redmeansdistortion

I was about 6 when I started. My aunt and uncle have lived on a canal off of Lake St Clair since the late 70s. I started out with the classic Zebco spincaster, bobber, and worm and within a couple of years I was throwing crankbaits and soft plastics around the docks catching pike and largemouth. I still go over there to fish a few times per year.

No problem. They're hidden gems as of now. I've paid as little as $15 for them on eBay and $40 at the most. They have quickly become my favorite reels. That said, new old stock reels often sell for over $100. The models that end in C (IE 1600C/3600C) come with 6.3:1 gears and retrieve 25 IPT whereas the non-C models are 5.3:1 and bring in 21 IPT. Then were are the W (winch) models with 4.7:1 gears that bring in 19 IPT.

Black Max 1600 Pro Max 3600 These were some of the last Ambassadeurs made by Abu Garcia prior to the Pure Fishing buyout in the later 90s. They came with a lifetime warranty and most parts can still be easily had 27 years down the line. I believe they were the answer to the then new Shimano Calcutta back in '92. They have a one piece aluminum frame, low reel seat, and disengaging level wind. The reels came in sizes ranging from 1600 all the way to 6600. The drag stack is almost the same as a 4000 to 6000 sized Ambassadeur, but instead of a drag washer at the base of the drive shaft, they have a cog to drive the level wind. The reels that bear those names now are nothing like the originals. These reels retailed new for $99 (Black Max) and $169 (Pro Max). That was a nice chunk of change 25 years ago. The best mods you can do to them are clean the spool bearings and install lighter brake blocks. I can take my Black Max 1600, loosen the spool tension until there's a little side play, and bomb weightless worms a good distance. They are very simple reels to work on as well since they share much of their design with the classic round Abus of the Ultra Cast design.

I have every one of those, no complaints at all. The Perigree is my favorite due to its weight and sensitivity. Second would be the Tourney Special, followed by the Ugly Stik Elite and finally the Lightning Rod.

Some round Abus do have disengaging level winds. The Morrum as well as the Black Max/Pro Max/Silver Max/Tournament Pro round reels have a disengaging level wind. Those reels in the 1600 size can really throw the light stuff, even 1/8oz baits. There's a cog at the base of the drive shaft that turns the level wind versus the classic Ambassadeurs that rely on a spool pinion gear.

You'll be fine with heavier baits and light brake blocks. If you added more oil on top of the old oil, the bearings are probably over lubricated which will slow them down. Flushing them out with something like acetone or Zippo fluid and adding one drop of oil should bring them back in order.

Not at all, but keep in mind your reel was made in about '96 or '97 IIRC. If it has never been serviced there may be all sorts of dirt and grime in there fouling things up regardless of how often it was used. Something else to think about. Once cleaned and properly lubed, your reel should be better than new regardless of which bearings you use. Abu is very well known to use more lubricant than parts in their reels and it can really slow them down.

Morrum 5600C uses one 10x15x4 spool bearing, one 8x13x4 spool bearing, and one 3x10x4 bearing in the right side plate. Since you'll have it serviced, consider having the black brake blocks changed out for Abu part no. 20209, the light weight blue brake blocks. They'll make the spool start up faster and let you cast lighter lures easier. Like J Francho said, DVT will take care of you.

It's still a quick reel. The 6.3:1 ratio of a classic Ambassadeur brings in 30" per turn. Some of the low profile reels out there need 7:1 or even 8:1 in some models to bring that much line in. It isn't so much about the gear ratio as it is the spool depth.

I'm so dang near sighted I just lift up my eyeglasses to read fine print. Best readers I ever had

Sounds like a fantastic lake. I get somewhat jealous about the monster pike you all get north of the border. We get big ones here, but the ones you get in CA seem to get almost as big as our musky.

Have you done any mods to the reel yet? My suggestions, Abu clutch washer part no. 22567 and a set of Rocket brake blocks part no. 22565. The clutch washer is a little different than the stock one. The pins are narrower to accommodate the smaller blocks. The bad news, the Rocket brake blocks don't snap on to the pins like the blue/black/white blocks do on stock clutch washer. They slide very free and are easy to lose if you aren't careful during disassembly/reassembly. These are the brake blocks found on the 4500CS/5500CS/6500CS Pro Rocket. The difference in weight is about the same as the difference between the black blocks and light blue blocks. The blue blocks are a nice upgrade from the factory white ones, but for a few bucks you can get a little more out of it.

Like many here, I fish a lot of moving baits. I have a few reels that are 6.3:1, but most are 5.3:1. I also have a 4.7:1 and even a 3.8:1 in my arsenal. I really love the 4.7:1 for throwing big #5 Mepps. The 3.8:1 never gets used as I haven't found a purpose for it.

I've been pretty happy with my KastKing Perigree II dual tip. If you don't mind a 2-piece, it's a really nice rod for the money. The one I got is a 7' ML/M fast. The ML tip is rated for 1/8 to 3/8 and the M tip 1/4 to 3/4. I took it out Saturday evening with my Black Max 1600 and was throwing 1/8 tube jigs and 1/4oz Heddon Torpedoes a good distance.

Where do I start? One of my favorite lures for toothy critters, bass, steelhead, and salmon. For the toothy critters and bass, you can't go wrong with classic red/white, tire tiger, and 5 of diamonds. Those have been the most productive colors for me. I like to throw weights ranging from 1/4oz to 1oz depending on what I'm fishing for. I tend to do a steady retrieve and if the fishing is slow, I'll let it drop, pull it up, reel in the slack, and repeat.

They are very delicious. Perfect eater size is keeper-size to 30 inches. I shy away from the bigger ones because they probably have more mercury and other things in them having been around longer. There are ways you can fillet them and not get any bones. Check YouTube, all kinds of very good videos.

I use these for storing all of my tackle at home, but when fishing, I use a double sided 3450 in my chest pack. I pack lightly since I fish primarily from the bank or in waders so being mobile is a must.

They're almost as tasty as walleye

I target pike often and have had good experiences running an 18" 80lb Seaguar Abrazx leader. I fish a lot of Spooks and size 14 Husky Jerks with that leader without issue. I've run 30lb and 50lb Seaguar blue label in the past but have had bite offs. I tie my own, 130lb ball bearing swivel at one end with a heavy duty snap at the other end. I do a 3 wrap cinch knot, cinch it down by pulling from both ends with vise grips, then a dab of super glue on both knots. Heavy fluorocarbon is difficult to work with, but it can be done. I tend to run my leaders on the heavier side since big musky prowl the same waters I fish pike.

Fishing with old timers is great. If they aren't catching fish, they're telling some amazing stories.

Sometimes panfish will hit just about anything. I've caught some big gills on #8 Husky Jerks while fishing for bass. My favorite baits for panfish are Beetle Spins and Trout Magnets.

I dunno what the ON laws are, but here in SE MI when all of my fellow fishermen are out on the hard water jigging for perch, I take to the streams for steelhead. Winter steelhead is a blast. They're hungry and aggressive, and if keeping is your thing, very tasty too. The best part is the streams are largely vacant due to the ice fishermen, so I often have the stream to myself.

I thought about doing this but I read on another forum of a guy that drilled a spool but it didn't have much effect. I wonder if I can find somebody to custom make one for me?

I prefer a long whippy rod for panfish. Mine is an Okuma SST Kokanee 8' UL 1/32-3/8 and it works wonderfully. I run an older Cardinal STX with 4lb mono and it can really launch the light stuff. The moderate action also makes for a nice fight when you hook into a big gill or crappie.

Does anybody make one for these old dogs? They're certainly great for casting lighter baits as it is, but I feel like I could get more out of it with a lighter shallow spool. I can throw #6 Husky Jerks a decent distance from my 7' ML without issue, but now I feel like I want to try for even lighter baits. I checked the usual spots of Japan Tackle and Hedgehog Studios but didn't see anything. I see finesse spools for every round Ambassadeur (1500C through 6500) except for the original Pro Max style reels. I'm beginning to feel like I'm SOL in my search.