reasonably priced baitcaster

[moby1]

Hi. Anyone have any advice on purchasing a reasonably priced baitcaster (reel)or used one for sale? I know "reasonably priced is relative but post any thoughts.

[moby1]

Let me qualify the above post by saying $100 or less new.
Thanks

[JP Z]

Shimano Calyx is a good reel for $80. Or the Cardiff ($109.99)

[Guest]

ABU C-4, or C-4 Winch.

With a gear ratio of 3.8:1, the Ambassadeur C4 Winch is an ideal crankbait reel for bass fishing as it pulls in almost 18 inches of line with each turn of the handle — requiring no manually slow down of retrieval speeds.

The C4 Winch features four stainless steel bearings, a synchronized level wind, Instant Anti-Reverse, non-slip aluminum spool, star drag and a Fast Cast Thumbar.

Two sizes of the C4 Winch are available - the 4600 and 5600 models. The 4600 holds 170 yards of 10-pound test and the 5600 holds 205 yards of 12-pound test. The 5600 and 5601 have line alarms.

$75-$85 Depending on model.

Hard to beat, it will last.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 06-26-2003).]

[Aquaman01]

Ambassadeur 5500 C3. About $60. My mother-in-law has one and I wouldn't mind if it somehow defected to my boat.

My 6500 C4 is a bigger reel, don't know if you need a big reel or not. I love that one. I'm a baitcaster convert after using these two reels.

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[Kevin Turner]

Shamano Citica. $85.00 It is a great reel for the baitcaster novice.

[chunkytrout]

C3 or C4. The C3 is the Chevy Impala of baitcasters. Enough said.

chunky

[moby1]

Thanks all for the tips so far. May do some shopping or at least looking tonight. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks Brent

[TUMBLEWEED]

Not sure which models of ABU they were,
but Sportmart had a sale going on some
in their ad in yesterdays paper??
(They were the baitcaster syle)

[Scoot]

I'm with Ed- the C4's are reasonably priced and nice reels. They also handle big fish like a dream.
You could also contact my dad about new California Tackle baitcasting reels. They're sold by custom rod makers all over the U.S. and seem to be really solid. They also have a lifetime warranty and are less expensive than almost all of the reels mentioned above. Contact my dad at [email protected]
Scoot

[irvingdog]

You never really did specify if you wanted a "profile" or standard reel................

Calyx is a great, innexpensive profile, Abu 5500 C3 for anything else.

[moby1]

Sorry, don't know difference between profile and standard reel. I am assuming it is the shape. A fellow FM'er let me give one of his a shot. It's a few year old Quantum Probe QP10. He bought a few and kept one for himself but not into the casting thing much. I gave it a try out on Saturday and no MAJOR backlashes occurred. It was pretty darn smooth. In other words I didn't have to cut line at all. I did have a bunch of tangles on my brand new mitchell 300 open face. I tried Spider wire stealth for the first time. I fought that reel all day.

[blakjack23]

I just bought a Pflueger Solara this spring. Its my first baitcaster but I rarely use my spinning rods anymore since I have gotten this. I think it was $69.