I am looking to purchase one of these baitcasters but I am not sure which one yet. If anyone has used one or both, any advice and insight would be appreciated 

Out of those 2 definitely the Abu.  I'd rather spend a little more and get an aluminum reel instead of graphite IMO.

Neither -----> SHISHAMANO !!!

Promax for sure 

I just bought an Abu Garcia Pro Max 3 on ebay.  Was brand new and I won the bid at $54.  Retail price is $79.  Pretty happy with is so far, especially for the price.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have an Abu Garcia silver max currently and I was leaning towards the pro max but I saw the kastking on Amazon for about the same price, about $60. The kastking is lighter and has more ball bearings so it got me thinking 

3 minutes ago, Caballero87 said:

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have an Abu Garcia silver max currently and I was leaning towards the pro max but I saw the kastking on Amazon for about the same price, about $60. The kastking is lighter and has more ball bearings so it got me thinking 

If you want a reel that has bearings on the bearings there´s one choice ------> SHISHAMANO !!!

Get on the Lew's band wagon, shimano is played out.

Have the pro max and have no complaints. Use it on my slow retrieve lures and have no issues so far.

7 hours ago, Raul said:

Neither -----> SHISHAMANO !!!

Let's get it right here fellas its shishamo quality stuff we are talking about.

Definatly Promax

Promax 3 is legit! 

18 hours ago, crankzilla said:

Let's get it right here fellas its shishamo quality stuff we are talking about.

Dang right ´bout that ! 

Don´t ya´ll know that more bearings make a reel better, geez, why do I have to explain everything ? 

Sishamano = more bearings than Shimano/Daiwa/Abu = Shishamano ----> your No1 choice !

Kastaking = 1 billion lbs of drag + more bearings -----> well, gonna be hard to choose between Kastaking and Shishamano.

You guys hatin again??  My stealth is still rockin n rollin and was $45.  If you're spending $80 on the ProMax then the LFS is in that price range on Ebay.  

The last kings are suspiciously similar to Lewis and okuma and that place we can't name. I can't place it but I have seen the dual control they use exactly in some brand.  So made at same plant as one of the more mainstream brands but only doubled instead of 4 times the landed cost is what it seems to me.

On 5/21/2016 at 7:42 AM, Yudo1 said:

Out of those 2 definitely the Abu.  I'd rather spend a little more and get an aluminum reel instead of graphite IMO.

The pro max is definitely not aluminum. And it's definitely not worth the extra money over the black max. 

 

Get a new fuego on ebay for 72 bucks and be done. 

2 hours ago, Sammies77 said:

The pro max is definitely not aluminum. And it's definitely not worth the extra money over the black max. 

 

Get a new fuego on ebay for 72 bucks and be done. 

I know it's not aluminum.  I'm saying I'd spend more to get an aluminum reel over both of those options.

If you're willing to spend $60, save $20 more and buy a Diawa Fuego off of the Bay, or $40 and get a Diawa Tatula CT. Both are far better reels than what you're considering IMO.

Fun4me is correct the fuego is a great option and the only compition the Tatula CT has is the curado I 200 for 175 and under.

The guy is asking for opinions on one or the other reels not everyone's opinions on what to buy.  

On 5/21/2016 at 1:02 PM, Raul said:

If you want a reel that has bearings on the bearings there´s one choice ------> SHISHAMANO !!!

Next years model is rumored to be 22+3...

On 5/21/2016 at 8:00 AM, Caballero87 said:

I am looking to purchase one of these baitcasters but I am not sure which one yet. If anyone has used one or both, any advice and insight would be appreciated 

I would go with the pro max. I would check out TW. They have a sale on select revos right now. You may be able to pick one for similar pricing, plus get a lot more reel for the money. 

2 hours ago, stk44 said:

Next years model is rumored to be 22+3...

I would go with the pro max. I would check out TW. They have a sale on select revos right now. You may be able to pick one for similar pricing, plus get a lot more reel for the money. 

In that case I'll wait till next year. Good thing I didn't make that impulse buy! Also it's shishamo! Let's get this straight pls this is some hi tech stuff we're talking about!

@Caballero87 I have 3 x promax3's - got one as my first baitcaster two years ago, and then a two-for-one open box deal.  I have fished them all, and in my experience they work great and can recommend them.  Full disclosure - one of the three doesn't feel very smooth when reeling - but it was one of the open box reels that I couldn't return and may not have been representative. The other two are smooth.

 

I later got bit by the "reel monkey" and got two in the Revo family (SX and STX) and a Daiwa Costal TWS (bigger and more expensive).  Comparing the promax to these more expensive Revos, I would say the promax deserves credit for comparable or perhaps even better fit and finish; it just feels solid.

 

I respect that you are deciding between these two.  

 

That said, if it were me, I'd be looking at a Daiwa reel after the great experience with my larger Coastal.  In that price range I'd consider the Fuegos or Aird Coastal, or perhaps fork out the extra for a higher priced Daiwa.

17 hours ago, cottny27 said:

The guy is asking for opinions on one or the other reels not everyone's opinions on what to buy.  

 

I think he's getting plenty of people giving their opinion on the two reels he mentioned. I don't consider it a bad thing to suggest that there are better reels for slightly more money. It's possible the OP didn't know he could get a Fuego for $80. I know I appreciate it when people suggest something that I may not have considered.

I've been fishing a KastKing Assasin for a few months now, put it through the ringer on some wipers, took a beating and came out the other side just fine. 

I'm not an Abu fan. They don't fit my hands well and the pawls seem to like to wear out quickly. I wouldn't be scared to try the Stealth.