This reel has nothing to do with the Grateful Dead, I just thought it would be a catchy name for the article.
What more can you ask for from a fishing reel? This thing is smooth, reliable, good looking, light, palm size, and just a good all around reel. I am sold on the fact that you can’t go wrong with an Abu Garcia Ambassador reel. I have used them since the first one came out and never had a problem with them. I use them primarily for Bass fishing, that is what they are designed for but of course they can be used for many other fish. The reel has no preferences.

Why is it a good Bass Fishing reel?

If you bass fish like I do you use artificial lures. You fish tournaments. You spend as much time on the water as you possibly can. You make over a million casts a year and you expect your gear to work as hard as you do. If none of these things apply to you then don’t bother buying this reel. A push button Zebco might fit you better.

However, if some or all of these things apply to you, then you might want to look into getting one of these reels. It is a little bit pricey I will warn you, I paid $75 dollars for mine. But I have won that and more just in one year of fishing tournaments with it. A good price to pay for this reel is anything under $80, I would not pay more just because you should be stepping up to the next level of reels for over $80.

I have three of these reels on my rods now. I have two on Medium/Heavy rods and one on a Heavy rod. Two of the rods are 6 foot long and the other is 6'6". I commonly use line that is in the 10-16 pound test area. I have never measured just how much line I can get on this reel but the manufacturer tells me that I can get 245 yards of 14 pound test. If you ask me that’s getting a little bit silly, no one will ever use 245 yards. Most of that is just fill line for the beginning of the spool and it never sees the light of day.

It’s a good bass fishing reel because it seldom or never backlashes on its own, most of the time it is my error from casting into the wind with a light lure. It has never broken on me. The drag is easy to get to when you are cranking in a Hawg, it’s right next to the handle/crank. It is a good weight to balance out a rod. It fits in my hand, you will have to check it for yourself, I have average sized hands. You can fit all the line and more that you will ever want on it. And last but not least, it looks good, just an added bonus in my book.

Read this Story:(this sums it up)

The thing that really sold my friend on this reel was when his broke down during a Tournament and he needed another one to go with his four others, he reached for one of my spares. It took him one or two casts to get used to it and he rarely set the thing down the whole. Day, now I’m not going to tell you that he caught more fish because he was using that reel, but I will tell you he caught more fish with this reel than he did with his old reliable, that was broken and back in the truck.

Specifications:

Ball Bearings: 2
Gear Ration: 5-3-1
Line Capacity Yards/Line Test: 245/14
Reel Weight ounces:10.5
Color: Silver
Drag System: Star
Suggested Retail Price: $79.99
Hand: Right


Recommended: Yes