With Today's Bass Fishing Technology, Is There Any Place For An Old School Reel Other Than Cool Factor?

[Daniel Lin]

Went by the pawn shop again today, found that someone pawned off a bunch of old school Abu and Abu Garcia Ambassadeurs on decent rods, all going for about $40-$50.

 

One in particular caught my eye, a Garcia Ambassadeur 5000 ("Product of ABU Sweden") on a 6'6" MH (probably M by today's standards) Fenwick Eagle for $45. I almost impulse bought it, but in terms of rod power and length, it's totally redundant in context of what I already have. But, that ABU signature Red. So attractive.

 

I don't want to accidentally get in the business of collecting reels that will never be fished again, so I ask: What sort of applications could I apply such a rod/reel to? In comparison to modern reels, how do they differ compared to what I'm currently using? Is there a checklist of things I should refer to when inspecting an older round reel before purchase?

[chris55552]

I recently fished an old abu Garcia 5000 "red" off the bottom of the lake, apparently the water protected the reel from rust.  I cleaned it up, lubricated it and im currently using it just as much as my newer reels and im pretty happy with it.  Great reel, more powerful, more open so I use it primarily for spinnerbaits and jigs matched up with a 7' MH all star graphite rod.

[chris55552]

I would simply make sure the worm gear and pawl work correctly before purchasing, it wouldn't cost much to fix either of the two but that's two less things you will need to fix if they are working correctly.  Im hearing lots of stories that older rods and reels are quickly becoming collectable antiques so hang on to what you got.

[Daniel Lin]

I recently fished an old abu Garcia 5000 "red" off the bottom of the lake, apparently the water protected the reel from rust.  I cleaned it up, lubricated it and im currently using it just as much as my newer reels and im pretty happy with it.  Great reel, more powerful, more open so I use it primarily for spinnerbaits and jigs matched up with a 7' MH all star graphite rod.

So basically what you're saying is, decent power cranking reel with free rod for $45?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The ambassadors are built like tanks. They have a high line capacity making them a good choice for throwing big swim baits and musky spinners, bait fishing for catfish, all kinds of apps

[Fisher-O-men]

I have a few that I use mainly for the salt.  They cast like a dream and when a fish is running you have to look at the spool to tell if drag is being taken.  The clicker on the 6000 series make them perfect for the Cats!

[Daniel Lin]

I have a few that I use mainly for the salt.  They cast like a dream and when a fish is running you have to look at the spool to tell if drag is being taken.  The clicker on the 6000 series make them perfect for the Cats!

I'm pretty sure the 5000 I had in my hands today had a drag clicker?

 

[new2BC4bass]

Wow.  Nice looking reel.  I have an old black 5001C.  Never used it cause I couldn't learn to cast it.  Didn't know the first thing about baitcast reels, didn't know anyone using one, and Internet wasn't invented by Al Gore yet.  Spooled it up with some 17# mono (after installing the plastic arbor) a few weeks ago.  I'm sure cleaning out the old dried grease and re-lubing would be a big help, but it still cast very well.  I don't care for the small handle though.  That reel has quite a bit larger handle.  Not as easy to work as a reel with a thumb bar, but I can live with that. 

 

I'm thinking I need to start catfishing so I'll have a valid reason to keep it. 

[Fisher-O-men]

I'm pretty sure the 5000 I had in my hands today had a drag clicker?

 

That is a much older reel than any I have.  If it has a clicker it is not in the same place as the 6000 series.  It would be a slide switch on the edge of the left side, just below the blue and yellow squares.

[Bluebasser86]

They make great muskie and pike reels, or for tossing big baits for bass. I use a newer Abu on one of my flathead rods but I wouldn't want one without a bait clicker. They'll still work, I just have a tendency to fall asleep in the boat when I'm on the river or lake at night fishing for catfish. 

[Fishes in trees]

I'd echo what's been said earlier.  Those reels are ok for throwing lures, but they would be great for cat fishing and other fishing applications as well.  If for a couple of hundred dollars you could get 4 or 5 cat fishing set ups, that would be a good deal.  Later on, you could pair them with some better catfish rods.

 

It seems like a reasonable long term investment in fishing gear to me.  Are all the reels as clean as the one in the picture?

[Josh Smith]

Dude. Buy. It.

I have been working with these more than ever and you would be surprised what they're capable of! Five or six bearings and 50+ yard test casts? Yes, Sir!

If there is a 5500 in there, you might get it instead. Stock 23IPT while the 5000 might need upgraded.

Josh

[tomustang]

Any bigger lure or bigger fish target

[Daniel Lin]

Dude. Buy. It.

I have been working with these more than ever and you would be surprised what they're capable of! Five or six bearings and 50+ yard test casts? Yes, Sir!

If there is a 5500 in there, you might get it instead. Stock 23IPT while the 5000 might need upgraded.

Josh

5500 you say?

 

 

A little more boat rash, the grips are a little bit wobbly, but overall I think it's still ok, although I haven't examined it quite as closely. I also don't know if it has a drag clicker or not. It's definitely also a little more modern than the 5000 I posted earlier. It's on a 6'6" M Castaway of unknown vintage. Is it really worth $80 over $45 though?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The reel itself is worth about $50-$65. It's more a matter if the extra is worth it to you personally.

[BobP]

I've never used an Abu 5000-6000 reel that I enjoyed for bass fishing.  They are good for heavy lures and big fish, and great for trolling but otherwise I prefer a modern design low profile reel. 

[Josh Smith]

Here's some fun stuff:

 

 

This is on my 5500c3.  It's a bearing idler that I lightened.  I find that these things have way too much inertia.

 

 

 

I never liked that little plastic bushing in there.  Too much slop.  A $10 bearing and a couple small skateboard wheel washers work as an excellent replacement.

 

 

The red circles indicate bearing locations.

 

 

I've considered doing these mods on old 5000 and 5500 reels for money; not much, but enough to pay, say, DVT for a couple rods I want built.  I even looked into advertising here, but I wouldn't have anything left since the work is so specialized and I'd limit the number of reels to one per week, anyway.  I just have too much else going on.

 

I might write up a tutorial on how to do this, though.  Reels are not overly hard to work on and lend themselves well to gunsmithing techniques.  My biggest problem was figuring out part numbers or modern equivalents.  For example, back when I was a kid tinkering with this stuff, one could still find faster gears in kits (basically just 5500 gears) for the 5000 to speed up its pokey retrieve.

 

I take a few (well, about 20) years off from serious fishing, and I come to find out they discontinued the pinion gear, and the kits are going for like $45 apiece as collectors' items on eBay!

 

It was quite irritating.

 

I think I have everything figured out again, though. 

 

That old red 5000, by the way, might just get a stainless frame today.  I have one setting here and it's tempting.  Should make it more comfortable, too, as it will convert it from a four-screw (that fourth screw really chafes!) to a three-screw.  Yeah, I think I'll get that stainless reel soaking in some Dawn.

 

Are these reels worth it?  Definitely. 

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[Fisher-O-men]

5500 you say?

 

 

A little more boat rash, the grips are a little bit wobbly, but overall I think it's still ok, although I haven't examined it quite as closely. I also don't know if it has a drag clicker or not. It's definitely also a little more modern than the 5000 I posted earlier. It's on a 6'6" M Castaway of unknown vintage. Is it really worth $80 over $45 though?

Definitely no clicker on that reel, but the line capacity is insane.

[Raul]

No, there´s no room for an old school reel with today´s technology, trash those old school reels.

[tholmes]

I use the round Ambassadeurs almost exclusively. Sure, they're big and heavy, but so am I. Due to having very large hands, and limited flexibility, they just fit me more comfortably than low-profile reels. Plus, they're easy to work on and parts are still available, even for 40 year old models. 

 

My current line up includes: 2 4600C USA Bass, 4600 CI, 4600 C3, ProMax 3600C, 5000, 5000C, 5500C3, 5600 CL Rocket, 5600 WS, 5600 C4 Mag, and a Record 50. 

 

Tom

[Josh Smith]

No, there´s no room for an old school reel with today´s technology, trash those old school reels.

 

Surely you're not serious..?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Surely you're not serious..?

he means send them too me!!!!

[roadwarrior]

I use the round Ambassadeurs almost exclusively. Sure, they're big and heavy, but so am I. Due to having very large hands, and limited flexibility, they just fit me more comfortably than low-profile reels. Plus, they're easy to work on and parts are still available, even for 40 year old models. 

 

My current line up includes: 2 4600C USA Bass, 4600 CI, 4600 C3, ProMax 3600C, 5000, 5000C, 5500C3, 5600 CL Rocket, 5600 WS, 5600 C4 Mag, and a Record 50. 

 

Tom

 

Wow!

 

I can hardly imagine that line-up.

 

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Here's some fun stuff:

 

 

This is on my 5500c3.  It's a bearing idler that I lightened.  I find that these things have way too much inertia.

 

 

 

I never liked that little plastic bushing in there.  Too much slop.  A $10 bearing and a couple small skateboard wheel washers work as an excellent replacement.

 

 

The red circles indicate bearing locations.

 

 

I've considered doing these mods on old 5000 and 5500 reels for money; not much, but enough to pay, say, DVT for a couple rods I want built.  I even looked into advertising here, but I wouldn't have anything left since the work is so specialized and I'd limit the number of reels to one per week, anyway.  I just have too much else going on.

 

I might write up a tutorial on how to do this, though.  Reels are not overly hard to work on and lend themselves well to gunsmithing techniques.  My biggest problem was figuring out part numbers or modern equivalents.  For example, back when I was a kid tinkering with this stuff, one could still find faster gears in kits (basically just 5500 gears) for the 5000 to speed up its pokey retrieve.

 

I take a few (well, about 20) years off from serious fishing, and I come to find out they discontinued the pinion gear, and the kits are going for like $45 apiece as collectors' items on eBay!

 

It was quite irritating.

 

I think I have everything figured out again, though. 

 

That old red 5000, by the way, might just get a stainless frame today.  I have one setting here and it's tempting.  Should make it more comfortable, too, as it will convert it from a four-screw (that fourth screw really chafes!) to a three-screw.  Yeah, I think I'll get that stainless reel soaking in some Dawn.

 

Are these reels worth it?  Definitely. 

 

Regards,

 

Josh

Really a beautiful reel.

[Josh Smith]

Really a beautiful reel.

 

Thank you!

 

I changed the frame to stainless, swapped the gears to something slightly more modern so it's as quiet as my 2014 5500c3, and put some newer line on it as that other stuff was a couple years old.  I did swap the brake plate out while I was at it, just because.

 

 

 

Prettier?

 

What's more, there's just nothing that modern reels can do that this one can't.  It's as smooth as most modern reels, has more bearings than most of them, and I just can't think of anything that I need that this won't provide.

 

Lessee:

 

Retrieve is 23IPT or so.

 

Test casts at 40+ yards.  Practical casts on the lake are 20-30+ yards depending on lure.

 

I can palm it.  I do have large hands, but whatever.

 

There's plenty of blacklash control.  Two small brakes and my thumb do just fine.  On modern reels, if I can't use my thumb, I fix 'em until I can, dangit!

 

I've never been spooled.  There's like 125 or 150 yards of braid on there to play with before it hits the rather substantial (25lb mono) backing.

 

Sure, I have modern stuff.  None of it beats this reel.  I bought the modern stuff so I had a couple more retrieve rates, so I have retrieves of 23IPT, 26IPT, and 30IPT (4.7:1, 5.3:1, and 6.3:1 on round reels of the 5000 size).

 

My retrieve rate doesn't drop that much with these wide spools, either, if I am fishing long distance.

 

This rod and reel have taken many, many bass, a huge buffalo fish, bunches of catfish, and quite a few other fish that I caught while "seeing what was out there" that would have torn many newer bass rigs up... badly.

 

I'm playing with the idea of putting another dog on the anti-reverse, too.  While I don't mind the delay before the dog catches, a second one would provide some redundancy that I appreciate, and it would also provide a faster catch.  Instant anti-reverse still feels kinda' funny to me.

 

It's an idea have that I'll play with if I can find the time to do so.

 

Regards,

 

Josh