Round vs low profile

[Mobasser]

What's everyone's favorites? I still like to use my round Garcia casting reels. That's what I started out with. I think they have been losing favor for quite a while to low profile reels. Anyone still use ABU or other round reels for most fishing?

[Crestliner2008]

I have 4 Ambassadeurs now; had 6, but two were given to my grandkids to learn on. Great reels. Bullet proof and reliable. I've fished with a lot a great anglers over the last few decades and none of them - most having much more expensive and "high tech" reels - could do anything that I couldn't do with mine.

[Sam]

55 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

What's everyone's favorites? I still like to use my round Garcia casting reels. That's what I started out with. I think they have been losing favor for quite a while to low profile reels. Anyone still use ABU or other round reels for most fishing?

Sean, I only use a round Ambassador for Carolina fishing.

 

Otherwise, all of my baitcasters are of the low profile selection.

[crypt]

I have 9 round Ambassadeurs. 4600's and a few 1600 pro max's. also 3- 1600 black max's. love em all.

[optimator]

I still have my first 4600 CB that I bought around 86 or so. It even still sits on my first good rod, a LCI. It's long been retired, but I still take it out a couple times a year. I also have some 4600 C3's that I used to use for steelhead. I'm going to use one of them as a secondary reel for my 735C for fishing small swimbaits. I also have a Cardiff 300 on my main swimbait rod.

[scaleface]

Makes no difference to me , because i dont palm a reel anyway . I use whatever is in best working condition . I have a few older round  ambassadeurs still , the only reason I dont use them is because my newer reels are smoother .

[desmobob]

4 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I think they have been losing favor for quite a while to low profile reels.

 

That might be a huge understatement!

 

As real as my reel addiction is, I haven't yet managed to try a round reel.  When I have briefly looked at them, I saw reels that were sub-$100 and reels that were very expensive.  I'd love to get one of those little Conquest BFS models, but it's not in my budget.

 

What are some affordable round reels that perform well?  Do round reels offer any advantages for specific techniques, or is line capacity the only advantage?

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[BobP]

I really like using several old small round Ambassadeur ProMax 1600’s for their reliability, trouble free casting performance, and low cost from auction sites.  But I like and use them for those reasons, not because they are as comfortable in the hand as more modern low profile reels.  They simply are not. It’s all about which features you favor over others in specific reels. Anything larger than a ProMax 1600 in a round reel?  No thank you.  That’s where I draw my line personally. 

[OnthePotomac]

When I retired and got into bass fishing 20 years ago I started with a nice Quantum round reel, not knowing what I was doing, but after  three years gave it up and bought my first Shimano reel, a Curado 100B.  Ended up with three in short order and still use them on a regular basis.  Not a mark on them and fish like the day they came out of the box.

[TOXIC]

When I was guiding, I would use the BPS version to troll deep diving redfins for striper.  They used to have better drag systems than the palm size.  I'm not so sure anymore.  Maybe I'll pull them out of retirement and see how the old reels perform dragging a c-rig.  Would also work well on an A-rig I would think.  

[A-Jay]

I use & rather enjoy fishing both.

My round reel collection however is 'limited' to the Shimano Calcutta D line.

Helped me land a lot of bass.

A-Jay

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Not a fan of round reels they look oddball on a rod to me. Even little 50 size conquest looks like a silly misfit on a rod.

[Mobasser]

Nice A-Jay! Vie heard good things about the Shimano Calcutta reels. I have never had one though, still working ABUs 

[Mobasser]

9 hours ago, desmobob said:

 

That might be a huge understatement!

 

As real as my reel addiction is, I haven't yet managed to try a round reel.  When I have briefly looked at them, I saw reels that were sub-$100 and reels that were very expensive.  I'd love to get one of those little Conquest BFS models, but it's not in my budget.

 

What are some affordable round reels that perform well?  Do round reels offer any advantages for specific techniques, or is line capacity the only advantage?

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Bob, Some guys still like round reels for crankbaits, but really,  they are good for many techniques.  They still hold their own and perform well. As for cost , a good ABU is hard to beat. Maybe you could look for a nice used one, Ive seen some for 50 to 70 bucks. If they are maintained well, they run good for a long time. Tough, dependable machines

[Maxximus Redneckus]

And parts  when  needed are very obtainable through many diff companys.And you can hot rod them 

[KDW96]

The 4600 series were my first caster. Currently own 11, and 3 of the 5500. I fished many a tournament with them. They did everthing i wanted,and took abuse at times. The lowpros i use now at times,are a few years old. Personally, i can do any thing with at 4600,5500, that can be done with the lowpros.

If push come to shove,id take my round abus & shimano calcutta 100s.

 

[slonezp]

5500 C3's will last a lifetime

[Smalliefan2]

I use the 4600's, have seven in my boat. I also have a new low profile. The low profile has more features than the 4600's. The round reels are indestructible, and easy to maintain. The low profile is not comfortable to hold as my round reels. A matter of personal preference. I also have the 4500, 5500, 3600. A twenty -five year old 3600 Pro caster is my swimbait reel. 

[crypt]

1 hour ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

And parts  when  needed are very obtainable through many diff companys.And you can hot rod them 

I hot rod all of mine, faster gears, upgrade the drags, higher grade bearings etc........

[Chrisran99]

I use a Cardiff 100 for smaller cranks and a 200 for deep cranking. I’ve done a bearing upgrade on both and can not think of a better reel for $100. I also use a Calcutta 200b for inshore fishing.

[new2BC4bass]

11 hours ago, desmobob said:

 

That might be a huge understatement!

 

As real as my reel addiction is, I haven't yet managed to try a round reel.  When I have briefly looked at them, I saw reels that were sub-$100 and reels that were very expensive.  I'd love to get one of those little Conquest BFS models, but it's not in my budget.

 

What are some affordable round reels that perform well?  Do round reels offer any advantages for specific techniques, or is line capacity the only advantage?

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Google "Anyone like the Garcia 1600 & 3600 reels".

 

I have something of a reel addiction myself.  Had been wanting to try a small round reel so when a package deal came up for three 1600C Black Max reels I jumped on it.  I was impressed at how well they cast.  I was able to cast a small fluke on a 3/0 hook straight into a pretty stiff wind.  Backlashed once when I cast too hard.  Not bad for a reel with no brake adjustments.  My understanding is there are brakes inside....if you want to tear the reel apart.  You won't like these small reels if you have a fat thumb.  Mine isn't fat yet takes up the whole spool width.

 

However, I do prefer my low profile reels better and now have a couple that will handle light weights as well as the 1600C does.  (Or maybe better.  )

[Catt]

[Mobasser]

I've been wanting to hotrod a 4600c. For you guys that have done this, does it make a huge difference?  I know the drag can be improved,  but I'm really unsure about bearings.Do you think its worth the cost? My reels fish good all stock, but I'm curious about this.

[roadwarrior]

Calcutta CTE100GT, (2) CTE200GT and just this week, Conquest 50.

 

I like round reels, but most of mine are low profile.

 

 

[Angry John]

This to me is a 308 vs 30-06 discussion.  The round reels have heavier internals that fit well for me in swimbaiting.  My ryoga 1016 uses the same spool as my steez but the round reel internals will not get beat to trash throwing umbrella rigs and 3-5 Oz swim baits.  They now have reels like the trankx that are designed for it, but they are new.