redmeansdistortion

I choose my handle length depending on retrieval speed, and the style to match the reel. I'm not a fan of EVA knobs, but gravitate towards wood, cork, and rubber depending on the style of reel.

I really like x9, but it is definitely thicker than what appears on the label. Here is a shot of 6lb x9 rated to be #0.8 diameter next to YGK X-Braid #0.8, the Berkley is at the bottom. As we can see, it's slightly larger than the YGK, which leads me to believe the X9 6lb is more like #1.0 diameter.

YGK since I know it is true to its stated diameter. US market lines in general are all over the map, which often leads to them being much stronger than what's printed on the label. This is due to the diameter usually being larger than what is printed on the label. Suffix 832 is a big offender of this and to an extent Power Pro and Berkley X9. When compared side by side, it is easy to see with the naked eye that others are in fact thicker than YGK, even though the stated diameter is the same. This isn't as important with deeper spools, but it can cost you line capacity with the more shallow spools.

I'd think due to their versatility in throwing lighter baits while also being able to hold a fair amount of more standard diameter line. Those sub 100 sized reels are generally good for baits around the 3/16 mark and above, with some performing well below that in the 1/8 territory. Let's take the Steez CT and Millionaire CT for instance; well capable of 1/8 performance with more standard diameter lines such as 8 or 10lb. The spools in those 70 size reels tend to be light, usually in the 9-12g range while a 100 size will be in the 15-18g range generally speaking. This largely depends on the manufacturer and spool design.

Yep. The general consensus among the uninitiated is that they are old technology and the level wind sacrifices performance. In some cases, they are right. The part they are not talking about is that the reel has evolved thanks to the aftermarket and bench tuning takes them into an entirely different league. The immense popularity of the reel over many decades cemented a legacy that continues on. The Ambassadeur holds records that even the latest and greatest by Daiwa or Shimano can't accomplish, and many of these records were set nearly 50 years ago to boot. Where the Japanese engineer around smoothness and close tolerances, the Swedish engineer for sheer performance and reliability. When I go brush busting through the sticks for a few days, my first choice is always a small Ambassadeur because I know it will work through everything short of a natural disaster. They're also simple enough to service in the field if need be, with minimal tools at that. It's the ultimate buy-it-for-life reel.

Flipping switches are all the rage here with the walleye jiggers on the Detroit River. They're slowly replacing spinning reels since many are increasingly coming absent the anti reverse switch. They make it easy to get your bait to the depth that fish are holding. Servicing them isn't really any more tedious than a reel without it. The torsion spring fits the same way, the only difference is one leg goes to the switch and not the frame.

I was reading just that after I had posted my reply. There's a lot of mystique surrounding the early deluxe reels. What I found interesting was that there may have been multiples of #10, but nothing has been verified.

When the DLs were first released, they were only sold through jewelry stores. They were statement pieces that were intended to be displayed, but not fished. They were still just as capable as their chrome plated counterparts. That continued for about a decade then they started selling them in tackle stores. Early DLs were all stamped in sequential order and the lower the number the more valuable it is. I watched the reel with foot number 10, a 5000DL sell on eBay 5 years ago for just shy of $5k, and it was very well used. Mind you, this wasn't a CDL, no C denotes a bushing reel so this was a very early example. The side plates were scuffed, the gold finish had pitting, and it looked like whomever had it in the past kicked it around the deck of their boat. I was shocked at the selling price, but the low stamping number was the kicker. If that reel was mint in box, it would've brought double at the very least. DL is Abu nomenclature for Deluxe denoting 24k gold plating.

There is often a huge rift between an asking price and a selling price. It's pretty common with quality, yet minimally desired products. The market on those reels are slowly growing. In reference to the listing @bulldog1935 mentioned above; at the time, the other Max reels could be had in excellent used condition for as little as $40, even on eBay. Many people bought them by the boat load. I owned 8 of them because they were cheap and high quality. Some of them I paid a whole $20 for which was a bargain considering what I'd have to spend on something newer and as capable. As with many things fishing, once the Japanese fall in love with them, the market will reflect that.

You can also order direct from SLP Works by using a proxy service. You'll get parts a lot faster that way. The Japanese shops only receive parts from Daiwa once per week, so if you don't have an order in by Monday morning, you'll be waiting a long time. Ordering from Daiwa USA also takes a long time as they use 3 legged blind mules to traverse the country before it winds up at your door 2 to 4 weeks later. Here you go https://www.sl-planets.co.jp/shop/. Chrome will auto translate.

To add to this, the Max series reels were the bridge between the Ambassadeur and Morrum. Much of the more contemporary Ambassadeur design was pulled straight from the Max reels, like the drag stack and forgoing a spool shaft in favor of locating the bearings inside of the spool and having them rotate on a stationary axle. The Max reels debuted in 1992 and the Ambassadeur would see those features implemented as well from then to present. The Max reels only saw a couple of revisions, but stayed in production until '97, while the Morrum was released in 1998 with the most recent being the ZX which debuted in 2014.

Every Ambassadeur was made in Sweden until about 15 years ago when some of the lesser models started being made in China. Every one made prior to 2010 was a Swedish made reel.

You're not understanding the regulatory body in place in Japan. A line that's stated to break at 20lb must break at 20lb according to the rules, if not it won't be sold there. Their lines are measured on the denier scale which is much more accurate than how manufacturers here do it.

I would believe YGK's numbers since their lines are manufactured and sold in Japan and regulated by the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association (JFTMA). JFTMA dictates that a line of a certain diameter must break at a certain strength whether it is braid, nylon, or fluorocarbon. Here in the states we have no such regulatory body so the measurements seen on the labels are often very misleading as those measurements are arbitrary. It's the reason why a lot of lines get reputations of being strong for their rating. Manufacturers here like to use a comparably larger diameter and give it a lesser rating, both in strength and diameter giving that illusion. The only lines on the US market that I truly trust as far as diameter and strength; Sunline, YGK, and Varivas. The commonality with them, they are all manufactured and also sold in Japan and bound by JFTMA standards.

The engraving on the palm side of the CDL is gold as is the level wind pipe and line guide. It also comes with a wooden box. Here's a completed eBay listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305539033445

These were a Bass Pro exclusive and some even came in a CDL variant with gold accents and gold stamping on the palm side. They are mechanically identical to the Black Max/Pro Max/SMax 5600. They're very nice reels with the same drag stack as the 5500C/5600C but feature a lower reel foot to facilitate palming and a one piece aluminum frame. The CDL variants typically go for ~$300 to $500 new old stock with the wooden box while the non-CDL variants usually fetch $50 to $100 or so depending on condition. Nice reels but not highly sought after yet. The market can change but in general, the market for this style of Ambassadeur has yet to emerge unlike the classic Ambassadeur and Morrum line. Once the Japanese "discover" them, the market will reflect that and prices will go up like other desirable models. The 1600 and 3600 sizes are much more desirable to both collectors and fishermen alike due to the disengaging level wind and finesse fishing capability.

If you're buying from AliExpress, read the reviews. If there are a lot of reviews and they're good, it's probably safe to assume the line is authentic. Where in Canada are you? If you're in SW Ontario, I'm right across the river in Wyandotte. I could give you a hand.

Watch Amazon for the YGK Upgrade, they have the multi color on sale from time to time.

I use those same baits and run the #0.8 YGK X-braid. Works great!

And now it's difficult finding one for less than $1000 since they are now out of production.

Yep, love me some glass. This is a fantastic stream smallmouth setup. The rod is a Graywolf 5'4" 4-8lb progressive E glass.

The '21 Calcutta Conquest platform is actually quite tiny, the '14 model is a physically larger reel. Shimano refreshes the Conquest platform once every seven years or so. Going back to the first Conquest, released in 2001, it has shrunken down over each successive generation. The Millionaire is a 1998 design that's completely modular which enables Daiwa to outfit it anyway they please with little R&D put forth. Daiwa never had to make a smaller Millionaire because the platform is so versatile. With the required spacers, a 28mm spool drops right in. Additionally, the Millionaire platform is so structurally sound that different alloys have been used for various models to save weight. Take for instance the Ringa SSS which weighs 6.9 oz and compare it with the SW 103 which is nearly 3 oz more. A different alloy is used in the SW because it is a saltwater reel. As far as the Ryoga goes, that too is an older design which was released in 2009. If it isn't broke, why fix it? Featherweight reels are cool and all, but there are sacrifices to be made. Weight isn't the be all end all that you think it is. It sells reels, that's for sure, but there is much more to the equation. The big benefit of keeping designs around? Parts availability. Many of these Chinese brands are notoriously difficult to get parts for, even current production models. If I need an Abu, Daiwa, or Shimano part, OEM or third party, I can find it easy and have it to my door. Those of us that buy these reels don't buy them for the sake of nostalgia, we buy them for the potential. They are blank slates that can be turned into better machines in the hands of a competent tuner on his bench. Build quality aside, that's why we gravitate to them. They are heirloom quality pieces that only get better the more one massages them. You aren't going to be able to do that with a Chinese reel because they are vague as far as parts compatibility. You can't swap brake assemblies, gears, worm shafts, spools, or anything else conducive to the end performance of the reel. You can swap handles and bearings, but what about after that? Not much out there. What you get is a reel that marginally performs better than it was out of the box. You aren't going to be able to build it for specific niches due to limited parts availability.

There's a reason Shimano and Daiwa do not make a round reel that light. First off, they, unlike the Chinese, have most likely field tested concept and pre-production models like you are talking about. They have the resources for extensive R&D and probably never brought them to production because of weaknesses in the alloy or design used. A reputable manufacturer doesn't risk its reputation over such things, they will tend to stick to tried and true designs that evolve over time. Similarly, Abu once had a 1500C concept model that weighed a whole 5 ounces, they were planning on releasing it in 1980 but because it was not structurally sound like the 1978 model, it never saw production. Better to err on the side of caution than to potentially sacrifice the brand.

Yes sir! Beautiful fish!

I can understand how they felt. People not from around here are in awe of our fisheries, and those that live here take them for granted just because we are so used to it. You guys should've hit the Detroit River for a day while you were here, the silver bass run is epic. I caught many master angler fish (16"+) and a few over the 20" mark. Even had some straighten hooks on me. I have yet to have a smallie do that. Those silvers are fierce, and they come through the river in the millions. They like to chase baitfish to the surface and when they're feeding, the surface boils. Early in the morning I throw topwater for them, and as the day goes on I switch to soft plastic swimbaits.