Why Are The Old "round" Baitcasters Still Popular?

[oldschoolbasser]

Violet and Pink. BTW I buld both bushing and bearing reels.I actually like bushing reels for jigs and blades.My largest bass came on a bushing reel, so there's a lot of sentiment behind those builds.

[John G]

You guys are great!!! Thanks for the links and the advice!

[oldschoolbasser]

No problem John,if you need any help let me know.

[John G]

No problem John,if you need any help let me know.

Will do!

[new2BC4bass]

Violet and Pink.IMG_20140301_085751.jpg

I am sorry, but you must be color blind.  What you are calling Pink is obviously Red...at least to me. 

 

I will say that once you posted both I can see that what I thought was Pink isn't.

 

Now that I have a list of what to buy for cleaning reels I need to get started on my Black Max 1600s before it warms up enough to get out.  Need to install the Carbontex drags and the one set of upgraded bearings I have.  I have 2 of the same brand and model of rod so I can compare the bearing upgraded reel against a factory bearing reel to see what kind of improvement the bearings make.

[dinneronastring]

Looks like fine jewelery.

 

 

Technology has moved right along including Round Reels,thus making them fun to fish with.They palm very easily and probably are a little deceptive when you look at them from that aspect. With a recessed reel foot they do lay down real sweet onto the rod making them very comfortable to cast with. From the 50 up to the 300 they all have a home in my quiver....I would suggest you try one and see for yourself...The Round Ones minus a few.

[Blues19]

I had never used a round baitcaster until 2 years ago. Was in a tournament with my uncle, almost over and I had broken a jig off so I grabbed his calcutta and on the second pitch I caught a 3 lber. We had to take off to the weigh in right after.  I really liked the round baitcaster. Felt sooooooooo solid. Hes had that reel for a long time too, crazy to see how long it has lasted

[Hooked_On_Bass]

I almost prefer the feel of a 51/101 sized round reel over LP.

The Shimano Conquest is my favourite reel.

[OK Bass Hunter]

Because they work and last forever.

http://m.flickr.com/photos/10418967@N05/13245322373/

[John G]

This little beauty will be my next purchase.

 

Shimano Ocea Calcutta 200HG

 

90mm Handle and a 6.7:1 gear ratio.

 

[Bankbeater]

I have several round abu's, the newest is about 11 years old. 

[.RM.]

12 bearings, swept carbon fiber handle, lightweight line guide,and cog wheel, Carbontex drag washers, bearing supported drive shaft, cog wheel, and worm gear. Custom light weight frame, side plates, and star drag wheel, Supertuned,my most radical Ambassadeur to date...............BTW one of my Alltime favorite Ambassadeurs is my "81" 4600 AL. 2 bushings, no bearings or upgrades. Bone stock,but one of the smoothest reels around.

Yup the oldman does have a great collection of tru classic round reels, all serviced by guess who...

I think the OP was asking about the classic round (70's - 80's all which have the raised emblem), of which the shimano round line are not.....

 

Tight Lines!

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Agree with all the folks above. As John said, they are classics, and they are FUN to fish with.  Would I fish exclusively with round reels? Not necessarily; there are lots of tools in the box to enjoy, both low-profile and round BC reels,...but I DO have a fondness for the round reels.

 

Now, if only a 50 or 100 size round reel had an IPT of around 26 to 28"...I could fish with round reels only...

 

I see a Calcutta TE DC!!! That is a pretty reel.

[FD.]

I'm an Abu guy. I still have  5500 C3's in my lineup. Mind you, they are 20+ years old. I don't know how the new round reels compare. 

 

 

Yep, my 5500 C3's are around 10 years old and are my favorite snook and redfish reels.  Tons of power and indestructable.

[BillBrett]

Around 2006 I taught myself to use a bait casting reel using (relatively heavy) Penn Squidders to fish for striped bass in salt water. Shortly thereafter I discovered high end Abu Garcia Morrum reels and Shimano Calcutta reels (including the Japan Domestic Model Conquest series). Now, 12 years later, I'm fishing fresh water for large mouth bass and salt water using bait casting reels almost all the time. My spinning reels are in retirement.

I must admit I don't understand the appeal of low profile reels. Both round reels and low profile reels use the same round (cylindrical) spools and the line comes off the top of the spool. What is the difference between a low profile reel and a round reel? Mechanically they seem identical to me but cosmetically they look very different. What am I missing?

[Deleted account]

For larger lures, heavier lines and the required capacity round reels are just a better choice, some of the recent giant LP reels are silliness personified.

[NHBull]

I hate it when I read a full page before I realize it was started in 2014, but it was a good read.....again

[new2BC4bass]

29 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I hate it when I read a full page before I realize it was started in 2014, but it was a good read.....again

Yup.  During this time of year one of the first things I look at is the date of the original post.  Lots of times they are still good reading, but some are about gear or problems that were no doubt solved years ago.  Anyone needing more information should start a new thread.  It would make me feel better. 

[Boomstick]

The old style round baitcasters tend to have more line capacity, and in many cases many more drag as well. You will never see people fishing for large saltwater fish and large catfish and other large species using a low profile reel, it's always a large baitcaster or a massive spinning reel.

[Big-Bass]

Here are some of mine...the 4600C and the 2500C are custom made and the 6000 is all original that I found at a flea market and was produced between 1959-1961.

I still would like a custom Turquoise blue one with gold/silver accents and pearl handle as well!  

[Crestliner2008]

Well, some of you folks know me well enough by now that you'd expect a response. I happen to be a long time fan of Ambassadeur line of BC reels. Started using them in the early 70's. I've bought 6 over the years, most being variations on the 5000 size; but one exception that I really love is the 6500-C, that casts 1 - 3 oz. swimbaits like a dream on an old Cabelas "musky" rod.

 

Two of my earlier models have been handed down to my grandkids who use them regularly - and just as effectively as I have over my many decades of use. Still have/use 4 of them, one being the 6500. I don't know, you can spend a awful lot of money on "higher-end" baitcasters, but I do not believe that I am limited in any way, performance wise. I've fished with a lot of guys. Many scoffed at my old reels. But they never showed me anything that they could do, that I couldn't do equally as well. Now that being said, if you using one of these higher end reels gives you the confidence to fish better, then by all means, more power to you. Confidence is the name of the game.

 

BTW, they ARE built like tanks too!

 

[Columbia Craw]

23 minutes ago, Big-Bass said:

Here are some of mine...the 4600C and the 2500C are custom made and the 6000 is all original that I found at a flea market and was produced between 1959-1961.

I still would like a custom Turquoise blue one with gold/silver accents and pearl handle as well!  

 

Very pretty colonel, very pretty...but can they fight ?

[Big-Bass]

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

 

Very pretty colonel, very pretty...but can they fight ?

Yes sir!

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

Very pretty colonel, very pretty...but can they fight ?

I rebuilt a 2500 for a customer.  The "test fish" was a little 9 lb. steelhead.  Reel worked like a champ.

[Vilas15]

7 hours ago, reason said:

For larger lures, heavier lines and the required capacity round reels are just a better choice, some of the recent giant LP reels are silliness personified.

My Lexa 400 is more comfortable to palm, has a faster retrieve, and has better braking than my Abu Ambassadeur 6500. Those are the advantages I've found that make big LowPros worth it. I enjoy both.