Bigger Aint Always Better....
Written: May 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small light, nice looking little finesse reel.
Cons: Don't use it for big line or big tackle.
The Bottom Line: This is yet another quality and durable reel built by Abu-Garcia. It is unique because of it's size. For once it's not bigger and better, it's smaller and better.
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| smallmouth's Full Review: Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 4600C3 |
The Ambassadeur of the Bass Reels:
This little reel is a dandy. I use it for bass fishing. I am a huge fan of Abu-Garcia reels. When I first made the switch over to bait-casters, I tried all different brands of reels. While some like Shimano and Quantum are very high in quality, they just couldn’t hold up to an Abu-Garcia Ambassadeur. I primarily use the 5500 series reels, they are slightly bigger than the 4600 models, therefor they can hold more line or an equivalent amount at a higher test size. They seem to balance off better with 6 foot 6 inch rods or longer. I use my 4600 C3 on a 6 foot rod, with light line. I can get more line on that reel than I will ever need or use. I use 6-8 pound test line on that reel and it handles it perfectly.
Why Have a rod With Light Line?:
I like to have at least one rod with light test line for three different reasons. 1 The first is to it use in very clear water.2 The second reason to have it handy is to use it on very finicky fish. 3 And the third is to use light line on small or finesse lures. It is very tough to cast a light lure with any distance with heavy line no matter what the reel is. I am talking about lures such as Rapala’s, Grubs, Fluke’s, Weightless Worms and other soft plastics and basically anything in your box that is less than a 1/4 ounce including jigs and spinner-baits. The rule goes as follows, use the biggest line that you can get away with. This is to prevent break-offs and abrasions on the line. If you are fishing for catch and release you owe it to the fish to use heavy enough line to get him in after you hook him. If you don’t then he is swimming around with ten feet of line and a lure sticking out of his mouth and will probably die because of it.
Why use this Reel With Light Line?:
I have been asked this question several times before. Other questions I have been asked are why not use the 5500's with light line because and just get another 5500? I use four 5500's and only one 4600 and the 4600 is sometimes the most important reel that I have and use. Unlike the 5500's, this reel’s release mechanism is directly under the spool, in the middle of the reel. This makes it easy to click the release and simply slide your thumb up to stop the reel. It is quicker and easier. The spool is much narrower than the spool on the 5500 as well. It handles the same amount of line at 6-8 pound test as a 5500 handles at 12-14 pound test. Therefore the spool spins equally as much and the guide goes from left to right as much on both reels for the same distance of cast increasing accuracy and comfort by 100%.
It also balances out with a smaller rod much nice than a heavy and big reel.
And it fits perfectly in your hand making finessing much, much, easier. I prefer to do my finesse fishing with the reel completely in my hand, ready to set the hook at any time because unlike any other way of fishing, you provide all of the power in the hook set, you are not reeling constantly like a spinner-bait, or buzz-bat, or crank-bait, where the fish is already caught by the time you know he is on. Having a smaller reel that fits into your hand makes all the difference in that split second that you know he is on and you set the hook.
Looks:
This is a very nice looking reel, it is all silver and is shinny out of the box, but if you use it enough you can wear that shine off within a couple years, that is a good thing. I would say it is one of the better looking reels on the market. When you look at this reel you think quality and durability, you thought correctly.
Feel:
As I mentioned already, this is a great little reel and fits perfectly in any grown man or woman’s hand for a finesse reel. If you dare starting a kid on a bait-caster or think he or she is ready to move up to one, this reel is just about the right size and the same equivalent compared to the average size adult bait-caster.
I like the handle on this reel. It has gray soft rubber grips which are very comfortable to use on a long day of fishing or a tournament. They are not slippery, this is very important during a tournament when every fish counts, you don’t want your hand slipping off the reel or the whole thing might end up in the water.
Recommended:
Yes
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