Help Me Spend Some $

[drew4779]

So I've got about $100 left on a bps gift card my daughters got me for xmas and am looking for an opinion on what to get. I've long ago surpassed the want vs need threshold and have already re-stocked my tackle box for spring. As many of the regulars on this site, I too have an acute addition for casting reels and have been eye-balling an Abu Garcia C4. I would like a reel that versatile enough for hooking into musky or striper but isn't too much for bass that I will be targeting 95% of time. I like that the C4 has many upgrades available (give me something to do while I await spring) and my current round reel has seen better days. Am I asking too much for a reel to cover a wide range of fish?

Full disclosure: my main reel is a chronarch E7. I know this isn't an apples to apples comparison but will I be greatly disappointed with the C4?

Any other suggestions?

[skeletor6]

The Chronarch E7 is an excellent reel. IMHO the best sub $200 reel retail. Unfortunately, the Abu Garcia C4 is a reel in a whole different ballpark. Its frame is far different from the Chronarchs and to compare the two side by side is not fair to either reel.. Whether you will be satisfied or not will be completely subjective to you individually.My opinion is that ff you go into the C4 expecting the performance of the E7 you will probably be disappointed, but the C4 is half the price so rightfully so.

[drew4779]

I understand that. I sort of baby the chronarch. I wouldn't subject it to the rigors of fighting a 40lbs musky (right or wrong). I guess I'm looking for more of work horse I wouldn't mind abusing a little. Casting distance is important to me. How's the C4 cast?

Maybe I should just save the gift card for June when all my jigs are wedged under rocks on the bottom of the creek.

[Kevinator1]

I understand that. I sort of baby the chronarch. I wouldn't subject it to the rigors of fighting a 40lbs musky (right or wrong). I guess I'm looking for more of work horse I wouldn't mind abusing a little. Casting distance is important to me. How's the C4 cast? Maybe I should just save the gift card for June when all my jigs are wedged under rocks on the bottom of the creek.

I don't know.....If you get the C4 it will probably only last a hundred years...LOL.....I think the C4 would be a great choice for muskies. It's a workhorse.

[retiredbosn]

The C4 is a tank, stick with weights 3/8 and above, you will find it is a great caster. They just hold too much line to handle light weights, assuming a 5600 size. You said your old round reel is about wore out, if its an old Ambassadeur I think you will find it inexpensive to restore, you just can't wear one out. I have two Abu round reels the EXT Pro, 5600 size one is on my frog rod, the other is all purpose, I've caught many LM with mine, I can throw as light as 1/4 oz on these. At one time all I had were round reels, C3's C4's and the EXT's perfectly suited for most freshwater fish IMO. Not as refined as some but work horses nonetheless

[tbone1993]

The Revo winch should suit your purpose well . The only problem is that it is a 5:4 gear ratio which is not ideal for high speed applications like jigs. 

[tbone1993]

Ontop of that I know someone that uses a toro winch for fishing musky and also throwing alabama rigs and swimbaits.

[fowlskies]

I can tell you that I love my C3 and if you are looking for a workhorse reel that you're not afraid to abuse and that can easily take the abuse then I would pull the trigger on that C4.

 

I have no problems with distance on my C3 and the C4 being an upgraded C3 I don't think you'll have a problem, it probably won't cast like your Chronarch (I don't own one to compare) but I can't imagine you'll be disappointed.  I would think you'll be using it for larger baits for stripers, pike and musky anyway and when used for bass use 3/8 oz lures and above.  I don't think twice casting 1/4 oz lures with mine.

[MarkH024]

I use my C4 6400 for musky fishing only. The stock handle is much too small in my opinion to throw large musky lures.  I haven't used that reel in a while but I will be getting a bigger handle for it.  I would only use that for bass fishing if I were throwing large swimbaits. Casts great.......if you're throwing 3/8 + like mentioned above.  Not great if you're below that.

 

My other Musky/bass reel is a Curado 300 DSV. I use that to throw smaller buck tails or jerkbaits as well as occasionally frogging with it for bass. It's one of my favorite reels for sure. Super smooth and casts a mile.

 

I also have a Curado and a Chronarch. Both will reel in decent sized musky. I wouldn't intentionally fish for musky with them, but they will get them in or to the boat. I'd go with the Chronarch. It's a beautiful little reel. I love mine.