abu garcia silver max

[Zayne Royal]

Ive been looking for a good baitcaster for under 50 and found this at my local Walmart. does anyone have any experience with it? Would it make a good starter baitcaster?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         -Zayne

[PourMyOwn]

I have two, and I really like them. It would make a perfect starter reel. Make no mistake, there are much nicer reels out there, but for the money it is a good buy.

[JPascavage52]

It was my first baitcasting reel, and it works real well, easy to set up, learn on, and use, and I still keep it as a backup/ alternate. 
 

[Rhino68W]

Have you considered spending a little more for a Lew's reel? They're really good for the money. I started on a Black Max reel and liked it, then I got a cheaper Lew's and for the price it was better quality. 

[Torn Thumb]

I scored a silver max combo at walmart for 25$ a couple of years ago and only just recently learned how to use it. It's definitely a good starter setup in my opinion.

[Jtrout]

It was my first baitcaster i got it about 4 years ago and i still use it some times. Its caught many of fish and still works good.

[Jar11591]

2 hours ago, PourMyOwn said:

I have two, and I really like them. It would make a perfect starter reel. Make no mistake, there are much nicer reels out there, but for the money it is a good buy.

Pretty much sums it up!

[Zayne Royal]

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2016 at 5:16 PM, Rhino68W said:

Have you considered spending a little more for a Lew's reel? They're really good for the money. I started on a Black Max reel and liked it, then I got a cheaper Lew's and for the price it was better quality. 

I have not, I don't really have the budget right now

 

[JigMaster4]

I too started off with a silver max, and have used it for 2 seasons with no problems.

[edfitzvb]

I had a Silver Max. I gave it to my son when he asked for it. If I had not been okay with the reel, I would not have given it to him. Decent reel, but as others have said, I really like the Lew's lineup.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I started out with the silvermax as well. Although mine was the version from about 5 years ago or more. I still have the rod that came with the combo. Full cork handle, and to be honest I still use the rod and love it. Gave my buddy the reel when he first started with a baitcaster. 

[PourMyOwn]

I bought my first one with credit card rewards points at a major retailer. (Don't think they're a site sponsor, so I won't name them) I wanted it to be used for throwing 5/8 football jigs in 20'+ of water. It has handled some nice battles with more than a few solid smallmouths. I really couldn't justify dropping an extra $50 or more for a reel that is used twenty times a year. If I take care of it-and I always do-I expect it to last me at least 10-15 years.

[CNYBassin]

My first baitcaster was an old Abu Pro Max, and I loved it. If the silver maxes are anything like it, it's a good reel to learn on but there really is no comparison to reels that are $100 and up. Then you start getting into things like incredibly smooth drag, clicky star drag, clicky cast control, much better brakes and the smoothness from the adding bearings. The end result is these higher priced reels are practically impossible to backlash, even in the wind. 

From what I see, the Pro Max is a grade up from the Silver Max, so it's hard to say since I've been using all mid-range Lew's reels for the last few years. Most of my reels are in the $150-200 price range now. I do use a $99 Lew's Speed Spool LFS and imo it's the best bang for the buck reel on the market.

If all you're trying to do is learn how to use a bait caster, and you want something you can beat up on and not feel guilty about it, the Silver Max will most likely do just fine. It truly depends on the kinda fisherman you are. Some people are completely fine with using cheaper reels for their entire lifetime and never feeling the need to upgrade. Others need to have the latest & greatest whenever something new comes out. Chances are you'll want to upgrade down the road because like I said, you really start getting into better features once you crack that $100 price point.

[Blake Burns]

Best reel for a beginner. Easiest cheap reel to cast. If your also looking for a rod a highly recommend the Abu Garcia Vengance. It's the best rod for the money. For a $100 you'll have a very fishable combo. I personal have 2 black Maxs 2 silver maxs and 2 pro maxs and the silver max is by far the best IMO

[Travis Gasper]

If money wasn't an issue, I'd recommend the Lew's Mach 1 baitcaster combo. I picked one up for $110 and it was well worth every penny. I started with an Abu Garcia Pro Max, and this Lew's is infinitely better in my opinion. Still use the Pro Max for froggin though. Nothing wrong with it. 

[ww2farmer]

I have multiple Silver Max 2 and Black Max 2 reels that have seen hard use, almost every day from April-November, for the last three years............frogging, cranking, flipping, and everything else. They have held up just fine. At this point in their life, they are smoother, quieter, cast better,look better, and all around perform better than several higher priced, metal framed reels from other companies that were also bought new at the same time and put through the same duty as the Max reels. Other than an occasional drop of oil on the spool bearings, and worm gear, and off season tear down for cleaning/relube ( I had one Black Max that the anti-reverse was working "iffy" on towards the end of last season, that was fixed by a simple cleaning and re-oiling of the AR bearing this winter) I am impressed. They have hauled more 5-6lb bass out of nasty thick cover on frogs and while flipping/punching over the last 3 years that I can count, have spent countless hours pulling deep cranks trough weeds and over other assorted offshore cover. They cast light weight baits as good as any sub $200 reel I have ever owned, and I can skip docks with them effortlessly. The graphite frame is nothing to run away scared from, I have had ZERO of the issues people claim I would have had by not having a metal frame. These reels have held up to some pretty large Pike.............which I promise you can wreck gear, and lb for lb put bass to shame. They have had braid on them the entire time too, no grooving of the level wind eye, or any other issues. 

I don't fish as much as some people here, but I do fish more than most. And if they have lasted this long for me, they are good to go IMHO. They are all I am buying from now on. Even if one of the old ones give up on me tomorrow, I am out $50-$60.............. I have had several reels of various makes over the years that cost as much as 3 times as what these Max reels cost not live as long, and cost more than what a replacement Max reel costs for repairs. The bonus is..............if a Max reel does die, Abu sells parts, or I toss it in the junk drawer, buy a new one, and have a cheap source of parts for the other reels.

[Zayne Royal]

On ‎8‎/‎5‎/‎2016 at 7:16 PM, Blake Burns said:

Best reel for a beginner. Easiest cheap reel to cast. If your also looking for a rod a highly recommend the Abu Garcia Vengance. It's the best rod for the money. For a $100 you'll have a very fishable combo. I personal have 2 black Maxs 2 silver maxs and 2 pro maxs and the silver max is by far the best IMO

i already have the avengeance lol, but not the reel yet