Abu C3 Baitcaster

[Tucson]

I've had an Abu C3 bait caster for several years because I always wanted one when I was a kid.  How do these reels perform relative to the newer class of bait casters from, say, Shimano, Lew's, or Okuma?  I've never used one of the newer reels and just wondered how differently they perform.

[mprestonSEK]

What size c3 do you have? C3s are good solid reels that have been around so long for a reason. They are fully capable of doing everything a low profile baitcaster can do. Now that I've given my respects to the c3s, the new reels from any of the companies you listed will outperform the c3s overall. Especially when casting weights 3/8 and under. You also have options on gear ratios for different techniques. 

[Crestliner2008]

I've used the Ambassadeurs for over 45 years. Never had a need to go more expensive, or to any other brand. The very first one I bought was just recently passed down to one of my grandsons. So, yeah, it's about as good as it gets.

BTW: I've been in many, many boats, with a lot of good fishermen, using quite a variety of baitcasting reels. No one has ever done anything, with any of them (regardless of price) that I couldn't do. Just remember one thing. You cannot "buy" success.

 

[Josh Smith]

2 hours ago, Tucson said:

I've had an Abu C3 bait caster for several years because I always wanted one when I was a kid.  How do these reels perform relative to the newer class of bait casters from, say, Shimano, Lew's, or Okuma?  I've never used one of the newer reels and just wondered how differently they perform.

I like to build mine into custom-for-application.  For example, my c3 models now have all bearings, and one has faster-than-stock gears.

I have big hands so they palm well for me.

In my opinion, they outperform most modern reels in everything but weight.  They are of a design which has been evolving since 1953-1954.

Regards,

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Those reels are built like a tank and will do anything a new low profile reel will do except for the lightest baits and of course the weight difference. I know a goodtournament fishermen that has nothing but c3 & c4 reels on deck 

[Josh Smith]

48 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Those reels are built like a tank and will do anything a new low profile reel will do except for the lightest baits and of course the weight difference. I know a goodtournament fishermen that has nothing but c3 & c4 reels on deck 

I am throwing some pretty light lures using a 4600c3 (modified).  I do believe the lightest I've thrown with it is 1/4oz, but the limit is in the rod, not the reel.  Or, I should say, I've not tried going any lighter.

The lure I'm thinking of is a soft plastic jerkbait/swimbait/whatever, and I can throw it 20-30 yards, which is generally more than is needed.

Regards,

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Yup the bearing supported level wind makes a huge difference in what the c3 can handle. Under 3/8 is spinning territory for me usually anyway. 

[Bankbeater]

I have two of them.  One gets used for punching, and the other for fishing C-rigs.  If you are not use to them they can seem heavy at first.

[Tucson]

On January 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM, mprestonSEK said:

What size c3 do you have? C3s are good solid reels that have been around so long for a reason. They are fully capable of doing everything a low profile baitcaster can do. Now that I've given my respects to the c3s, the new reels from any of the companies you listed will outperform the c3s overall. Especially when casting weights 3/8 and under. You also have options on gear ratios for different techniques. 

Thanks Bb, it's a 6501.  I also have the same size C4.  Heavier lures are definitely easier to cast with these reels.

 

22 hours ago, Josh Smith said:

I like to build mine into custom-for-application.  For example, my c3 models now have all bearings, and one has faster-than-stock gears.

I have big hands so they palm well for me.

In my opinion, they outperform most modern reels in everything but weight.  They are of a design which has been evolving since 1953-1954.

Regards,

Josh

Thanks JS - I do like the looks of these reels.

 

17 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Yup the bearing supported level wind makes a huge difference in what the c3 can handle. Under 3/8 is spinning territory for me usually anyway. 

Thanks DVT - I prefer spinning tackle on the lighter lures also.

 

 

I appreciate the feedback from everyone, now I have fewer qualms about sticking with them.

[the reel ess]

 I have 2. They don't cast light baits very well in stock configuration. I eventually put them on 7' M rods with the idea I'd use them for stripers. But I stopped going to the lake in lieu of smaller ponds.

I found a good use for them. I can reel well-used braided line off a low profile reel onto an ABU, then reel it on to the other ABU, then reel it back onto the LP reel and I have the unused end of the braid to tie to. Good as brand new line.

[cddan]

I grew up seeing c3's on the cover of bps and always wanted one.  Eventually I purchased two c3 lights from wally world.  I think they were exclusive to ww. They were harder to cast with lighter lures but still I enjoyed them. 

One day I was determined to catch a large striper from my local lake and felt the conditions were right for the bank I was going to fish.  I grabbed a dozen large shiners and went fishing.  I sat on the bank and respooled  with fresh 12lb test.  I then casted a bobber and hooked shiner maybe 20 ft from the bank. To my surprise the bobber dropped and my freespool ran so I engaged the reel and set the hook. The drag flawlessly released line as a huge fish plummeted to the bottom probably fifty feet or more.  The fish then turned and ran towards the main lake off a point so I scrambled to the end of the point in case he turned into it as I didn't want him dragging the line across it. He ran around 75 yards before he just gave up and was around the surface so I dragged him as carefully as I could.  It was awesome.  38 " striper.  The line easily broke when I tested it afterward.  The reel did a great job for me on that lucky day and I will always remember that.  

[the reel ess]

20 hours ago, cddan said:

I grew up seeing c3's on the cover of bps and always wanted one.  Eventually I purchased two c3 lights from wally world.  I think they were exclusive to ww. They were harder to cast with lighter lures but still I enjoyed them.

One day I was determined to catch a large striper from my local lake and felt the conditions were right for the bank I was going to fish.  I grabbed a dozen large shiners and went fishing.  I sat on the bank and respooled  with fresh 12lb test.  I then casted a bobber and hooked shiner maybe 20 ft from the bank. To my surprise the bobber dropped and my freespool ran so I engaged the reel and set the hook. The drag flawlessly released line as a huge fish plummeted to the bottom probably fifty feet or more.  The fish then turned and ran towards the main lake off a point so I scrambled to the end of the point in case he turned into it as I didn't want him dragging the line across it. He ran around 75 yards before he just gave up and was around the surface so I dragged him as carefully as I could.  It was awesome.  38 " striper.  The line easily broke when I tested it afterward.  The reel did a great job for me on that lucky day and I will always remember that.

That's a great use for these reels.

[Josh Smith]

I personally like a reel that can handle anything that I might catch in the local rivers and lakes.  This means having a setup that will handle a huge catfish if one should decide to bite, or a huge carp, or drum, etc. 

The biggest fish I ever caught was a bigmouth buffalo.  It was too heavy to bring in all the way at the place I was fishing, so I released it partially landed.

The thing was pulling drag on a locked-down Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5000.  I remember being concerned about the drag because it had been sticking -- this was pre-carbon fiber.  I believe I loosened it a bit as Ambassadeurs have 12lb to 14lb or so drags, and I had 17lb mono.  I'd figured on having to horse smallmouth away from structure, and this is why I had the drag locked initially.

The lure was a #4 or #5 Mepps that had been Grandpa's.  The treble hook came back bent, and I retried the lure to Grandpa's tackle box after this.

At any rate, this fish peeled more drag than I'd ever experienced, and I was glad I had the Ambassadeur 5000 because it was very tough compared to the other reels of the time.

Even today, that old Ambassadeur -- and the newer c3 and c4 models -- seem much tougher than the majority of black bass reels.  I'm sure the higher-dollar low-profiles are tough, but there are parts on the majority of mid-range low-profile reels that I simply don't trust to hold up.

Regards,

Josh

[Goose52]

5 minutes ago, Josh Smith said:

I personally like a reel that can handle anything that I might catch in the local rivers and lakes.  This means having a setup that will handle a huge catfish if one should decide to bite, or a huge carp, or drum, etc. 

The biggest fish I ever caught was a bigmouth buffalo.  It was too heavy to bring in all the way at the place I was fishing, so I released it partially landed.

The thing was pulling drag on a locked-down Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5000.  I remember being concerned about the drag because it had been sticking -- this was pre-carbon fiber.  I believe I loosened it a bit as Ambassadeurs have 12lb to 14lb or so drags, and I had 17lb mono.  I'd figured on having to horse smallmouth away from structure, and this is why I had the drag locked initially.

The lure was a #4 or #5 Mepps that had been Grandpa's.  The treble hook came back bent, and I retried the lure to Grandpa's tackle box after this.

At any rate, this fish peeled more drag than I'd ever experienced, and I was glad I had the Ambassadeur 5000 because it was very tough compared to the other reels of the time.

Even today, that old Ambassadeur -- and the newer c3 and c4 models -- seem much tougher than the majority of black bass reels.  I'm sure the higher-dollar low-profiles are tough, but there are parts on the majority of mid-range low-profile reels that I simply don't trust to hold up.

Regards,

Josh

48 pounds, 10 lb test line, stock drag, $80.00 reel...

 

[Josh Smith]

41 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

48 pounds, 10 lb test line, stock drag, $80.00 reel...

 

I'm talking more like $50 reels or those which cost a lot because they have some outrageous speed or something.  What's that reel?  Daiwa?  Thought Shimano but also thought the thumb bar looks slightly wrong.

Regards,

Josh

[bass raider]

9 minutes ago, Josh Smith said:

I'm talking more like $50 reels or those which cost a lot because they have some outrageous speed or something.  What's that reel?  Daiwa?  Thought Shimano but also thought the thumb bar looks slightly wrong.

Regards,

Josh

That's a pro qualifier...

[Goose52]

17 hours ago, bass raider said:

That's a pro qualifier...

Yep.

[0119]

All my reels are pre C3 Ambassadeur's. I catch bass and inshore fishing including cobia, baby tarpon and small sharks with them. They are jazzed up with 7 b.b.'s but I prefer not having an infinite anti reverse and there isn't any repair I can't do to them. With the right rod they will toss quarter ounce plugs but I don't make it a habit. I buy expensive low profiles every now and then but they always disappoint me and I go back to the 4500C's.

[Josh Smith]

2 hours ago, bass raider said:

That's a pro qualifier...

Thanks.  I've not had a chance to examine any BPS reels.  It would be nice to do so.

Regards,

Josh

[EricTheAngler]

Im looking for one over in the flea market area, just a heads up if anyone is trying to get rid of one!

[Josh Smith]

13 minutes ago, EricTheAngler said:

Im looking for one over in the flea market area, just a heads up if anyone is trying to get rid of one!

A c3 or a pre-Ultracast?

Regards,

Josh

[EricTheAngler]

2 minutes ago, Josh Smith said:

A c3 or a pre-Ultracast?

Regards,

Josh

C3.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

@Tucson

To me it's more a matter of round reel vs. low profile for each style of presentation. For some applications I prefer a round reel. My crankbait and swimbait rods are both round reels (Shimano, but same difference) and I wouldn't dream of switching to a low profile reel for either. I also recently switched to a round reel for my frogging rod. They just feel more solid in my hand, no real reason other than that... especially with baits that I am chucking as far as I can. 

If you're trying to throw smaller lures (like 1/4oz and smaller) a newer low profile baitcast reel with a smaller spool size will be really impressive to you for these smaller more delicate presentations. 

[Josh Smith]

13 hours ago, EricTheAngler said:

C3.

Well dang.  I have modified pre-UC reels I'd let go, but that's only because I've only fairly recently begun using the UC models.

I love all of these, but there's one pre-UC that I built for crankbaits that I just don't use much, if at all.  The drag is upgraded, and all bushings have been replaced with bearings -- except for the spool, and there's a reason for that.  I find that some lures just cast better with bushings, and I built this reel with those uses in mind.

I've been thinking about letting it go, not because I have to, but because I know it's a quality reel and I'd like to help someone out if they need it.

Regards,

Josh