Round ABUs

[Mobasser]

I still use two round ABU 4600c reels. I just finished cleaning them, and spooling them with new line.                                                  Both of mine are thumbar models. One is over 20yrs old now. I had to have the AR repaired on the older one a few years ago. That's the only repair I've done to either one. These were the standard reels when I started years ago. I'll probably pass them along to my grandson when I can't use them anymore.                                                These have been great reels over the years. I'm curious if anyone else is still using one anymore?

 

[WRB]

The pre 2000 Abu’s were Swiss made, good reels that have a decent market value by reel specialist like Don Iovino.

Tom

[Log Catcher]

I have several of them although I'm not currently using them. I have two Abu 5600c4s in the original winch model geared for 3.8:1, one 5600c4 geared for 6.4:1, and a 5600 c3 geared for 5.3:1. I have taken them out and used them in the past just get a little more use out of them. I still have several of the old Ambassadeur 5000s I could use if I need to.

[new2BC4bass]

As I stated elsewhere, I do like my Black Max 1600C.  Does real well with light lures.

[TnRiver46]

I have several round abu, and use them all.  Unfortunately I’ve torn up a lot more than just the antireverse ha ha

[dodgeguy]

I know guys who use nothing but those reels 

[Deleted account]

I use 4600s for bass, 5500s inshore, and 6500s for catfish. I have some 7000 and larger ones, that I no longer use.

[bulldog1935]

I have two NLW surf reels, 5500 for lures, and 6500 for spider weights; 4600 for frogging, and 1500 for stream. 

All are braid raced with shallow spools, mag brakes, and the two smaller with low-inertia level wind parts. 

The braid conversions are all pretty much backlash-proof.  Getting the mass out of the loaded spool and LW really improves these reels. 

 

  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have a few c3 & 4 for big baits, pike and carp fishing.  I’ve got few old ones too that are for sale. 

[wobblypops]

I just got this 5500c back from a servicing at DVT, ready to throw some swimbaits and A-Rigs. 1973 serial number. 

[T-Billy]

My 4601's have been relegated to catfish duty for several years. 

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

My 4601's have been relegated to catfish duty for several years. 

That's just not right...  

[TnRiver46]

12 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I have a few c3 & 4 for big baits, pike and carp fishing.  I’ve got few old ones too that are for sale. 

For sale you say……….. 

 

 

[tholmes]

I have four round Ambassadeurs in my regular rotation. A Record 4600, Record 5600, 4600 CI and a 5600 CL Rocket. All have been modded with dual ball bearing worm gears and cog wheels.

I have about 20 other 4600s,5000s,5500s and 5600s plus a 3600 Black Max and a 3600 ProMax.

 

Tom

[Cgolf]

I got a lightly used an well cared for swiss made Black Max 3600 for 10$ at an estate sale last year, person knew how to treat reels as it was stored with drag backed off. 

 

It quickly became my number 1 reel. It is a little heavy, but the comfort factor makes up for the weight. It also outcasts my more expensive low profile BCs and I think I backlashed it once and not a major one. Will have to replace the rubber paddes at some point because they stick a little, but right now a little oil solves that.

 

I want more of these gems!

[Bankc]

I have a pair (actually 3, but one is a "parts reel" I bought off eBay) Abu 5000D's from 1974 that I still use.  It's hard to find a reel in 3.8:1 ratio, and occasionally those super low ratios come in handy.  I like them especially for poppers and walking baits, as one full turn of the handle is just about right to pick up the slack on those.  It makes "burning" a popper or Zara Spook really easy.  

 

They don't cast well though.  You have to be on point with your thumb game.  But they are bulletproof.  I inherited them from my grandfather, and he never once cleaned them, though he did occasionally put random grease and oil in them.  He was a farmer, so my guess they got whatever his tractor or pickup got.  

[MAN]

I just got rid of 8 lowprofile reels to make room for some swedish abu's. Now the EBAY hunt begins. 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, MAN said:

I just got rid of 8 lowprofile reels to make room for some swedish abu's. Now the EBAY hunt begins. 

Welcome to the club!

[bulldog1935]

Either of my surf reels (NLW) will reach the proverbial 100 yds with a half-ounce. 

 

My braid-raced 4600C will cast 1/4 oz to 130' - and 3 g to 70'

 

 

[Team9nine]

This was posted by Rick Clunn today…and I still have two working ABU rounds - need to check model numbers though:

 

“At last nights grand opening Johnny Morris had a tribute to a person that most of you will not be familiar with, Len Borgstrom. Len was once the President of Abu Garcia fishing reels. They manufactured what I still consider the finest bait casting reel ever made, the 5000 and 5500 models. Being made in Sweden they were the Rolex watches of fishing reels.

 

After winning back to back BASS Master Classic World Championships in 1976 and 1977 they asked me to join the company. That’s when I met Len and one of the first questions he asked me was, “How can we improved our reel?”

 

Like I said, I considered it the best already, but most casting reels including the Garcia required a little hand gymnastics to disengage the spool. I put my hand on the spool and demonstrated, “Why I couldn’t push a release mechanism with my thumb in that position?” That was the birth of the very first ThumbBar on a casting reel and is pretty universal on all casting reels today. I was the first competitive angler to have one in his hands.
 

Len left Abu Garcia in 1981, as did I in that same time frame. Len wrote a book about Abu Garcia several years later.”

 

[Coronet27]

18 hours ago, WRB said:

The pre 2000 Abu’s were Swiss made, good reels that have a decent market value by reel specialist like Don Iovino.

Tom

Not Swiss made, Abu are Swedish like I am?

[MAN]

On 3/30/2022 at 12:25 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Welcome to the club!

Ouch...initial ebay search kinda hurt.  I use to sell them basic 6000's for $49.99  back in high school ?

[Tatulatard]

On 3/30/2022 at 12:35 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Either of my surf reels (NLW) will reach the proverbial 100 yds with a half-ounce. 

 

My braid-raced 4600C will cast 1/4 oz to 130' - and 3 g to 70'

 

 

On a bass rod or a surf rod?

[bulldog1935]

@Tatulatard

8' surf rod for the lures, rated 1/4 to 1 oz - it will send the 1/4 oz to 65+ yds. 

first double-hand cast, was in my neighbor's back acre - oops

matched with 5500CT

 

The spider weight rod for my 6500CT is 14', 1-4 oz, but any weight and distance is effortless on this

 

No big deal with a relatively mass-less spool and mag brake

It's really the low-inertia LW on the 4600 that's impressive - especially the speed of the thing. 

Dual BB on the idler and worm, zirconia pawl, alloy rider with ceramic guide for braid. The spur gears are also dual BB. 

 

One thing about old Ambassadeurs, they're so easy to work on, and to modify, and there are so many great improvement parts made for them world over, applications from tournament distance casting to stream trout fishing. 

[Tatulatard]

A 14' foot rod.  That explains it.  I need one of those for my deep cranks!