you are using it only to pull plugs or diver and bait, the Shimano LC1500 is the only way to go. I have 3 as well as 12 ABU/Garcia reels. The ABU are great reels, but the Shimano with the line counters are the way to go on plug rods. They have the line counter for plugging as well as a super smooth drag. They can handle both Salmon and Steelhead. Once you have one on a plug rod, you won't want anything else.

weekend warrior · 12-17-2003, 05:53 PM

Salmurai, Yeah I know about the 401 TE, I've been eye balling one myself for spinner fishing for fallies. I didn't suggest it because Rola 76 said it was going to be a boat rod and I figured that would be a waste if he got a TE.

Later Geoff

rola76 · 12-17-2003, 11:11 PM

With the big holiday arriving, the Mrs. is getting me a new rod and reel!!

She's getting me a new TH rod for plugging, and want some input on what you "pros" think would be best for 7'10" rod. I'll mainly use it for salmon on rivers such as the Klickitat, Columbia, and Cowlitz.

Thanks in advance.

RichH · 12-17-2003, 11:55 PM

abu 6500 or 6501. Good line capacity for the big rivers and enough drag to keep you happy. Also, the price is nice, I wouldn't spend the $$ needed for a higher end reel if you're only planning to use it for plugging.

Lure Dragger · 12-17-2003, 11:58 PM

I my opinion the best reel you can get is the ambassador 5500 or the 6500 and I like the left handed retrieve the best. As far as a rod goes I have 4 of them I have two shimanos, one a 8 1/2 foot and the other is a 10 1/2 foot. I use them for salmon and steelhead with 12 pound test line. Fairly inexpensive but I really like the feel of them and I don't think you have to spend a ton of money on a rad or reel to get a good one. Besides, it just gives you a lot more money to spend on wiggle warts and other stuff.

reelmeister · 12-18-2003, 05:03 AM

You definitely can't go wrong with the choices from ABU or Shimano mentioned. One thing to consider is that if you look at reels for the long term, ABU reels are tough to beat. I have been upgrading 20-25 year old Ambassadeurs to more modern spec for awhile now and they have all the great qualities of the older reels plus the smoothness of more current models. Shimano reels are great, but parts for older ones are tough to find, if not impossible.

Now having said that, be careful about buying "House Brand" reels from Cabelas or BPS. I don't service them because parts are impossible to find. They change spec every year and even manufacturer, so if they are not under warranty, you're out of luck. So even if they are less expensive initially, they are nothing but paper weights in the long run.

Just food for thought.

Al

Pete · 12-18-2003, 05:36 AM

They aren't as popular as the Calcuttas, but for the same money, the Penn 965 is bulletproof. I would consider it before you make a decision.

Thumper · 12-18-2003, 05:38 AM

I don't think anyone mentioned the single best reason for using an Ambassadeur for plugging --- the fact that the line guide moves as the line is let out. That lets you keep your plugs the same distance out.

drhall99 · 12-19-2003, 01:36 PM

Abu TCS. Basically a 6500 or 6501 on mild steroids and they look cool. A little expensive, though.

rustyl · 12-19-2003, 01:54 PM

Are any of you familiar with the Abu Garcia CB reels (5600/5601/6600/6601)? Cabelas and GI Joes are bundling a these rods with some kind of pole.

I'm tempted, but I suspect the rod is junk (I really don't know) and I'm not familiar with the reels.

reel guru · 12-21-2003, 12:03 AM

Rola,
Little late on this post but, hopefully I can put in my 2 cents. I work on reels every day and would definately steer you towards Shimano reels. The newer Garcia's have part# 10271 drags which are thin and wear out prematurely. For a little more money than the standard Garcia you could get a 401 Catala with a greased drag system. It is much smother and has a fewer problems than Garcia's in general. I work at Ollie's and I see more reels than most people, as well as their problems. -Ryan

reelmeister · 12-21-2003, 12:44 AM

Just to set the record straight, the recent model abu reels use part number 20907 drag washers, not 10271. Those are for models from the early 80's and before. The reason I bring this up is that when one compares drag performance, _one_ factor you should look at is the surface area of the drag stack. With three 20907 washers, the abu reels mentioned in this thread hold their own against most other reels in their class. Again, the trick is to keep them bone dry for smooth performance. And yes, they do wear out. They should be replaced once a year for most people. If that's too often, you might consider smoooth drag washers, they are more durable though more expensive.

Al

[ 12-22-2003, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: reelmeister ]

damoperator · 12-21-2003, 12:55 AM

6501c3 Has a clicker and is on sale at Joes for 64.95 now. I just picked one up [wife caught me] now I need a new rod. damoperator