Black Max Reels

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I bought ProMax 1600's and 3600's on Ebay for $50-80 3-5 years ago and a BM 3600 for $40. Prices do seem to have risen since then. Frankly, I can't tell much performance difference between the BM and the PM 3600. Both are tight, smooth, and strong. The BM looks a lot better than the scarred up PM's I find on Ebay - if that's an issue (not for me).

Exactly looks dont matter me either ill buy a beat up, bent handle star drag,no id marks, rashed on any garcia i find

[Jsnider88]

I've got a black max 2 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with mine. I love it! I fish it with stren 12 pound mono, and before that I used 14. I only got 12 because academy didn't have anymore 14, but that's besides the point. So many people put that reel down, and it's never done me wrong. I can cast a mile with it. The brakes work good, and the drag works perfect. The only thing about that reel is that it hates braid. That's why I use mono. I also had a pro max, but one of my buddies had always wanted one, and said he'd trade me a shimano caenan for it. So I traded him for it because I figured I'd like to try a shimano. I've got a blue max that works perfect as well. And my grandpa has two silver max reels that he swears by

[BobP]

If we're talking about great reels, I personally think the Pro Max and Black Max reels qualify.  I'm generally a Shimano low profile reel guy.  But you can put blue or black brake blocks on a 1600 or 3600 Max reel, loosen the cast control knob until there's a slight bit of side play in the spool, and bomb long casts all day long with minimal thumbing and nary a backlash.  Try that with a low profile Shimano!  There's just something about the configuration of spool vs line guide vs frame vs centrifugal brakes on a Max reel that makes them real workhorses. And the construction quality on the Max is excellent. 

[Flukeman]

I have several of the 3600's I am going to put back into service. Where are you guys getting your upgrade parts?

 

Thanks

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I have a dozen of these 1600s 3600 5600 and one 6600 i love my pro maxes and black maxs and my s .they are very cast freindly and like was said little workhorses

[Jolly Green]

Fat fingers, you know?

Reckon a 1500, 2500, 3500/3600, or even a 4500/4600 would fit me?

On a 4600 I thumb the left edge of the spool along with the line. I can thumb the line in the middle of the spool on a 5000 but my thumb grabs both sides of a 4600 spool if I try to thumb the middle.

[oldschoolbasser]

Josh,,he round Black Max's are a good little reel,but I would rather have the 1500-2500C's. They're easier to work on,lots of upgrades available, and a blast to fish with! One of the best finesse reels around.

[Josh Smith]

I'm looking at the 1500 series.  I'd like to try to mate it to a medium-light rod; should be interesting.

 

Problem is that I keep coming across killer deals on 5000-size Ambassadeurs.  I was looking at reels on eBay and that night, I was contacted here by someone with a killer deal on a 5500c3 and another reel.

 

I simply couldn't pass that up!

 

So, I'm saving again for a 1500c...

 

Josh

[Maxximus Redneckus]

The 5000 size reels are everywhere im a 4600 size guy and all i find and buy are 5000 .they are like a 350 chevy

[Flukeman]

Can any of you guys tell me what sets the Morrums of the various sizes apart from their basic counterparts? I am tweaking several 3600 Black Maxs and wonder if I am just better off saving for the Morrums instead. Ebay generally produces $40 3600 Black Maxes and the same in a Morrum Goes from $100 to $150 if you search real well. I like tinkering, but it is not hard to drop another $30-$50 on upgrading a basic 3600.

 

Thanks

[oldschoolbasser]

Morrums are the Top of The Line round Ambassadeurs! Light,smooth,and a pleasure to fish with! I just picked up the ZPI tuned AE74 UM S2 Limited Edition, can't wait to try it out.

[fisherrw]

Why settle for a "decent cheap reel" when you could buy a "gently used" GREAT reel

for about the same price or just a few dollars more? I see Shimano Citica offered quite

often in our Flea Market for $65-$75.

Here is another that lists for about $90 new, but with a little effort might be found on the

internet in the $60 range: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/Pinnacle-Producer-LTE-review.html

I TOTALLY agree

[fisherrw]

The 5000 size reels are everywhere im a 4600 size guy and all i find and buy are 5000 .they are like a 350 chevy

Did you sell all your reels that you had for sale?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Did you sell all your reels that you had for sale?

no its was a aprilfools ,,cabin fever butbif u have any 4600s to trade fro some 5500-5600s let me know

[Bassakwards]

I still have my black max 3600 from 1995 new from Kmart my wife bought me for my 28th birthday and it is still one of my favorite reels !I love the way everything lines up and fits like a vault.when I got my new Revo stx (1st gen) I let my youngest son practice casting with the bm and I was using my new revo and he consistently out casted me by at least 5 yards !

[Josh Smith]

Holy thread resurrection! ?

[Goose52]

4 hours ago, Josh Smith said:

Holy thread resurrection! ?

So, it's been a year; how many Black Max round reels, or even better, 1500C / 2500C reels, did you buy?   

[Josh Smith]

2 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

So, it's been a year; how many Black Max round reels, or even better, 1500C / 2500C reels, did you buy?   

None.  Got a 4600c3 instead for a song, and it does exactly what I need it to do!

Josh

[Goose52]

4 minutes ago, Josh Smith said:

None.  Got a 4600c3 instead for a song, and it does exactly what I need it to do!

Josh

Excellent - especially since that means I haven't been competing with you on eBay auctions for 1500/2500 reels. Less competition is good...

[Josh Smith]

1 minute ago, Goose52 said:

Excellent - especially since that means I haven't been competing with you on eBay auctions for 1500/2500 reels. Less competition is good...

I generally just go for the "buy it now" stuff if I think it's worth it.  If I place a bid, it means I can do without it!

Josh

[Caliyak]

On 2/9/2015 at 8:13 PM, hoosierhawghunter said:

I have a black max 2 and im waiting to meet someone I don't like and give it to them

You hate me a lot. 

[primetime]

I used to work at a fishing shop that would sell alot of refurbished reels and many were Black Max reels and other Abu Garcia and Pfueger Reels for the most part...

I have gone with the Silver Max since they are the same price, and I have been amazed at how much I like them and can't believe how much abuse they can take...I will also say that we rarely had a Black Max come back with issues, they get the job done...It is one of the best reels in the price range for sure....

Some of the best fisherman I have been paired up with or Met, have fished inexpensive gear, they didn't know much about what reels were new or popular, but they could flat out catch fish....Best guy I fished with had Shakespeare Baitcasters and used Triple Fish Silicone Line and he was a Winner.....Its not the gear you fish, it is how you fish it....If you take care of your stuff, you can make a reel last a long time. I still have a Pinnacle Inertia that is 10 years old and a few Gander Mountain Cheap Reals that work fine and I am rough on my tackle. I do own high end reels, but I often reach for the Silver Max, and lately a Daiwa Laguna I found for $30....

[Raul]

On 8 de febrero de 2015 at 3:04 PM, Josh Smith said:

Hi Folks,

 

I'm researching the Black Max reels.

 

I had a Black Max 2.  I hated it and traded it to someone on here for a 5000c (which I love!)

 

Looking around, it looks like there were two other reels of the Black Max name.

 

One is a round reel, looks like a 3500 or so size..?

 

The next one, the Black Max "1", appears to be a standard low-profile of the late '90s or so.  Some pics I'm seeing say "made in the USA."

 

Can anyone tell me about these first two reels?

 

Thanks,

 

Josh

I used to own a low profile Black Max 2 from the 90´s which I got by mistake, I ordered a BM and goy a BM2, it was the larger version of the Black Max. It´s a good reel that has lasted me a lot until I gave it to my compadre ( my SIL´s husband which is my fishing partner ) when he started with the idea of fishing with a BC reel, he has it and works perfectly, it has the flipping switch in the rear part of the thumbar;  Identical to this one with a big 2 printed right next to Max.