Will get a new BC fishing reel soon. Am looking hard at the ABU 5600 D6.          I have used ABU rounds for 35 yrs. Will think of changing if good reasons are given. Are there any compelling reasons I should abandon an old friend, the ABU 5600 series reel?

Will get a new BC fishing reel soon. Am looking hard at the ABU 5600 D6.       I have used ABU rounds for 35 yrs. Will think of changing if good reasons are given. Are there any compelling reasons I should abandon an old friend, the ABU 5600 series reel?

Because there are better Abu round reels.

The traditional Ambassadeur series and the D series (D5 and D6) were and still are good, reliable reels. The mack-daddy of Abu round reels sold in the US at the moment it the EXT. It's the current, and lightest, incarnation of the Morrum reel.

This reel has a solid one piece aluminum frame. The reel is ultra smooth, has a great carbon matrix drag, shielded stainless steel bearings, has a more effective magnetic brake than the low-profile Revos, and will cast very light lures with ease.

I have two EXT Pros. I currently have 3 5600 and 6500 C4s. The EXTs blow the C4s away in performance - and the C4s perform very well.

The EXTs are more expensive, but they are truly great reels. I have mine on 7' medium rods that I like to use for crank baits. That will cast the lightest bass cranks I have with ease.

I will say the D5 and D6 reels were impressive.  They are out of production but can still be had.  I've seen guys get amazingly long casts on the gold D5s.  They looked a little unconventional with that black side plate at the reel handle base.  But everyone i know that has one loves them.  

Have you checked out the Abu low profile reels? The REVO series reels are great all around performers. They are also more comfortable to fish with, IMO (maybe because I have small hands). Regardless, I think they are definitely worth checking out.

Well...I used to be an Abu Garcia man...until I got into their baitcasting reels. I had nothing but problems with every one i used like a revo and a record. Now all i use is Shimano and I have one pflueger which is nice too. The reels of new Abu Garcia are nothing like the reels of old Abu Garcia...they won't last near as long that is for sure.

Imo you should give shimano a try.

I only used Abu rounds until about 9 months ago. My favorite reel was the 5600 C4, of which I have three(I collect ABU reels and have 27 rounds in all) . When I got my new G. Loomis rod, I decided I would give the low profiles a try. My wife's grandmother got me a 2005Lp at a yard sale. After practicing with it for a few days, I went back to my rounds. The rounds felt like softballs compared to the low profile. The lows are extremely comfortable, especially with a "light" rod. I now have 3 of the Revos, an S,SX, and STX. I love them, they have helped my angling tremendously. I still go back to the rounds when fishing for tailwater stripers and cats, but for largies and smallies, a low profile is the way to go. If you are weary of the money for one of the Revos, the MAX series are pretty neat too. I have a SilverMax combo that I got as a gift for CHRISTmas. It is a decent reel and is only about $60. Or try the BlackMax, which runs around $50. I have seen several on eBay lately going in the $30 range. Good Luck, I believe if you go the low profile way, you will be happy.

Are there any compelling reasons I should abandon an old friend

Yes there are, when you are going to change that old friend for a newer friend:

I 've got two of those in mint condition I inherited from my cousin after he passed away. I don 't fish with them, they are just sitting there in their boxes.

Thank you micro.Very helpful post .