Defining what a “Workhorse” casting reel is…

[new2BC4bass]

I get the feeling some of you are defining 'most bang for the buck' reels as 'work horse' reels.  Sometimes the 'most bang' can fit in the 'work horse' stable.  New Curado 51E for $98 on closeout, Primmus HS Xi $104.10 on closeout, used Black Max 1600C for $33.33, older Cabela's Prodigy (by Daiwa) for $60 on sale, used gold colored Carbonlite for $65 all fit both categories in my mind.  Heck.  I'd even put my $30 Procaster ($70 list) in both categories.

 

[TnRiver46]

Abu Garcia 4600

[new2BC4bass]

29 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Abu Garcia 4600

Nice picture!  I like my 1600C and would love a 2500.  Maybe even a 3600, but after that the physical size gets to be more than I'd prefer.  I suppose one could get used to the larger size.

[bulldog1935]

Workhorse reels also have different price ranges, so bang for the buck doesn't usually apply. 

Within price ranges, you can pick out workhorses. 

Dainty low-end spinning reels are usually anything but workhorses. 

If people put their money where their mouth is, they'd be fishing Tica spinning reels. 

 

Nor would reel weight ever matter - low weight is a bell and whistle that often sacrifices reliability, especially on the low-price end. 

 

Within Shimano, the workhorse spinning reel is Stradic, but the Tica above still has a better line roller than Stella. 

[CrashVector]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Abu Garcia 4600

 

My dad has NUMEROUS old Shakespeare and Abu Garcia reels from the 50s and 60s.

 

Some are so old the left plate is literally just a sheet of metal.

 

It's cool to see people still using vintage equipment.

[new2BC4bass]

55 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Workhorse reels also have different price ranges, so bang for the buck doesn't usually apply. 

Within price ranges, you can pick out workhorses. 

Dainty low-end spinning reels are usually anything but workhorses. 

If people put their money where their mouth is, they'd be fishing Tica spinning reels. 

 

Nor would reel weight ever matter - low weight is a bell and whistle that often sacrifices reliability, especially on the low-price end. 

 

Within Shimano, the workhorse spinning reel is Stradic, but the Tica above still has a better line roller than Stella. 

What reel would you suggest for 6/8 pound mono?

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Nice picture!  I like my 1600C and would love a 2500.  Maybe even a 3600, but after that the physical size gets to be more than I'd prefer.  I suppose one could get used to the larger size.

I like 5000 also, 4600 is small to me 

[bulldog1935]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:01 AM, new2BC4bass said:

What reel would you suggest for 6/8 pound mono?

Tica sizes run big, I'd suggest the Libra SX 1500

 

@new2BC4bass

I just noticed Amazon only has Libra SX stock in the Big sizes. 

 

They do have stock in worm-drive Samira, and I'd recommend 1000H size for 8-lb mono. 

Mine's a little extra pimped with Daiwa handle. 

They feel stiff out of the box, but run in quickly while you line them. 

[TnRiver46]

10 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

My dad has NUMEROUS old Shakespeare and Abu Garcia reels from the 50s and 60s.

 

Some are so old the left plate is literally just a sheet of metal.

 

It's cool to see people still using vintage equipment.

That reel of mine I would imagine is from the 90s or 80s. When it comes to vintage equipment, @bulldog1935 is the man to talk to 

[bulldog1935]

@TnRiver46

One of the quickest places to date Ambassadeurs is e-replacement parts list of model numbers with schematic dates

Oldest 4600C3 is '89. 

My Royal Express was introduced at the same time, though mine is the later '02/II version. 

 

and of course, mine didn't stay that way - I bought a nice and nicely inexpensive estate reel for a braid spool and low-inertia LW vehicle. 

[CrashVector]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@TnRiver46

One of the quickest places to date Ambassadeurs is e-replacement parts list of model numbers with schematic dates

Oldest 4600C3 is '89. 

My Royal Express was introduced at the same time, though mine is the later '02/II version. 

 

and of course, mine didn't stay that way - I bought a nice and nicely inexpensive estate reel for a braid spool and low-inertia LW vehicle. 

Mt dad has some OLD stuff.  I'll take pictures next time I visit him.  He said some of them are "the first ones they sold in the United States"

[Eric 26]

11 hours ago, CrashVector said:

Mt dad has some OLD stuff.  I'll take pictures next time I visit him.  He said some of them are "the first ones they sold in the United States"

There is a thread I believe the title is “so you guys like the older stuff” it has some killer pics of older gear. It was started by bulldog 1935 so maybe he can correct me and direct you and myself to the proper title. I’m no collector nor do I fish with vintage gear but it’s sure cool to see it on here.

[bulldog1935]

@Eric 26

 

[Phil77]

18 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@TnRiver46

One of the quickest places to date Ambassadeurs is e-replacement parts list of model numbers with schematic dates

Oldest 4600C3 is '89. 

My Royal Express was introduced at the same time, though mine is the later '02/II version. 

 

and of course, mine didn't stay that way - I bought a nice and nicely inexpensive estate reel for a braid spool and low-inertia LW vehicle. 

Is that an Akios double bearing idler gear?

[bulldog1935]

10 minutes ago, Phil77 said:

Is that an Akios double bearing idler gear?

 

That came from Hedgehog, Kagawa dual BB idler.  The worm gear is Valleyhill dual BB, the LW rider is Valleyhill with ceramic guide, and I have a Mike's zirconia pawl. 

The spool is AMO and the mag brake Avail.  Also Mike's dual BB spur gear. 

It casts 3 g beautifully, and on up to 1/2+ oz. 

[Phil77]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

That came from Hedgehog, Kagawa dual BB idler.  The worm gear is Valleyhill dual BB, the LW rider is Valleyhill with ceramic guide, and I have a Mike's zirconia pawl. 

The spool is AMO and the mag brake Avail.  Also Mike's dual BB spur gear. 

It casts 3 g beautifully, and on up to 1/2+ oz. 

That's a beautiful reel. My brother moved to Florida and needs a frog/swimbait reel. Been looking for an older C3 or C4 to customize for him. 

[redmeansdistortion]

12 hours ago, Phil77 said:

That's a beautiful reel. My brother moved to Florida and needs a frog/swimbait reel. Been looking for an older C3 or C4 to customize for him. 

Check on FB, I've been seeing them for anywhere from $25 on up depending on condition, and even the $25 reel I saw wasn't in that horrible of shape.  I only passed on it because I have a healthy stable of Ambassadeurs.  

[Phil77]

7 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Check on FB, I've been seeing them for anywhere from $25 on up depending on condition, and even the $25 reel I saw wasn't in that horrible of shape.  I only passed on it because I have a healthy stable of Ambassadeurs.  

Nothing but beat up reels on my local FB, hard to find decent used ones on ebay these days. Guess I'll have to go look at flea markets when the fishing slows down.

[redmeansdistortion]

26 minutes ago, Phil77 said:

Nothing but beat up reels on my local FB, hard to find decent used ones on ebay these days. Guess I'll have to go look at flea markets when the fishing slows down.

I don't usually bother with local sales on FB, not much I'm interested in.  I recently bought a near mint Daiwa Sol for $50 from some guy out in Missouri, great transaction.  While scammers on FB do abound, I pay with PayPal tied to a credit card so I have two avenues of resolution in the event of trouble.

[TnRiver46]

My buddy got some video of my 4600c in action yesterday 

[FishTank]

So what defines a workhorse reel for me.....

 

It should be consistent in all aspects and conditions> casting, drag, brakes, and ease of use.   The reel should handle as much abuse as I can give it and still perform, again consistency.  It has to feel like an extension of my hand as well.  Also, after being beat up and mistreated , I want to easily be able to take the reel apart and just clean and oil it.  I want to be able to do this year after year without any major parts failing. Simplicity in design is key here.  Not many reels or brands for that matter can do this but they do exist.

 

 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

On 11/13/2021 at 8:10 AM, new2BC4bass said:

Nice picture!  I like my 1600C and would love a 2500.  Maybe even a 3600, but after that the physical size gets to be more than I'd prefer.  I suppose one could get used to the larger size.

The 4500 and 4600 size abus are perfect for pistol grips around 6 ft i have med size hands and they fit just right enough to hold onto and not too much after a day of fishing ..ive found some reels to small  like 1600 size abus even though i love them not very comfy on any rods i have ..some others also even me with med hands i like a reel i can manhandle lol

[new2BC4bass]

9 hours ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

The 4500 and 4600 size abus are perfect for pistol grips around 6 ft i have med size hands and they fit just right enough to hold onto and not too much after a day of fishing ..ive found some reels to small  like 1600 size abus even though i love them not very comfy on any rods i have ..some others also even me with med hands i like a reel i can manhandle lol

The only pistol grip rod I have is an ultralight Daiwa combo that came with a mini Daiwa spincast reel spooled with 4lb line...I think.  It's over 46 years old.

[Cgolf]

I have 4, 3 Quantum Accurists that are around 15-20 years old that are solid reels that in the last year I am finally replacing with newer reels that cast further. Only complaint was casting distance, otherwise they still work just as good as the day I bought them and on trips they are packed as backup reels.

 

Other is a 20+ old Shakespeare excursion spinning reel. That was my river bank reel and was used a ton and sat in the hot truck all summer while I was at work. I finally retired it last year and am looking to finally use a second one that I got back then that is basically brand new. That reel has probably caught more fish than all my other reels combined. Fished cranks and plastics with it. It is a little sloppier than other more expensive reels, but 20+ years out of a 20 buck reel is pretty darn good. 

[PhishLI]

On 11/11/2021 at 1:05 PM, islandbass said:

I imagine most would agree that it is a reel that is reliable and serves the angler well day in and day out. 
 

With that said, surely there are other factors we take into account when we call a reel a workhorse. 

My idea of a workhorse reel is one that's not specialized, is general purpose, rugged, and easy to dial in when switching commonly used bass baits. It won't get funk'd up easily by a puff of wind like one beloved brand is prone to. The Tatula 150 fits that description. Mine has remained smooth after winding in plenty of 2-3 ounce wake baits, and will throw a 5" senko a good distance easily. Gear smoothness hasn't changed, and no sticking thumbar issues. With its metal frame and metal handle side side-plate, it seems that it'll remain dependable. It's built better than my Fuego CTs, and I've flogged those for 4 1/2 years with no issues whatsoever to report. The 150 is a solid workhorse for $159.