I learned to fish a baitcaster with an Abu Garcia Black Max. It's rickety as hell, the handle wobbles when you turn it etc but still works to this day.

My local Sportman’s has them on clearance and I played around with one tonight. I was impressed with the quality for the price! May grab one to teach my wife how to use a baitcaster 

*For $10 more you can get a Academy Sports H2O Xpress Mettle M3 (7:1) bait cast reel with one - piece aluminum frame (Black Max is a graphite frame) making the Mettle M3 more solid and keeps gears aligned under the stress of fighting a fish . The Mettle M3 only comes in a  7:1 gear ratio though .

I ran across this thread because I have a Black Max, not sure the version, and I've been using it a year. It's still running like a champ. I've oiled it a couple of times. I fish 4-5 times a week, for several hours each trip, plus I cast in the yard for practice and with my boy, so it sees some use. It's not my only reel, but it was my only baitcasting reel for about 4 months. I have landed 2 fish 3-5 lbs with it, and of course gobs of small ones.

 

It does seem to cast quite far compared to other reels I've tried, and I often cast a weightless lizard or fluke and a Lunkerhunt Pocket Frog.

They are great reels for the price. I still have two in the rotation and I’ve given my son others I’ve replaced.

Mine is still going strong after a few years now. Can’t beat em for the money 

Not a fan but I used to be.  You can get aluminum frame reels for what Abu wants for a black max.  When I didn't know any better I thought of them as a good value reel but once I discovered Aliexpress it was game over for $60 plastic reels.  I've bought multiple aluminum frame and some even aluminum frame and handle side plate reels for less than $60.  My most recent purchase was $37 for an aluminum frame 200 size reel to compare to my Johncoo Ares throwing 1 to 3 oz big baits. 

Had the silver max that i got new for $20. Holding it in my hands, and spinning to handle was enough for me to put it on sale instantly. No thanks.

1 hour ago, ABU is overpriced said:

Had the silver max that i got new for $20. Holding it in my hands, and spinning to handle was enough for me to put it on sale instantly. No thanks.

Silver Max was complete garbage from my experience. The Black Max and Pro Max are great reels. Judging by your screen name nobody will convince you otherwise though.

My Black Max is still going strong. I used it a fair amount for lighter stuff for about a year. Finally put it back on the Black Max rod and it's doing lightish stuff to crankbait duty right now.

 

I oil it occasionally, and it still zings lures way out there.

 

I wish I could find a thread or some pictures showing the differences between the BM 1, 2, and 3. Whichever version I have is a solid little reel.

10 hours ago, Bazoo said:

My Black Max is still going strong. I used it a fair amount for lighter stuff for about a year. Finally put it back on the Black Max rod and it's doing lightish stuff to crankbait duty right now.

 

I oil it occasionally, and it still zings lures way out there.

 

I wish I could find a thread or some pictures showing the differences between the BM 1, 2, and 3. Whichever version I have is a solid little reel.

You could pick up a shallow finesse spool for the reel for under $30 to make it even better with lighter baits.  Ebay and Aliexpress have them.  Top reel is the BM3 and the bottom reel is the BM4.   The BM4 has the red side cover release shaft and is a pointier and more squished down shape compared to the BM3.

I have nothing but ABU reels. I'm not a fan of their rods except for the pro series where I own a few different models of those. I have everything from Zenons down to the vengeances and in my opinion the black max is just about one of the best budget reels out there. I still have a few black maxes rigged up on my boat right now. strangely almost every one of the other budget offerings from ABU is pure garbage though. The silver max, blue max, vengeance, all hot garbage and I would buy them ever again.

5 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

You could pick up a shallow finesse spool for the reel for under $30 to make it even better with lighter baits.  Ebay and Aliexpress have them.  Top reel is the BM3 and the bottom reel is the BM4.   The BM4 has the red side cover release shaft and is a pointier and more squished down shape compared to the BM3.

Thanks. My BM looks like the picture of the first one, the 3rd, with the exception of the handle is different. No pictures currently as my phone is down.

 

Mine is identical to this. 

 

 

Mine does not have BMAX3 on the bottom of the gear case though.

@Bazoo if your’s looks like that it’s on the newer side.

I’ve got a couple Black Max 3’s still in the regular rotation, and a Black Max 2 with upgraded bearings and drag washers (Even lives on a late 90’s Berkley Lightning Rod). Not many reels that can compare for less than $150.

They've been rebranded in the current gen as the Max X, Max STX, and Max Pro for a while now, which I felt was a misstep since the BlackMax branding had more market presence IMO. The ProMax 3 was my first foray into casting reels when Amazon had it on sale for 50 bucks. The chromed plastic thumb bar cracked in half after a year or two, ended up replacing it with a black one from a BlackMax and it's been good since, if a bit rattly and janky.... Have generally retired it in favor of better reels but I owe a lot of what I learned to that reel.

 

Help me understand bat poop insane takes in this thread .  Do people have zero experience with other cheap reels?  Is this the only cheap reel they have ever used so that makes it the best?  You can buy an aluminum frame, let me repeat, AN ALUMINUM frame reel with other features like a conical level wind and power handle for LESS than what even a USED LAST GEN Black Max costs.  Why?  Why are there still hot takes like "hands down best budget reel - Bob".  It's like people shut their brains off when you mention anything outside of Walmart/Amazon/Tacklewarehouse.  I know the $30-$40 alternative aluminum frame reels are on Aliexpress and that's scary for some reason but some of you already buy Aliexpress reels on Tacklewarehouse or Academy rebranded as familiar brands at an exorbitant markup because KOLs shilled them so why not just cut to the chase and buy the thing from where it came from without the middle men?  "I want bang for my buck and to cut out the middle man"  "No not like that!"  I'll never understand this. 

9 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

 

Help me understand bat poop insane takes in this thread .  Do people have zero experience with other cheap reels?  Is this the only cheap reel they have ever used so that makes it the best?  You can buy an aluminum frame, let me repeat, AN ALUMINUM frame reel with other features like a conical level wind and power handle for LESS than what even a USED LAST GEN Black Max costs.  Why?  Why are there still hot takes like "hands down best budget reel - Bob".  It's like people shut their brains off when you mention anything outside of Walmart/Amazon/Tacklewarehouse.  I know the $30-$40 alternative aluminum frame reels are on Aliexpress and that's scary for some reason but some of you already buy Aliexpress reels on Tacklewarehouse or Academy rebranded as familiar brands at an exorbitant markup because KOLs shilled them so why not just cut to the chase and buy the thing from where it came from without the middle men?  "I want bang for my buck and to cut out the middle man"  "No not like that!"  I'll never understand this. 

 

I'll bite. I don't buy reels from the "manufacturer" without the branding partly because I can't be sure that it's the same reel. All reels look the same to me. I can't look and say this reel is a rebranded x model from this maker. Also, if it's a different color... then I am doubly not sure.

 

But the other reason is I don't want to deal with the resultant explanations when someone asks about my reel.

 

So let's say I am fishing, and my buddy comes up and is like "what reel do you have?" Now, I am not in it to impress, I don't care what others think, but I don't want to have to explain "This is a brand x reel, it was made in china and I bought it for $5.99; It's the same reel as an Abu Garcia without the labeling." Not to mention any resultant questions.

 

So it's not what they think, rather, I'd much rather not deal with all that extra that it entails.

 

Not to mention, I have pride of ownership in my items, even though I don't show them off (not that anyone is showing off a Black Max reel). I enjoy using items with a brand on them more than with some x brand name.

8 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

 

Help me understand bat poop insane takes in this thread .  Do people have zero experience with other cheap reels?  Is this the only cheap reel they have ever used so that makes it the best?  You can buy an aluminum frame, let me repeat, AN ALUMINUM frame reel with other features like a conical level wind and power handle for LESS than what even a USED LAST GEN Black Max costs.  Why?  Why are there still hot takes like "hands down best budget reel - Bob".  It's like people shut their brains off when you mention anything outside of Walmart/Amazon/Tacklewarehouse.  I know the $30-$40 alternative aluminum frame reels are on Aliexpress and that's scary for some reason but some of you already buy Aliexpress reels on Tacklewarehouse or Academy rebranded as familiar brands at an exorbitant markup because KOLs shilled them so why not just cut to the chase and buy the thing from where it came from without the middle men?  "I want bang for my buck and to cut out the middle man"  "No not like that!"  I'll never understand this. 

Because it's an opinion. Just because yours does not align with others doesn't make them(or you) right or wrong. It's just an opinion. I have my reasons for thinking the black max is a top quality budget reel just as you have reasons for not. It's all subjective. But I will say that people get too caught up in Brand loyalty and judging others because of it these days. No matter what reel you fish as long as you bring good fellowship, conversation and no bananas, you would be welcome on my boat. 😁

Remember the years when the Black Max first came out. Was in a Wally World the other day and picked one up and inspected it and it was obvious to me it has come a long way for a budget reel. Most of the young boys at the neighborhood ponds fishing have a combo they got from Walmart. That's a road to brand loyalty.

Good Fishing

 

9 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

 

Help me understand bat poop insane takes in this thread .  Do people have zero experience with other cheap reels?  Is this the only cheap reel they have ever used so that makes it the best?  You can buy an aluminum frame, let me repeat, AN ALUMINUM frame reel with other features like a conical level wind and power handle for LESS than what even a USED LAST GEN Black Max costs.  Why?  Why are there still hot takes like "hands down best budget reel - Bob".  It's like people shut their brains off when you mention anything outside of Walmart/Amazon/Tacklewarehouse.  I know the $30-$40 alternative aluminum frame reels are on Aliexpress and that's scary for some reason but some of you already buy Aliexpress reels on Tacklewarehouse or Academy rebranded as familiar brands at an exorbitant markup because KOLs shilled them so why not just cut to the chase and buy the thing from where it came from without the middle men?  "I want bang for my buck and to cut out the middle man"  "No not like that!"  I'll never understand this. 

Well, the topic of the thread is asking about the Black Max reel and others opinions on the Black Max so naturally this thread is going to get responses from Black Max users and it seems like the opinions are overwhelmingly positive. 
 

For me personally, when I started using baitcasters I started with budget friendly ones. The first one I tried was complete junk! Then I tried the Black Max and it was great! I’m not a gambling man, I got burned on the first reel, and hit a home run  on the second reel. I upgraded to a Silver Max and it was junk so I was 1 for 3. Naturally, I picked up more Black Max reels. I did eventually pick up a Pro Max and it worked great. You could say I was loyal to the Abu brand reels at one time, that was because they worked and again I’m not a gambler and at that time I didn’t have the budget to gamble on anything else. I did receive a cheap Kastking reel as a gift and it was a great reel which I now have two and still use occasionally. I wouldn’t have tried one if it weren’t for receiving one as a gift. Again, think budget minded and fear of getting a dud. Keep in mind, this was all before I found this place. I trust the opinions on here and I eventually started to add more expensive reels because of the opinions on here so that’s a factor. 
 

I’ve never understood the disdain for graphite framed reels. I hear it frequently on here. What are people doing with their reels that they’re worried about the integrity of a graphite framed reel? Are these people also only using glass rods and carrot stick rods? 😁

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I’ve never understood the disdain for graphite framed reels

Yup,  especially if you're nor fishing where 10#ers frequent. 

 

On 7/15/2024 at 8:39 AM, Bigbox99 said:

$37 for an aluminum frame 200 size reel t

That Seasir screenshot the one? How's it treated you? 

I haven't had any issues or concerns because the BM has a graphite frame. I have caught bass up to 5 pounds on it. Now.. I don't catch a huge number of 4-5 pounders. I catch a lot of small ones and a handful of 3s, and an occasional 4-5.

 

When I'm fighting the fish, I'm not able to tell that my reel is flexing because of the heat of battle. 

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Well, the topic of the thread is asking about the Black Max reel and others opinions on the Black Max so naturally this thread is going to get responses from Black Max users and it seems like the opinions are overwhelmingly positive. 

I'll take a stab at defending Bigbox. He owns high end gear and is a gear head. Across various forums and in several incarnations, I know this is true. He also has a thing for ferreting out and buying high quality budget gear, then attempting to pass that info on. His point in this thread is that one can do way better for the dollar. I suppose his frustration comes from the fact that he's brought this info to light often over the years with little reaction based on reluctance to purchase from certain overseas sellers.

 

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I’ve never understood the disdain for graphite framed reels.

Honestly, there's not much about them that's graphite. They're plastic, and if you take apart and reassemble a plastic reel, you'll have a different feeling about them. Most people never even have their reels serviced, so most people don't think about things like this. I do, so does @Bigbox99 so if there's a competitively priced metal framed reel available it's a no-brainer. 

 

I bought my first Black Max based on it being the only baitcaster Walmart had at the time. Turned out that I really liked it, and it was a good price, so I bought a couple more, then a couple more came along. Time passed, and they still work great…..might be fun to upgrade the oldest of the bunch, so I did. 

 

I’ve never had another baitcaster that made it this long with just basic maintenance, including far more expensive ones. To me that’s a win, and worthy of recommendation.