BigBendFishing.Net

Do any of you guys fish with the Ambassadaur reels anymore? You really don't hear much from Garcia these days. I still have 2 that I love to fish with. They have been good reels for years.

Used to fish with them all the time. Their build quality continued to deteriorate to the point I was fixing them more than using them. I have switched completely to Shimano and haven't had 1 regret.

I fish the REVO and the TORNO by Ambassadeur.
They have done a really good job. Especially the REVO.

My fishing buddy Raymond still uses them religiously. He's got a few of the 5500's that have served him well and he uses them every time we go. I don't even own one any more. Started using the Calcutta 400 2 years ago and never looked back Shimano also

Got several that I used to use regularly but now they have a permanent home on the shelf in my utility room......Everything that I fish now is Shimano and I love each and every one

Ditto.

I still use the ones I have, even though they all need drag washers. But I am also in the process of switching over to Shimano.

I agree with the Shimano thing, I have 6 Stradics and I LOVE them. I have been fishing with them mostly but I hate fishing crank baits with a spinning reel so I generally carry a baitcaster with me. I have 2 Shimano Cardiffs that feel cheap compared to the S4600C Abu Garcia's that I love. The Cardiffs have a plastic drag wheel that just doesn't seem as heavy duty as the metal ones on the Abu Garcia's. I have 2 Calcutta 200B's and they are sweet, those are what I generally fish with when bass fishing. But since my bass fishing days are few and far between I have started taking a closer look at the reels I haven't been using. That is why I was wondering about the Abu's.

I catfish and bass fish with 2 5500s that were passed down from my dad..they were made in the 60's and the insides look brand new when you take them apart to clean them ..I only use them in fresh water . I use shimano in the salt.

I HAVE 10 GARCIA REELS, 5 STILL NEW, NEVER BEEN USED. BEEN TRYING TO WEAR OUT THE OLD 5500'S AND THEY JUST WILL NOT WEAR OUT. I HAVE HAD ONE SINCE THEY FIRST CAME OUT AND IT IS STILL BEING USED. I HAD TO REPLACE LINE GUIDE, PAUL, AND REPLACE THE HANDLE ON THE FIRST ONE I OWNED, THE OTHER 4 5500'S I HAVE NOT HAD TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL. I STILL USE THE FIRST ONE I BOUGHT AS MY FIRST CHOICE, HAVE THE OTHER 4 LOADED WITH VARYING LINE WGTS.AND LURES. FOR TROUT I USE THE OLD ONE WITH 8# ANDE LINE AND TOP WATER PLUGS, HAVE ONE OF THE OLDER ONES LOADED WITH 15# ANDE WITH GOLD SPOON IN CASE I SEE ANY REDS, ANOTHER LOADED WITH 15# ANDE AND A 12 " BLACK PLASTIC EEL IF I SEE A COBIA. I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL EVER USE ANY OF THE NEW ONE BEFORE I DIE, THEY ARE ON THE RACK HERE AT THE HOUSE.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

FRP I fish ABUs and I tend to agree with Tom that they are not as "durable"as they once were. I have older reels and newer reels 5000s, 5500s, 6500s, 7000s, Rockets, C models,and CL3s and across the board they are good reels, but the newer ones tend to start screaming quicker than they used to and the worm gear wears out. Clean and lube helps but the bearings do not last. I still fish them because I like a no frills winch with line capacity and casting distance. I fish em' hard chunkin' and crankin' and I am satisfied with the performance I get for the price.
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I use the ct's for surf fishing. I have all the name brands and nothing will touch them for casting 150+ yards and ease of cleaning.
If any of you have some ct's, I might take them off your hands!

What does CT stand for Seachaser?

I have 2 6500C3's on 7' Shimano Teramar rods that I would trade for anything. #17 Cajun Thunder Line and there is not much I can't land with them. Good fishing!!

Its hard to beat a older 5500 cuz! The new 4600s are alright for the price. We used them over in Jesup last year catching flat heads in the Altamaha river. One slipped out of the rod holder of my Mako and is on the bottom of the river.