Abu Garcia Black Max

[Joe Boss]

I received a Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Black Max for my birthday this weekend. I have always had good experiences with anything for Abu Garcia so I am happy. It has 5 bearings and magnetic and centrifugal brakes, the first reel I own with both brakes. It looks like a Revo made out of graphite. Anyone have any experience with this reel? How do you like it?

I used some of my birthday money to buy a Fenwick Eagle GT casting rod to put this reel on. Can't wait to use it next spring.

[T-Bone]

I've had one for about a year and so far haven't had any problems with it.  It cast fairly well.  I find that it is real good for fish thick grass and weeds, works real well if I need to muscle the fish out.

[Flywatersmallie]

No experience with the Black Max but..... I have a Silver Max (next step up) on a 6'6" MH Eagle GT, I use it for spinnerbaits and the like. Its not a bad stick, though not as light or sensitive as the Avids or LTB's I have, the price was right and their service is good should something go wrong. For what its worth, both rod and reel are made by the same company so service should never be a problem. Reel parts are easy to get if needed too.

As for the reel, they are surprisingly smooth and feel pretty well built, especially for the money.

[jesse893]

my experiences with the black max is really poor quality the reel broke a month later, about  2 weeks in the reel started to grind and was really hard to turn the handle i thought maybe i should re lube it , bought some the next day, went to go try her out same problem

just my 0.02 cents though

[cart7t]

I test drove a couple Silver Max's this past year.

Revo feel on the rod. Good castability.  Unfortunately the reels, when under load with a heavy resistance bait or pulling in a fish had a less than solid feel.  There was no mistaking that it was not a metal frame reel.  (it's not graphite Btw but a polymer plastic composition).

I also had mysterious grinding and clicking noises that seemed to come and go.  Disassembled the reels, lubed them but it didn't help.  I'm sure the tolerances of parts due to the plastic construction had something to do with it.

[Joe Boss]

Thanks guys for proving how great these forums are.

You learn something new everyday, I didn't know the Eagle GT and the Black Max were made by the same company and that the Max wasn't graphite.

[Pencil Pusher]

It is a stretch to say that the Eagle GT and the Black Max are made by the same company. They are made by two different companies that are owned by one holding company. Saying they are both made by the same company is like saying G Loomis rods are made by Shimano; Loomis is owned by Shimano but operates independently.

[Joe Boss]

I get it. It's the same situation with Pflueger and All Star rods. Thanks for the info.