Anyone have a Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5501 or 5500 C3?

[SimonSays]

I recently bought the Abu to replace my citica which I been using in a pinch for striper fishing (bad, I know I know) but I can't seem to get anywhere near the casting distance with the abu.  It has "non adjustable" centrifugal brakes according to Tackle Warehouse, but Bass Pro says it has a 6 pin... and if they are anything like the citica's it seems like all of them are turned on and I don't know how to get to them! >  

Any hints guys? I feel like I wasted money  :-/

[Micro]

Ask or send a PM to TheRedTorpedo.  He's a C3 fan and can probably answer your questions.  

[fathom]

unscrew the three knurled knobs on the handle side...they will not come all the way out...this should pull the palm sideplate and spool from the handle sideplate.

the brakes should be right inside the handle sideplate and adjust just like the citica (in=off, out=on).

replace the sidepaltes and spool and you should be ready to go...the 5500c3's are excellent heavy weight casters.

[SimonSays]

Ahhh, thanks you two for the help, also a thanks to TheRedTorpedo as he helped me alot over PM.

I guess I bought a "new" older model one as it only have 2 pins verses the newer 6 pin models...I took one of the pins out so hopefully it'll let me cast the distance I'm looking for.

Anyone happen to have any tips or mods that they've done to these Abus?  

Thanks again!

[.dsaavedra.]

i read the first sentence and i thought omg...why would you get an ambassaduer over a citica!!?!?!?! but oh well theyr both nice reels i have both of em.

i guess ou already got it answered, but you unscerw the handle sideplate and there are the two pins right in there. only thing i dont like is that there is no "off" position, you either have the brakes in place, or you take them totaly off the reel.

[SimonSays]

i read the first sentence and i thought omg...why would you get an ambassaduer over a citica!!?!?!?! but oh well theyr both nice reels i have both of em.

i guess ou already got it answered, but you unscerw the handle sideplate and there are the two pins right in there. only thing i dont like is that there is no "off" position, you either have the brakes in place, or you take them totaly off the reel.

Ahh, I was using the citica for saltwater/brackish water striper fishing which I heard could be veerryy bad for it due to corrosion (didn't have anything else at the time)...so I picked up the Abu

[.dsaavedra.]

oh ok ok i gotcha. yeah that was a good choice!   ;D

[SimonSays]

Heya Dsaaverdra, how would you compare the casting distance with your Citica vs the Abu? Should I expect more, same or less distance? I'm assuming about the same or a bit less ( I hope not alot less )

Thanks

[.dsaavedra.]

well casting distance depends alot on the rod. more on the rod so than the reel.

but when i was using the 5500 i casted about the same as with my citica, but not quite as far.

i can cast a good 5-10 yards further with my citica than the abu. the abu just didnt have all the different brake settings and the cast control knob wasnt as sensative. citica is more high-tech and preforms better.

casting distance isnt all about the reel either, it depends on the rod length, power, action; the lure weight and profile (bulky lures dont go thru the air so well) and it also depends on the skill of the fisherman too...im not the greatest caster in the world, but i dont make mistakes...im sure i could do better though.

so it really all depends on many different properties, not just the reel. hope i didnt bore you to death ;D

[grimlin]

I can cast farther with a round reel than a low profile....weird.

I love my 5500.Since these reels are cheaper than the low profile reels i usually look at i might just be adding some more of these reels to my collection.