Hi and thanks in advance!

I grew up fishing plastic worms and most things using what I consider the "typical" bass baitcaster that has the bail in the middle.

Then, occasionally, I'd use the big round kind on salt water.

But Dad has left behind baitcasting reels that are the round kind, like a hybrid between the two, with the bail off to the right, but smaller and seemingly for freshwater use.

What on earth are they for? Example attached, thanks!

I assume maybe they are for less frequent casting like live bait and trolling? Although Dad always wanted to troll with spinning reels...?

I was used to using the kind for bass that Bill Dance would flip with or something, with the bail in the middle (not off to the side like the round kind in the pic). What did Dad intend to do with this kind of small but round baitcaster, on a FL lake or river?

 

I can't comment specifically on that particular reel but I see similar type used here on the Great Lakes for Steelhead or Lake Trout.

Round reels for bass fishing come in 2 types, 1 having a side thumb release, the other having a thumb bar the same as the low profile reels currently in common use. Reels having a side thumb release aren't specifically for one thing or another, and can be used for general bass fishing.

 

I would use them for things like spinnerbaits, jigs, larger crankbaits, and swimbaits.

 

I prefer the feel of low profile reels, though I palm them both.

The only time I've seen people use those around here is for trolling. 

The reel pictured is a Bass Pro Shops knockoff of the ABU Garcia Ambassadeur reels. Way back in the 70s these were the go-to for most freshwater gamefish. These required some heavier lures or weights. Sometime in the late 70s to early 80s, manufacturers developed baitcast reels that could cast smaller, lighter lures. They changed the line release button to the thumb bar type around the mid 80s. They also designed a levelwind that disengaged when you cast. The round reel fell out of favor for most bass fishing with most anglers. A few still use them and they can be tuned to be more forgiving. They're still used for catfish and striped bass fishing where you cast less and basically drop lines or troll heavier weighted rigs. I had one that I used for bass fishing with heavier lures like crankbaits and Carolina rigs up until the early 2000s.

@Catt

A long time and very respected member on here knows more about those reels than anyone I know of.  
 

He’ll be unavailable for a while so until he is do a search on here. 
You’ll get all your questions answered soon enough. 
 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

I’ve got one of those BPS Megacast reels on the shelf still. I bought it for a striper trip on the river, then used it a couple of times throwing big football heads. I’ve retired all of my round reels  as of now, but I do occasionally find myself wanting to take one out for a spin.

To me round reels are a leftover novelty item.

 

Kind of like trying to keep the buggy whip alive or keep making vinyl records long past their time period.

 

Oddly enough, you can still buy buggy whips, vinyl records and round reels.

 

I think some of us, myself included, kind of have a sentimental nostalgia for the past. I still own several of my fathers 1940's round reels. And I have a couple of my own round reels. They certainly are not a necessity. More like a learned taste.

 

My primary use for round reels in 2025 is for live shiner fishing. A for dad kind of thing. Fish like he did. Maybe even use his reels too. Bottom fishing rubber worms is another one I might use a round reel on just because I can. Surely not because I have to.

 

I have one of those smaller round reels I have sometimes enjoyed using for a rat'l trap or spinners. It cast really well because the line guide was not slowing down the casts like the Abu reels did. I think this is another issue a lot of fishermen wanted to move away from- the line guide dragging down the casting distance.

 

I still like round reels. Don't know why... probably more so for dear old dad and grandad.

They're basically the hot rods of fishing reels.  They were being modified when they were cutting edge and people stuck with them and continues to modify them out of tradition and genuine interest.  They're even aftermarket frames and parts to build one completely from scratch much like a kit hot rod made without any antique car parts.

 

Some people just think they're neat.  Much like how this hot rod isn't going to set a new Nurburgring world record an old Ambassadeur isn't going to have 20 pounds of drag or winch in super deep diving cranks with ease with a main gear the size of a quarter but none of that actually matters.  Bass fishing isn't serious buisness.  We use fake bait to catch real fish then just throw them back when we're done.  We do this for enjoyment and for some people a big part of that enjoyment is the tackle and a further subset is really into these types of reels.  

 

2 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

Bass fishing isn't serious buisness.

 

 

My only round reel is an Avet SX 6/4 MC Raptor, but that's for winching up big grouper off the bottom. Nothing round for freshwater in my arsenal, but seeing many of @bulldog1935's builds sure does make them look tempting.

RUN! While you can...

 

Too many monkeys on our backs! The bait monkey. The rod monkey. The reel monkey. About getting monkey'd out.

@Aaron_H - my kingfish trolling rod sports a Seigler SGN

 

For our OP, @Lake Otter, I grew up fishing worms and big cranks on the basic Ambassadeur matched with 6' Fenglas Lunkerstik

Same reel doubled up on 7-1/2' Browning Hi-Power (first graphite rod I owned) for inshore and surf.  (got spooled by a few bull reds, and landed a few others)

Now, I only use braid-modified Ambassadeurs for bass fishing, mostly on river kayak and similar short rods.  

While Ambassadeur was designed to fish 3/8 oz and greater, my bench-mod reels turn on fishing 1/8 oz.  

The Japanese are still nuts for these reels, make all the bench-tuning parts, and a boutique market for the offset grips and rod blades that I call the Japan Underground.  

The round Ambassador reels were they go to bass reel for decades before Lew’s low profile BB1 hit the market. The 5 series number Ambassador 2500C, 4500C and 5500C, are right hand push button spool release, the 6 series thumb bar release. They were heavy compared to today low profile reels but had star drag and free spool and can be tuned to cast long distance with smaller lures using the 2500C reels.

The level wind doesn’t disengage on the original Ambassadors and built by Swiss before 2000 vintage, excellent reels!

The OP’s reel appears to be post 2000 vintage based on the Shimano handle design.
Tom

6 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

The round Ambassador reels were they go to bass reel for decades before Lew’s low profile BB1 hit the market. The 5 series number Ambassador 2500C, 4500C and 5500C, are right hand push button spool release, the 6 series thumb bar release. They were heavy compared to today low profile reels but had star drag and free spool and can be tuned to cast long distance with smaller lures using the 2500C reels.

The level wind doesn’t disengage on the original Ambassadors and built by Swiss before 2000 vintage, excellent reels!
Tom

I have a 4601c that is a thumb bar release.  Used to love that reel back in the day.  Hate it now. 

4 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Kind of like trying to keep the buggy whip alive or keep making vinyl records long past their time period.

 

Oddly enough, you can still buy buggy whips, vinyl records and round reels.

Silliness, especially if you haven't heard vinyl done right, young man. Still whips digital today, even the eye-popping expensive versions.  Ever hear anyone claim that analog vinyl sounds almost as good or as good as digital? Nope, you never have, but you'll hear the opposite claimed routinely by wishful thinkers. Maybe someday, just not yet.

@WRB-2.0 Tom, I've measured the thumb reach on both 4600C and BB1-NG on Falcon straight-seat rod, and the 4600C thumb reach is actually a bit closer.  

The big change with Lew's was separating freespool from LW, and it changed the game for fishing mono when it arrived.  

My offset grips put thumb and spool reach in the same position as an LP reel on straight-seat, and LW-mods make the slaved-LW more fun to fish.  

Best result off my bench, '77 4500C below will cast 3 g past 150', out-performing every new reel out there, and will still do this 45 more years from now.  

Caught my 2nd biggest giant bass using a tuned 4500C reel w/10 lb Trilene XT mono line 7/16 oz hair jig after casting over 120’ ; 18.6 lbs at lake Casitas back in 1981. All we did to tune the reels was polish the gears, level wind and pawl and use light reel oils.

 Tom

PS, the OP’s reel looks new out of box!

24 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@WRB-2.0 Tom, I've measured the thumb reach on both 4600C and BB1-NG on Falcon straight-seat rod, and the 4600C thumb reach is actually a bit closer.  

 

 

 

"Reel" quick question, how many reels do you own?????? 

 

Thanks!

I don't have any plans to add any more - right now.  

 

 

also for @Lake Otter,  the Japanese liked BPS MegaCast enough to pick up the product

https://www.headhunters.jp/SHOP/bassproreel.html

Headhunters even calls it Abu 5000 Classic - it may accept all the C3 (Ultracast) reel tuning mods that I've been discussing.  

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

I don't have any plans to add any more - right now.  

 

🤔…..I noticed you said right now. Signed your friend,

4 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

🤔…..I noticed you said right now. Signed your friend,

It's a good thing you haven't been here, yet.  Every time I say I'm taking a break, something else catches my eye.  I get lost in a world of possibilities, start bidding, pinch my cheek, then head to Yahoo Auctions and Hedgehog Studio for parts.  Earlier today I showed @bulldog1935 a sunset orange 4500C that had me itching.  I said no, then alerted him of the reel to see if he was interested.  He and I both showed exceptional restraint today.  

 

On that note, I'm a round reel nerd.  They're a lot of fun, more parts to choose from than you can shake a fist at, and they're truly simple, yet effective machines.  Simplicity is lost on all reel manufacturer today with the exception of Isuzu.  Simplicity works very effectively.  Simplicity is easier to service in the field if need be.  Simplicity is a minimum of parts, and thus less to go wrong.  You won't dare catch my trying to reseat a torsion spring at camp, but put an ABU in my hand with the pack-in wrench/standard screwdriver tool and I can fully break it down and reassemble it and get back to fishing.  This is lost on manufacturers today as they whip their horses after the carrots of bearing count, max drag capacity, speed, and lightness.  Anything to move large amounts of product.  I get it, they need to make money, but they're totally overlooking the buy it for life crowd.  That's a feature, not a bug.

The only round reels I have setup anymore are a pair of Shimano Calcutta 101's on Dobyns 736CB Glass rods with heavier chatterbaits and an Abu 4600 (I think) on an old musky rod I used to throw.

 

Cool old reels though. I often drool a bit over some of @bulldog1935 setups! Very cool stuff that he has!!

On 7/21/2025 at 9:45 AM, FloridaFishinFool said:

To me round reels are a leftover novelty item.

 

Kind of like trying to keep the buggy whip alive or keep making vinyl records long past their time period.

 

Oddly enough, you can still buy buggy whips, vinyl records and round reels.

 

I think some of us, myself included, kind of have a sentimental nostalgia for the past. I still own several of my fathers 1940's round reels. And I have a couple of my own round reels. They certainly are not a necessity. More like a learned taste.

 

My primary use for round reels in 2025 is for live shiner fishing. A for dad kind of thing. Fish like he did. Maybe even use his reels too. Bottom fishing rubber worms is another one I might use a round reel on just because I can. Surely not because I have to.

 

I have one of those smaller round reels I have sometimes enjoyed using for a rat'l trap or spinners. It cast really well because the line guide was not slowing down the casts like the Abu reels did. I think this is another issue a lot of fishermen wanted to move away from- the line guide dragging down the casting distance.

 

I still like round reels. Don't know why... probably more so for dear old dad and grandad.

My dad had some when he passed that I sold. I wish I hadn't because they were his. But then, he really didn't like them for bass either. I still have the combos he liked and used most.

I don't put antique reels like the Ambassadeurs in the same category as modern round reels.  Both are awesome but the modern round reels have offset gearboxes to fit large main gears to provide excellent winching power and high drag pressures. 

 

I see modern round reels as being even higher end than low profile reels.  Low pros are made from cast alloy and plastic finished with paint.  A modern round reel is machined from bar stock and anodized.  It's not about weight or performance but the expense and quality of the components and construction.  A modern round reel is truly a luxury item.  

 

Machined bar stock > cast alloy

 

Anodized > paint 

 

https://jdmfishing.com/product-category/reels/megabass/baitcasting-megabass-reels/lin-baitcasting/

 

https://jdmfishing.com/product-category/reels/megabass/baitcasting-megabass-reels/monoblock/

I'll never forget when I purchased my first modern round reel, the Millionaire CT SV back in 2020.  When I took it out of the box and put it in my hand, I was completely blown away.  The quality was and still is out of this world.  The gearing in it is insanely smooth, and it doesn't even use micro gears either.  It's the reel that made me leave low profiles behind for good.  Like fishing with a Cadillac.