MediumMouthBass

@Delaware Valley Tackle Thats the spinning reel that has the aluminum frame, the baitcasting reel is the one with the graphite frame. If only they gave them both an aluminum frame, oh then that would definitely help me decide to purchase it.

I have aluminum and non aluminum frame baitcasting reels, i really dont like one over the other, thats why im thinking about buying this reel.

@Bankc Thanks for the detailed response, i appreciate your comments on your experience with the reel, you mentioned you got the combo aswell. I am wondering if you can tell me about the rod? How did it feel, was it good quality? did it last or break? any pros or cons. thanks again.

Thanks for the replies, just checked TW and pure fishing they both have it listed as ultra-light graphite frame and sideplates. A $180 reel with graphite frame..... i think thats the reason why not alot of people have reviewed this combo/reel.

Recently made a post on here asking about some Lews rods and reels that were 50% off and got some good information/advice from it, i have since then bought those items, like the Lews products i asked about i also was able to get a deal on a new Abu Garcia Zata baitcasting combo. Ive wanted this combo for awhile but it comes to $238 after tax, so i just bought some budget rods and reels instead. However, now i am able to get a good deal on it, Ive tried to find information on the combo and just the reel but not many people have talked about it or reviewed it other than just a few. The Zata combo sells for $238. MSRP The Zata reel sells for $190 by itself. MSRP The sale price i got for the rod and reel comes to $151. (All prices include tax). I would really like to buy this combo but am a little hesitant because of the reel not being made of an aluminum frame for that price, and also Abu's combos dont always come with that great quality/long lasting rods.... So if anyone has any of the combos/rods/reels of the baitcasting version of the Abu Garcia Zata i would appreciate it. Thank you.

Have an opportunity to get some new Lews rod and reels 50% off, i put the ones im interested in buying down below, ive checked these forums for information on these and found some posts that were helpful but not enough to make me feel confident in purchasing these, so if anyone that has these rod/reels can give some advice or input on the pros/cons and problems/issues, i would appreciate it. I have some budget Lews products so only have a small amount of experience with them. Most of the reviews on these products have mainly good reviews but there are a few bad reviews so please any advice or comments would be great. Thanks. Heres the Rod and Reels im interested in buying for 50% off. 1. Lews KVD Crankbait Series casting rod. $55 2. Lews Pro SP Skipping and Pitching casting reel. $100 3. Lews SuperDuty LFS casting reel. $100 4. Lews BB1 Pro casting reel. $50 5. Lews Speed Spool LFS 2nd Gen casting reel. $50 Edit. 4. Lews BB1 Pro casting reel is $100.

Thank you all for the advice and replies, i now have an idea of some upgrades/modifications as well as some possible fixes for the reels issue, but before i start buying parts for this reel if you guys had around $100 or less budget to upgrade this reel for 2-6oz swimbait use for pike mainly what upgrades would be your choice if this were your reel?

I dont know much about the reel or what has been done to it as far as work or modifications but when i try to put the cap on it feels like it may be the wrong cap, either wrong threads or to short. But if i went to buy a used right side plate are they all compatible from different years/decades?

Sorry for all the questions, this is my first reel i am planning on upgrading but thank you for all the help, i just took the reel apart and had the side of the reel off and took the spool out, even with the spool out of the reel i tried putting the cap back on and it wouldnt reach the o ring.

@bulldog1935 thank you for the reply, another question i have but im not sure if you have the answer, theres a o ring that is on the end of the threads that the spool tension cap goes on to and in pictures and videos of others reels the cap goes over the o ring, where on the one i have the cap doesnt even reach the o ring when fully tightened. is it possible that is someone changed the original cap and this one just doesnt fit correctly and that might cause these issues? And to @redmeansdistortion at first i didnt know that i needed to do that but last night i figured it out and am now doing that but still have the same issue with the reel.

Checked out the inside of the cap and found 3 shims plus 1 felt washer, tried it with 1, 2 , and 3 shims but all resulted in the same thing, the tension knob goes from really loose to all the way tight in one small turn of the knob, and to @bulldog1935 thanks for the new upgrade suggestions, i would like to upgrade this reel for swimbait use but for now im just trying to figure out why a 1/4oz crankbait hits the floor at 50mph on the tightest tension option. Also that picture you posted of the golden spool, that looks much different than what came on the end of the one i have. Its more like a metal line that goes across with 2 small round plastic pieces, would that upgraded part work on all years of the ambassadeur c3 reels? Thank you all for the advice this is my first ambassadeur reel and still just trying to figure it out.

Thank you for the reply, already checked the shims and the one has a dimple and i tried to flip it over to the non dimpled side and that didnt work.

Hello, recently bought a used Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3. Ive been using baitcasting reels for awhile but this one has a problem with the spool tension to the point its not able to be used. This reel was bought for using swimbaits around 2-6oz and spooled with 30lb mono, before first use i wanted to check to make sure everything worked but when i tried the spool tension knob it didnt feel like it adjusted right. It goes from Very loose to all the way tight in one small adjustment so i cant gradually tighten it to get the proper tension, i tested it with different lures and even when tightened all the way lures from 1/4oz to 3oz drop at 50 miles per hour to the floor causing birds nests. Tried forums, youtube, taking it apart but cant seem to figure out whats wrong with it. If a 1/4oz crankbait hits the floor at 50mph at the tightest spool tension adjustment im not sure how this will be able to handle 2-6oz swimbaits or any lure. Also found that the shims inside the spool tension cap can be dimpled causing this problem and that flipping it over to the non dimpled side can fix it like new, but that did not work. Im not sure what to do with this reel so if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.