The New Pro Max 3 Low Profile Reel is a STEAL.

[primetime]

I have been on a reel buying spree the past 2 years and have been trying all the lower end priced reels since the specs of reels like the KastKing and others were calling my name after all the hype.

 

I will say that for $50 Kastking makes a nice reel, I think they are now a legit player in the market, but after fishing with a few other models in the same price range I am now convinced that anyone looking for a reliable, nice looking, smooth casting reel, the new Pro Max Low Profile at $50-$60 may be impossible to beat. I have been amazed at how much smoother it is than many of my other reels, and the newer Silver Max reels are also a great deal.

 

I have not had much luck with any of the quantum models although the hellcat is pretty good, the Daiwa Exceller is now $50 and is another steal. Add in the Okuma Ceymar, Cerros, and the new Shimano Caius reels, I think the BIG manufactures are starting to realize they need to compete at this range.

 

I guess the point of this post is to say, I ordered about 6 Chinese baitcasting reels after a guy on You Tube who I follow started pitching the Piscifun reel and yes the reel is ok, but not really cheap in price. He also looks like he is being held hostage in his garage since he has always been a big Lews and Abu guy.

 

Most of the China Generic reels are ok but they will rattle and shake and grind, where if you spend the same $50-$70 you can get a reel like the Pro Max which has exceeded all my expectations. I think now is the time to buy reels on certain sites since Revo STX casting reels are $85 right now, Lew LFS $69, Orra sx reels in the $50 range....I guess I can pass on the $80 Kast King reels which keep going up.

 

It looks like Pflueger is becoming a player as well, the president casting reels were tanks years ago and have always been good, just hard to get parts, but the new models $30-$70 have to be tough to beat.

 

The Academy Mettle is my newest purchase and so far it is almost too good to be true and I found it in a clearance bin for a price that is just absurd. No need to go China direct when this time of year comes around.

 

Anyone looking to save money and get a reel that will cast light weight lures, handle big fish in any condition, rarely back lash regardless of settings, I am now a Pro Max guy, the new ones look so much better as well. Not sure it is worth buying any other reel in the same price range especially if you are like me and do not clean them all the time.

[ww2farmer]

I have been using the Max series of reels for a while now, right along side other more expensive/aluminum framed reels. They have given me  ZERO trouble that regular maint. couldn't solve. 

 

I have winched big (for the area) 5 and 6lb fish out of the nastiest cover with them, deep cranked, and landed many double digit pike and tiger muskies with them that put a bass to shame in the power and fight dept. In other words...lots of things that experts would tell you would melt a graphite framed reel, and have had no trouble. I think graphite framed reels are perfectly fine for bass fishing where sub 10lb fish are the norm, and the importance some people place on having an metal/alum. frame is way overblown.

 

I used to be a big fan of Shimano Curado reels, especially the "E" series in the 201 and 51 size, but when Shimano discontinued them, I switched to Daiwa Exceler's, and started sprinkling in the Abu Max reels. I am down to my last Exceler, I like them but they have proven to be LESS durable than the Max reels. When that one finally gives up, it's going to be all Max's , all the time on my boat. They are cheap, effective and just plain work.

 

Also, I don't know if it's my skill (typed semi-sarcastically) or the reels performance, but I have far less backlashes/casting issues with the Max reels doing things like skipping under boat docks, fishing light/weightless baits,etc...than I ever did with my Curados, or other higher priced reels that many will tell you are a must for effective casting of such things.

 

I fish........A LOT...........and if these reels can hold up to my use/abuse they are good to go.

[new2BC4bass]

  Two very nice posts, but I doubt they will get much love on this site.    Personally I am about done buying reels.  However, I've been thinking about giving my brother and his wife a couple baitcasting setups since they have only used spinning.  Maybe I should invest in a new Pro Max for them instead of a couple of my used reels.  After all we should be adding to our arsenal, not downsizing it. 

[Largemouth21]

i have a pro max. Its pretty good. I would reccomend

[crypt]

have 3 of the Pro Max 3s and would recommend them all day long.

[12poundbass]

I love the Black max and Pro max I have several of each. The Silvermax I'm not a big fan of. The other two though you can't beat.

[primetime]

The thing about the Pro Max that makes me love it is how easy it is to cast light lures long distances without having to keep adjusting settings. I have one set up with 12lb test and the first time I took it out I put the brakes on 3, kept the spool kind of loose, and never had to thumb the reel unless skipping.

 

I can do that with some of my other reels, However I find some of the high end new braking systems more complicated to get dialed in. I still can't get the Daiwa T3 baitcasting reel I purchased on sale from TW to ever get set right. When I do get the settings right )has 20 brakes on 3 different modes, it will cast anything a mile, but I find myself using my Pro Max more than I do all my Okuma reels right now, and that was never the plan.

 

As a Huge Okuma fan, I will say I would put the Pro Max and My Komodo in the same category, but my Pro Max seems to have a better drag. Maybe It's personal preference but it seems Abu Garcia has really upped the quality of their reels in the past year.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, primetime said:

The thing about the Pro Max that makes me love it is how easy it is to cast light lures long distances without having to keep adjusting settings. I have one set up with 12lb test and the first time I took it out I put the brakes on 3, kept the spool kind of loose, and never had to thumb the reel unless skipping.

 

I can do that with some of my other reels, However I find some of the high end new braking systems more complicated to get dialed in. I still can't get the Daiwa T3 baitcasting reel I purchased on sale from TW to ever get set right. When I do get the settings right )has 20 brakes on 3 different modes, it will cast anything a mile, but I find myself using my Pro Max more than I do all my Okuma reels right now, and that was never the plan.

 

As a Huge Okuma fan, I will say I would put the Pro Max and My Komodo in the same category, but my Pro Max seems to have a better drag. Maybe It's personal preference but it seems Abu Garcia has really upped the quality of their reels in the past year.

 

I have to say I don't understand this.  Maybe you got a bad reel.  I had one of my T3s out after work yesterday.  Started on Longcast and 6 brakes.  Went to zero brakes.  Loosened spool tension until it just started to have a little side-to-side play.  Even made a couple casts into the wind with this setting.  (Wind wasn't strong.)  Never a problem.  Not even loose line on the spool after a cast.  Was getting good distance even with the initial settings.  Reel has 12# Siege on it.  1/2 oz. chatterbait.  7' MHF Aetos.  It is obvious to me that even with the least amount of brakes I can set, this system still applies some braking.  No way can I cast other braking systems with zero brakes on.

 

I've got reels from something like 7 different brands using several different braking methods.  (Including 4 Daiwa methods)  I personally feel the MagForce3D is the most foolproof system.  I haven't used a Shimano DC...too expensive for me.

 

I have never used a T3 for light lures.  I have other reels for that application.  Maybe that would make a difference.  

[primetime]

On 5/20/2017 at 10:52 AM, new2BC4bass said:

 

I have to say I don't understand this.  Maybe you got a bad reel.  I had one of my T3s out after work yesterday.  Started on Longcast and 6 brakes.  Went to zero brakes.  LoosTYened spool tension until it just started to have a little side-to-side play.  Even made a couple casts into the wind with this setting.  (Wind wasn't strong.)  Never a problem.  Not even loose line on the spool after a cast.  Was getting good distance even with the initial settings.  Reel has 12# Siege on it.  1/2 oz. chatterbait.  7' MHF Aetos.  It is obvious to me that even with the least amount of brakes I can set, this system still applies some braking.  No way can I cast other braking systems with zero brakes on.

 

I've got reels from something like 7 different brands using several different braking methods.  (Including 4 Daiwa methods)  I personally feel the MagForce3D is the most foolproof system.  I haven't used a Shimano DC...too expensive for me.

 

I have never used a T3 for light lures.  I have other reels for that application.  Maybe that would make a difference.  

Don't get me wrong, I really like the Daiwa reel especially for the $99 I paid for it. I can cast it a mile once I get it dialed in and have it on the right rod etc. I am always changing rods and reels since I enjoy buying new stuff to "Try" but I do have issues getting the T3 dialed in, I think it is probably user error, I need to spend more time to figure it out. I mainly use the T3 for throwing Frogs on a heavy Rod and have #50 braid on it, it works great for heavier frogs, I will say the distance is amazing once Set up right, but Whenever I switch to say a Jig, I need to spend too much time to get it adjusted.

 

It could also be the braid. I find most casting reels handle mono extremely well, especially in the 12-15lb range if on the right rod. I was always under the impression that if a reel can be thrown without any brakes at all, and a loose spool, it needed service since you are loosing distance. I always have the brakes set even if at a 2 since I skip baits no matter where I am.

 

I am just surprised at how nice the Pro Max compares to all my other reels. I figured it would make a good pond reel, and go well on a Lighting Shock, but now I have it on my best Pitching set up. Maybe they labeled it wrong and it is really a $300 abu reel since all the frames look similar.