Update: Looking at 4 baitcasters, any direction on picking one would be welcomed

What's the point of that thing? It looks like a toy. I'd buy an inexpensive 4 piece fly rod and slap a spinning reel on it before messing around with that thing.

I don't think you will get much love for those things here.


It's your money. Get what you want. I wouldn't buy one though.

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I don't think you will get much love for those things here.


It's your money. Get what you want. I wouldn't buy one though.

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ALright, lets change streams then.

Thoughts on these 4 baitcasting reels. You'll get the idea of my price range.

Abu Garcia BMax-3

Noeby 10+1 6:3:1

Kastking Whitemax 5:1:1 10 BB

KasKing Royale Legend 7:0:1 12 BB

Abu....

no way id risk the others

Noeby
No eby
NO BUY

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Noeby
No eby
NO BUY

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There is a Pflueger Criterion in the same range, but its right hand only.

Don't know about the others, but I fished with a guy last week that had that same black max and it was very smooth and he could cast a mile it seemed like.

get the black max. It is forever on sale at cabelas.

My son has had 3 "cheap" (<50$) reels that were bought and gifted in the past year, and you know what happens, I'm dealing with some bullshite with his reel while he is casting my Curados and Diawas. sometimes I think he does it on purpose, but sometimes I know its the reel.

I'll look into those Mettles.

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Abu Garcia BMax-3

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My first reel was an Abu Garcia Ambassador baitcaster that my Dad taught me to fish on. I used it for a decade before College and marriage got me out of fishing. Just recently, past two or three years, I have gotten back into fishing. So I am by no means an expert but here is my humble opinion:

For the price, the Blackmax is an incredible reel. I have one of these reels and I really like them for the price. I have used this in fresh and salt water without any issue. I have fished reds and bass with the reel, no problems. I have it on a 6' 6" medium action rod with fluorocarbon I keep in my RV. I fish all the time with this reel and the breaking system is incredible at preventing backlashes. I was a bit out of practice because I use to feather reels with my thumb when I used the Ambassador reel. I do not need to feather anything with the blackmax. The technology has come a long way in 20 years.

I just grabbed a Diawa MH (6' 6") rod at academy on clearance for $6. I decided to get another Abu Blackmax reel for my worm rod because it worked so well on my swimbait and general casting rod.

I have owned Abu Garcia reels and the Bass Pro Tourney reels. The bass pro reels were really nice but I literally broke their tourney special reel doing some light saltwater fishing. I had a lot of problems with the breaking systems on these off-brand reels.

I think I am going to stick with Abu Garcia from now on. With the money I spent on two off-brand baitcasters, trying to save a buck, and the blackmax I just bought, I could have one of those nice Abu Garcia Revo reels. I suggest if you want a baitcaster, spend the extra $$$ and get one of the nicer Abu Garcia reels, it will last you for years.