Need New Baitcaster, Old vs new?

[Andy007]

Thinking of switching from spinning to baitcasters for lighter ¼ to ½ oz. plastics. I have an Abu Garcia 4600C and 5500C that I’ve switched back and forth on a 6’ MH and 6’6” M rods.  The 4600 cast much lighter baits lighter longer rod is better also. Been searching the forums and could use some advice.

I have 10# power pro on the Abu’s and works great without any digging in and will spool the new reel with the same line.

Looking at aluminum frame and plan on spending 80-130 dollars, and from reading many postings all the major brands sound comparable at a given price.

Other than feel what can I expect between my old round and new low profile reels with light baits? Distance?

Duel vs single braking? Lighter the bait is duel more beneficial? (Using the 4600 I haven’t had much trouble with birdnests, but throwing into wind requires some thumbing)

Thanks for your time!

[crypt]

I still use my 4600s all the time for just about everything. the other reel I use a lot is an old black/pro max 1600s. don't have a problem with either one casting any size lure. can't beat an abu.

[WRB]

If you have an open mind and not brand blinded the new technology reels have a Lot to offer at nearly every price point. Your ABU round reels are older technology, only added the past 35 years is instant anti reverse bushing and now 90% of ABU are made in China.

I used and fished with Ambassaduer 5000, 5000C, 4500C and 2500C reels, all made in Sweden and they are all retired.

The big difference today are drags, anti backlash breaking systems, gear ratios and weight. The reels that change my brand preference are Shimano and Daiwa. Daiwa came out with their TD 103 & 105 series light weight free spinning spool design and lighter weight reels in the 90's, Shimano followed with thier Curado series reels with superior drag design. Since the early 90's both Daiwa and Shimano have dominated bait casting and spinning reel technology. Lew's* and Quantum both make good bait casting reels. You can't go wrong with any of those brands.

Tom

* Lew Childre invented the low profile baitcasting reel.

[swandog]

Oh man, I still have a classic Lew's BB-1N reel with the V spool. I use it every once in a while and it still casts amazingly well. Great reel. 

[Columbia Craw]

37 minutes ago, swandog said:

Oh man, I still have a classic Lew's BB-1N reel with the V spool. I use it every once in a while and it still casts amazingly well. Great reel. 

With a 4.7 to 1 gear ratio, a whopping THREE ball bearings, non-infinite anti-reverse and centrifugal brakes the size of a life saver, these reels are still great performers after 35 plus years..  I still have six.   Yours must be pre Browning ?

 

Back on track: Andy007, you have some tremendous options in that price range. 

[swandog]

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

With a 4.7 to 1 gear ratio, a whopping THREE ball bearings, non-infinite anti-reverse and centrifugal brakes the size of a life saver, these reels are still great performers after 35 plus years..  I still have six.   Yours must be pre Browning ?

 

Yes, it says "3 ball bearings" at the bottom of the side plate. 

[BobP]

I'm not a fan of Abu 4000 or 5000 series round reels but if you like round Abu's, I can highly recommend the Ambassadeur Pro Max 1600 or 3600 for finesse fishing.  That's really what they were designed for.  You see them on Ebay for $50-80.  There are very few reels that you can dial the cast control off enough to have a little side to side play in the spool, fit with 2 black (light) centrifugal brake blocks and cast all day with never a backlash even if you are only a just-barely-above-average caster like me.  I don't know what it is about the Promax but the design just works great.  It has the simple bullet proof quality of an old Abu.  Easy to service, take apart and reassemble.  No gotchas like many newer designs.  7 ball bearings.  A small light aluminum spool.  Multiple disk drag.  They cost $170 back in the '70s when new and came with a lifetime warranty.  Abu and other companies like Southwestern still carry parts for them.  They came in 5.3:1 gear ratios and can be upgraded to 6:1 gears with parts from another Abu reel.  I think the reason they sell for so little used is the gray paint they had tended to scratch and flake off easily, so the look on many of them is pretty rough - but it's definitely a diamond in the rough.  If you looks are important, the Black Max of the same period is a similar design reel with similar performance but fewer ball bearings, a very durable black finish, and sells for less $$$.  I especially like these reels for pitching and casting light baits.   

[new2BC4bass]

If you want to stay with round reels, the 1600's work very well. No experience with the 1500 size, but imagine they work just as well. I think Shimano has a reel or two that might work, but I have zero experience with their round reels. Plenty of low profile reels that will handle 1/4 -1/2 oz. baits. 

Do you have a preference?  New or used?  Used I like the Daiwa TD-Z 105H and Alphas.  The Shimano 50 size is another option.  These work well for 1/4 and lighter. For 1/4 and up most any of today's reels will work. Pick your poison.  I have several favorites including several Lew's, Primmus, and Helios Air.  I could go on, but think you get the picture. 

[fishnkamp]

For the budget you have go look at a Diawa Tatula 100, Tatula 100 Type R, Tatula CT, or Tatula CT Type R in a 6.3 to 1 gear ratio. The Tatula  and Tatula Type R are the standard size reel Diawa has made forever, the CT and CT Type R are a bit smaller version. The standard Tatula and Tatula Type R can be found on specials online often. I currently have been changing all of my 12 reels over to these as well as one Diawa Exceler I caught 1 on a good sale. It is just 1 step below but casts jut as well.  These are really good workhorse type reels.  Be aware depending on the baits some of your lighter baits will cast a little easier on a good 6'6" to 7 foot spinning reel and rod combo. Anything under a 1/4 ounce head and a worm body I still toss on a good quality Medium power fast action rod.

[j bab]

WRB's post pretty much summed it up. There's not much more to say on this topic that hasn't already been covered here.

Buy a new low profile reel, whichever you can afford, and I promise you'll like it. In my personal experience, the Daiwa Aird is an excellent sub-$100 reel, anything Lew's is great above $100, if you have more than $150 to spend look at Shimano & Daiwa...

[Maxximus Redneckus]

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[Andy007]

I'm pretty open to which brand I get, I will purchase and have looked low profile models and they have very little difference in over all shape. From what I've used and read brakes become more important when you mix some wind and light lures, I fish some windy days with 30 mph gusts but most around the 10 mph range. Been watching ebay a bit and Lews reconditioned reels can be had at 2/3 the new price. right now there's Lew's lite LFS reconditioned on ebay that's at the 150 mark but sales for 240 new.
Sounds like a good bang for the buck?

It'll most likely come down to braking and a deal more than brand.

Thanks for your help & input!!

 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

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