jason41987

hmm, never had these issues with spinning reels.. i think baitcasters, even the round one i use is just so much more comfortable to use.. but these seemingly random backlashes are a pain in the ass.. i think im going to place an order with abu garcia to order a second spool.. have it spooled up, filled, tape over the line, and toss it in my tackle box so when i backlash that way i can just pop the old spool out, put the new one in, and deal with the backlash later

i was fishing earlier this morning.. i was using a texas rigged worm, and i got a big hit.. so i went to set the hook.. my thumb must have hit the thumb bar and disengaged the reel so on the hook set it backlashed so bad i had to cut the line.. it made me so angry as i spent an hour trying to get it untangled, that hour is when 90% of the biting occurs anyone ever have this happen?.. did i accidently hit the thumb bar or did something else happen i should be aware of so i can avoid doing it again? on the plus side when i decided to pick up the tangled mess and throw it back in the truck, the fish was still on the other end.. idiot swallowed the hook though and it was caught further back than his gills, but with some long fingers i still managed to unhook it and throw him back alive and well

i think i will wait to see that new C4.. hopefully they use a better color scheme on it.. blue and gold is incredibly ugly.. actually, i might take mine and have the frame re-annodized or powder coated or something.. but ill wait anyway, the reel im using now is a C4.. its basically a 5600C4 but different in the fact that it has a wiffle spool like the record series reel

i have to do more thinking.. a lot more thinking.. i mean, it seems so easy to just cast, leave hand in place, retrieve, then cast again.. fewer motions, less work.. but.. then many people with baitcasters tend to hold the reel in the palm of their hand, should i do that, it would take one extra step with a left crank reel than a right as id have to grab the rod with the left hand, then remove my right hand from the grip and place it on the reel as opposed to just grabbing the reel (as opposed to the rod) with the left hand so now i have to ask myself if i intend to hold the reel (not the rod) with the left hand, do what i sometimes do is hold that little piece of grip above the reel after casting, or if casting right and reeling left truly is the better way to go... another technique ive done before is cast, then turn my right hand over and reel with the left hand... so now i must think about this more and determine if i really want a left handed reel afterall

im still not sure if i want to go with the revo S, or 5600C4 round baitcaster.. but it seems ive narrowed it down to these two.. is the revo as easy to strip down, repair, and maintain as the 5600C4? i want something thatll last me 20+ years

the orra sx has an aluminum frame an 15lbs of drag, and if i search around i can get the revo S with 20lbs of drag for the same price

drag is kind of weak on the lews and BPS PQ though.. i go for northern pike, large lake trout, catfish, and soon hopefully musky and stergeon.. might need that extra drag

i dont think i really want any of the daiwas, akumas, or shimanos listed.. i like the orra sx and revo.. both 8 bearings, 15lb and 20lb drags respectively.. and i dont know much about the lews speed spool but thats the other one i think id consider as for the revo S vs the orra SX.. i dont know what differences there are between the two besides the revo having more drag and id like to eat more info on the lews, and the quantums lastly, whichever reel wins will then have to be compared in a low profile vs round baitcaster decision ill have to make next between this low profile reel, and an abu 5600c4

when i first got my reel, i didnt have the drag set right and only two brakes were on.. casted it and boom.. MAJOR backlash, spend an hour untangling it.. worked at it when most people would have given up, just used my first day of fishing with it as a learning experience.. i still have most the brakes on.. but im taking them off one by one.. actually, i should keep the centrifugal brakes on atleast 4 and work on reducing the spool tension instead

ok.. so this is basically just a 5600C4 with a wiffle spool which does decrease line capacity, but physically this probably uses the same frame and sideplates, and internals of a 5600c4.. reguardless, i have to find a 5600C4 left handed model to replace it.. i recon i could transfer the spool over but i dont know what that would gain.. some of the gears in this reel look plastic though

i have an abu round reel right now that i like, but its a right hand model.. it has the thumb bar ive really grown to like.. on the abu C3 series though its a push button and on a left hand reel its on the left side which requires me to cast left handed.. doesnt really do me any good.. but the C4 has the same design as my reel now but i can get in a left hand retrieve.. i might go with basically that left hand version of what i have now.. but ill give the citica and pro qualifier equal consideration too... i wish someone near me stocked either of these, but they dont

well this reel 5600WS holds 135 yards of 12lb test and the 5600C4 holds 205 yards of 12lb test.. so why would the C4 hold that much more?.. does it have a bigger spool that still fits in the same general frame? it was also about $20 cheaper... im wondering if a 5600C4 (i think 6600 models are way too wide and large for general purpose usage).. i wonder if the feel would be the same

my brother just started learning how to fish.. kind of funny to watch him cast really hard, then scan the horizon to see where his line falls and have it drop two feet in front of him in the mud.. couldnt imagine learning proper casts AND how to properly manage a baitcaster.. ive used spinning reels for 15 years (im 28 now) and just switched to baitcasting.. i have a round baitcaster though.. i like the simplicity and durability of them, just a reel you can ALWAYS rely on which i like but ive been considering trying some low profiles as well, my only concern is my large hands (i can "palm" a round baitcaster)

speaking of left hand retrieve..it seems most baitcast users want a left hand retrieve.. it just makes sense, we'd rather keep the rod in our right hand.. why havent they made this a standard yet?

i bought this reel from walmart two weeks ago, its my first baitcaster but its called an abu garcia 5600WS... holds 135 yards of 12lb test... does anyone have any clue what this reel is, why they made it, what niche its supposed to fill.. anything? i cant find it anywhere online or on their website could someone tell me the length of a 5600C3 or C4 from the outside surfaces of both side plates, as well as the diameter of one of those sideplates? id like to compare it with this 5600WS and see the difference in physical size

im not alone in having issues with a right hand retrieve.. am i?.. i mean, surely other people think it dont make sense to both cast and retrieve with the same hand?.. maybe i should consider training myself to cast with my left hand?.. i dunno, but it would be a lot easier to find reels if i did that.. heck, id keep this 5600WS i have now (round baitcaster, looks identicle to a 5600c4, but is scaled down to hold only 135 yards of 12lb test)

whats the difference between the pro qualifier and the bass pro shops extreme?.. i notice it has more drag also, will these low profile baitcasters do all i want? or should i consider a full size round baitcaster such as the abu garcia ambassadeur C3?

is it a redesign of current models or something new to the orra line? also, which reel is the best to tinker with?.. im willing to get one that might have weaker gears or lesser bearings if im able to upgrade or tweaks to the reel

so far: Abu Garcia Orra SX Abu Garcia Revo S Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 Lew's Speed Spool SS1HL BPS Pro Qualfier Okuma Citrix Quantum Antix Quantum Accurist Daiwa Exceler Wright & Mcgill Skeet Reese Victory Shimano Citica as of now, this is the list of reels that so far fit the criteria of offering left handed models and having aluminum (not graphite) frames i will just edit this post to update the list

ok.. so now added to the criteria since i want longevity and strength... no graphite frame reels, aluminum only.. i looked into the mettle reels.. aluminum frame, 10 bearings, they seem to offer a lot of features of a much more expensive reel at only $50, and normally, id be inclined to try a deal like this, but no left handed models and thats the #1 reason, could even be a sole reason why im looking for a new reel, i need something with a left hand retrieve what id truly like to find is something customizable, modifyable.. something i can perhaps change gears in, find or make different crank handles for, upgrade bearings, whatever.. i like to tinker with objects and if i can find a baitcaster that lends itself really well to this type of person id be inclined to go for it

ok.. im also not ruling out round baitcasters like the abu garcia c3/c4 reels, so im trying to find what the best "value" in low profile baitcasters for roughly the same price would be, and then see how that reel compared to a C3 or C4 reel to make my decision.. also, i do most my fishing on a lake shore.. no boat yet, ive considered a getting a longer rod for longer casts too.. but even a low profile can hold plenty of line for that if i use 20lb braided

im not sure how i feel about the abu garcia max series.. they use graphite frames and im not sure how well this is going to handle when the fish i typically go for are large.. northern pikes, walleye, and soon i intend to start fishing for salmon and muskie.. the BPS however does offer the aluminum frame

i just recently got into baitcasting with a small (135 yards of 12lb mono) round baitcaster.. unfortunately, i settled for a right hand retrieve which im quickly regretting, though ive grown to really like these baitcasters, ive never gotten used to switching hands to reel in so im looking for a left hand retrieve model.. the rod i currently have is a 6'6 abu garcia vengeance medium-heavy rod which is good for 1/4oz-1oz lures criteria.. need:left hand retrieve, low profile baitcaster, under $100, prefer: braid ready spool, and no red on it (sounds juvenile, but i simply hate the color) some other aspects i would like more information on in making a selection is retrieve speed.. see roughly 5:1, 6:1, and 7:1 gearing.. why would i want a faster retrieve? why wouldnt i want a faster retrieve?...also, are braid ready spools really that useful? do they work as well in tying braid as having a backing of monofilament or tape? as of yet, i dont have any brand allegiances, my current reels is the abu garcia 5600WS round baitcaster and a shakespeare spinning reel ive had for 10 years or more i got out of a kit and what im looking for within that price range is a good value.. what will offer me the best quality and the best features for a specific price, so id even be willing to go with an inexpensive shakespeare baitcaster if the value was there.. but as of right now the reel im considering most is the abu garcia pro max.. only about $80, 15lb drag, plenty of bearings, and actually matches the color pattern of my vengeance rod perfectly, so theyd look like a perfectly matched pair well, let me know what youd suggest, and why?

i was recently in the same boat as the OP, having switched to baitcasting just one week ago.. the reel i have is a round baitcaster, but its smaller in size, so handles closer to a low profile and i can safely say i dont find myself going back to spinning anytime soon, i prefer baitcasters now.. casting has become second nature to me and in the last few days i went fishing the only time i got a backlash was when i completely shanked a cast, throwing my lure into the mud in front of me (i was casting off-handed).. other than that theyre smoother, more comfortable, i feel i have more control over the entire rod/reel/lure and they even look cooler unfortunately, i purchased this locally where all they had in stock was right hand retrieve models.. i dont know about you, but this seems incredibly counter intuitive to right handed people, we cast with our right hands, it seems like a waste of time to swap hands just to reel, especially if youre lure fishing and doing a lot of cast, retrieve, cast, etc... when i fish shallow areas with a crankbait or a spoon my lure ends up in the mud or weeds in the short period of time it takes me to switch hands. many, if not most of us coming from spinning have the crank on the left side for this reason, so if youre coming from this setup, trust me you will have a harder time getting used to swapping hands and reeling than you will getting used to casting and handling the reel... but just about everyone makes left side retrieve model baitcasters now anyway, and if this is how you reel, dont settle for buying local if you can only get a right side model

so.. does anyone have any real opinion on either of these?.. and how would they compare to others?... seems the abu garcia is the standard round baitcaster all others are compared to... how would these compare to that with a little work done on them?