Josh Smith

What others? This could be good info. Regards, Josh

Anything Ambassadeur that had "C" in the name used bearings, and anything without the "C" used bushings. For example, The 5000 had bushings. The 5000c had bearings. The 5500 had bushings. The 5500c had bearings. Lots of times the bushings would actually out-cast the bearing models, and I keep a 5500 non-c around for this reason, and I've been thinking about taking one of the Ultra Cast 5500c3 reels I've modded down to bushings in the spool. Bearings help the reel start up, but bushings can keep it going longer. It's weird, I know. Thinking about it, I might just have a spool I can use to interchange so I can have both for that reel. Josh

If I used magnets, I probably would do much the same. As-is though, I open the tension up so that it overruns from 4' up, and I run heavier/more (depending on reel) centrifugal brakes. My thumb does what your magnetic brakes do, and the tension is only there to keep me from burning my thumb. Josh

You know they started out the same thing, right? Josh

"Set right" generally means that you turn off the brakes (in the case of magnetics), hold the rod horizontally, and release the spool. The lure should fall slowly to the ground, about one to two seconds from four feet up. You then turn the brakes back on to medium (or whatever) and cast. Setting tension is an individual thing, though, and I don't use that method any longer. That's just the stock answer provided by most manufacturers. Regards, Josh

Hello, My two "go to" baitcaster setups are a 5500c3 (modified) on a 6' MH/F Cherrywood HD, which does exactly what I want it to with heavy jigs, and a 7' Daiwa MH/F, likewise with a 5500c3 (modified), which has become my frog rod. It seems to have more backbone than most MH/F rods, and though I'm thinking of switching it to a H/F next season, it really does what I need it to do, though I might be pushing it. I've also been using this 7' Daiwa for jerkbaits, though I really need to speed up the reel by about 5ipt to make it excel in this area. Now, I have another Daiwa rod, a 6'6" M/F version of the same model Daiwa I use for frogs and such. For my birthday I ordered a 4600c3 reel. I think I'm going to put faster gears in it; as it comes, it's a 26ipt reel. I have it planned to set atop the Daiwa M/F 6'6". The setup is going to be spooled with 40lb braid and will have a fluorocarbon leader. The idea behind this setup is lighter plastic worm fishing this winter, probably alongside my ultralight doing some fishing in the river after the lakes freeze. Been thinking, though, that it might also make a good jerkbait rod, though I prefer an XF or XXF tip for those. Still, it might be fast enough. I have some spoons that might need a slightly lighter rod. When I throw spoons, generally throw heavier ones with the heavier rods, but that may change. I have some smaller spoons that are neglected. Thoughts? I guess I started a combo build with a purpose in mind, but it's evolving to either another, or an additional, purpose than I'd initially intended. What do you think? Regards, Josh

I see brakes as a convenience -- and there's a lot of difference, too, between magnetic and centrifugal brakes. Growing up as I did with the 5'6" pistol-grip casting rods, I learned to accelerate them fairly fast on the cast. It was still a smooth cast; don't get me wrong, but it was faster because the arc described by the tip of the rod was shorter and so speed had to be increased faster. Therefore, a bit of braking at the beginning of the cast was beneficial. This is where centrifugals shine. I eventually learned to back off a lot of the spool tension and apply tension with my thumb. I began by riding the spool, but eventually got to where I'd float my thumb and only apply a bit of tension when I feel the line beginning to "fluff" up. Now, I back off the tension quite a bit, but use more initial braking (centrifugal) than most folks. I don't want brakes after I fire it out there. I've found that magnetic brakes are a heck of a lot easier to teach, though, than centrifugal. My wife just started using a baitcaster (1310 Quantum I modified for her) for the first time, and only twice this year. My boy, who is 7, can likewise control a magnetically-braked baitcaster (Quantum Lite, likewise modified, but for him.) Granted, my boy doesn't get a lot of range yet, but we're working on that. It's mainly because I have the magnetic brakes cranked up and am gradually turning them down as he gets better. Belle has both her great-grandfather's Bronson baitcaster and a 5000c I modified. She sorta' claimed the 5000c and I put it on a pistol-grip handle. The sits and plays fishing for about 1/2 hour at a time! Push button, "cast", reel. Belle with a 5500; she wanted to play with Daddy's old gear that day: If she want to actually use the 5000c, she'll have to learn to use centrifugals. I figure I'll start her in about another year, the summer after she turns 3. Regards, Josh

Is that what it's called? I always thought of it as "anti-lock braking" a spool. Josh

This is why any low-profile reels I get will be Shimano. I love my Abu Garcia round reels (not S, which are made in China.) I can't get behind any of these Chinese reels, though, Abu's included. If they're all the same reel, why bother with brands? It's all marketing hype. I go with reels with solid reputations, not just names, no matter the name's reputation. You have to look at the guts of the thing to judge quality. The Ambassadeur line, for example, is largely unchanged since the early-'80s with the *** of the Ultra Cast desige, and before that, since its ***. Shimano looks like the same basic Lew Childress design from back then, too, with some streamlining and modern improvements. It's too easy to buy crap today under the guise of a respected name. We are supposed to stay away from politics here. It is not politics to state manfacturing realities: Chinese working conditions are generally deplorable, and borders on slave labor. Slaves, also generally speaking, don't take pride in what they build. Therefore, while crap can be built in any country, it's more likely to be built in the country employing borderline slave labor. Josh

Might just save the reel. Josh

Nobody preaches like the converted.

The one thing that made me laugh most was an otter that kept poking its head out of the water to stare at me. Nothing complicated. Just a good day fishing with some company I'd not expected. Josh

I built one, in a similar manner to how I build pre-UC Ambassadeurs, for my wife. It is what she is learning on. This one is on a graphite frame, but I'm thinking of putting it on a metal frame I have since she's getting so into fishing. I chose the 1310 because I found it incredibly hard to backlash. More magnets than standard, I think. She's pretty proud of it, and it works well for her. It is therefore, "best"! Regards, Josh

Like GulfCaptain said. Though here it's a lot more theory than fact, and I use high-capacity reels. Were I using lighter low-profile reels, I'd be slightly concerned about long-running critters. A lot more probable in the South, though, than here. Regards, Josh

Jean-Claude's little brother..?

1310 with the metal frame.

I like the quiet, and I like the feel of well-tuned reels I did myself. The rods are slightly lesser parts of the equation as, though I customize mine to a greater or lesser extent, I don't have time to build them. Josh

Back with cheap mono and, as was said, don't tie to a hole. Josh

That much electrical tape will make the spool pretty heavy. I used to use it to start the line, but then I took some years off fishing. When I came back and went to re-spool, I found that the electrician's tape had reacted with the mono I'd put on there and became goo. Now, it did take a number of years for this reaction to take place, but it still happened. Now I tie mono directly to the spool and use it to back braid. Josh

No, that's Scott Martin.

Really? Was my birthday too! I ordered an Ambassadeur 4600c3 (used, in good condition; they don't make this one any longer). It's going on a 6'6 M/F Daiwa for slightly lighter lures. My heavy jig reel is a modified 5500c3. Happy birthday! Josh

I don't know if this is arrogance or ignorance. How about engineers? CEOs? Doctors? Some simply don't have an overwhelming desire to compete. Something we learned in martial arts: No matter how good one is, there is always someone better. Josh

I think it would help get one or the other within reasonable driving distance from me. Otherwise, too Walmart-ish, so I'm a bit torn. Josh

I use a Cherrywood HD MH for those, especially jigs and square bills. (I have a dedicated rod and reel for deeper cranking. It uses mono and the reel is 21 to 23 or so IPT.) The Cherrywood, being part fiberglass, imparts an action I really like on the jigs. I use IM8 Daiwa rods, 6'6" and 7', for most other things save deep cranking. Regards, Josh

A professional at anything is only a professional because he's good enough to make money at a thing and chooses to do so. I am sure there are plenty of excellent anglers out there who remain in obscurity. They wish fishing to remain their own, calm, private past-time, but could run circles around any professional named. Josh Edited for spelling.