Abu Garcia C3 Question

[Musky_Fever]

Hello everyone,

 

I currently have a Cardiff 300 and I'm considering the Abu Ambassadeur C3 (round reel) for a musky rod (I'm gonna go w/ Gander Mountain's musky rod).  The C3s come in 4600, 5500, 6500 models and I was just wondering which of the C3 models is about the same size as the Cardiff 300.

 

Is the drag system good?  How would you compare the Cardiff 300 w/ the C3?

 

Would you go with the model a bit bigger than the Cardiff 300 for musky, striper, big cats?

 

Cheers and thanks to all that reply.

 

Vic

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I use c3 in all sizes .drags are fine for musky.4600 for bass and 5000 size for saltwater.i use my 6500 sizes for live bait.If u ask me the 5500 size is fine for lures and musky even though i dont do musky..i assume they are like my stripers .you will be glad u have a abu it will last your lifetime and a few more.btw i have used a cardiff its nothing compared to a abu.IMO

[tholmes]

If I'm not mistaken, the 5500C3 will be the closest in size to the Cardiff 300. The new models of the 5500C3 have carbon fiber drags and are well-built, rugged reels. I've only owned one Cardiff and, while it was a good reel, I prefer the Abu reels because, for me, they are much easier to take down for routine cleaning, lube and maintenance. 

 

I've used a 5000C to take stripers up to 35 lbs. and flatheads up to 50 lbs. and never felt like I was over matched.

 

Tom

[BASSPATROL247]

Agree with all above posts, swedish made round abu's are the best round reels there are..i beleive the C3's have 12lb drags on them but for fishing where casting lures is involved id spend the extra 20 bucks or so and get a C4 or other model with the thumbar apposed to the C3's push button i guess you could call it as you only use one hand to disengage the clutch insted of two for the C3.. take halfway good care of it and your kids can use them their whole lives...god i love those reels

[Allen Der]

I'd go with a low profile reel like the Okuma Citrix 350 or Komodo 350 with an Okuma EVX musky rod.  very few people are still using the round Abu's anymore for musky fishing

[Musky_Fever]

"...very few people are still using the round Abu's anymore for musky fishing."

 

 

Just curious...is there a reason for this.

[Allen Der]

Just curious...is there a reason for this.

same reasons guys dont use round reels for bass fishing anymore.  low profile are smaller, more comfortable, easier to use, lighter, faster gear ratios.  most guys are using abu revo toros, shimano curados and tranx, diawa lexa 300 and 400, and the okuma komodo 350 and citrix 350.  you can hold plenty of 80lb braid on those reels.  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I havent noticed this at all ..

[tholmes]

same reasons guys dont use round reels for bass fishing anymore.  low profile are smaller, more comfortable, easier to use, lighter, faster gear ratios.  most guys are using abu revo toros, shimano curados and tranx, diawa lexa 300 and 400, and the okuma komodo 350 and citrix 350.  you can hold plenty of 80lb braid on those reels.  

 

Some of us guys still use 'em and find them more comfortable than low-profile reels.      ​ 

 

Tom

[hatrix]

same reasons guys dont use round reels for bass fishing anymore. low profile are smaller, more comfortable, easier to use, lighter, faster gear ratios. most guys are using abu revo toros, shimano curados and tranx, diawa lexa 300 and 400, and the okuma komodo 350 and citrix 350. you can hold plenty of 80lb braid on those reels.

I don't know who is using a Lexa 400. Those things are insanely big and heavy. I couldnt imagine holding it and casting one all day. If shaq needed a swimbait reel that's the one he would use.

[Allen Der]

I havent noticed this at all ..

probably because you live in Maryland and not Musky country

 

 

Some of us guys still use 'em and find them more comfortable than low-profile reels.      ​ 

 

Tom

you must have giant hands or you dont palm the reel if you prefer round over LP

 

I don't know who is using a Lexa 400. Those things are insanely big and heavy. I couldnt imagine holding it and casting one all day. If shaq needed a swimbait reel that's the one he would use.

 

they are used for Musky, never said anything about bass.  The Tranx is even bigger than the Lexa 400 at 20oz and the Tranx is the gold standard of Musky reels right now for burning double 10 bucktails

 

 

 

[Crestliner2008]

I've been an Ambassadeur fan for many, many years. Still have my original 5000 Red reel which I puchased back in the mid-60's. Have 4 others now, including a 6500C which I use on a Musky rod for large swimbaits, bass, pike & striper fishing. Love the big round reels. I'd recommend the larger capacity for your purpose. The 6500 fits the bill nicely. I have mine filled with 25 lb. test Triple Fish Perlon monofilament. It casts heavy baits extraordinarily well....up to 3 oz. lures used regularly with this rig. Very comfortable to cast with all day long.  No problems....no worries.

[tholmes]

 

you must have giant hands or you dont palm the reel if you prefer round over LP

 

 

I do have hands about the size of coal shovels but, more important, they're about as flexible as coal shovels too.   I can comfortably palm a 5600C, but most low profile reels are uncomfortable for me after a couple of hours. 

 

Tom

[Tim Kelly]

I'd get the 6500 size if I were you. You will probably be using 80-100lb braid and the line level drops more dramatically on the smaller sized reels, which means your retrieve speed is significantly reduced at the beginning of the retrieve with smaller reels. I ended up using ABU 7000 reels for their strength and spool size, but the 6500 is a good compromise size.