hi. i’ve always been using spinning reels n would now like to look for my first baitcaster for freshwater casting, but i dun know much about baitcasters.
i believe the ones i’m looking for are called low profile baitcasting reels?
i have budgeted about RM100-RM200 only since this would be my first (hopefully first of many) baitcasting reel.
i’ve found two interesting models:
1. Abu Garcia MAX Series Low Profile Baitcasting Reel (either BLUEMAX or BLACKMAX for me, coz cheaper)
if i get one, i plan to go for the left-hand retrieve models since i’m used to left-hand retrieving. Any advice on that as well?
any of u had hands-on experience with these reels?
i hope i get good feedback, i got a “tackle shop bug” now n i really wanna get a new reel soon. please also recommend any other models u think would be good for a first-time baitcasting reel user like me (i’ve only used friends’ ones a few times, not that used to it as yet).
I suggest you to go to freshwater tread and look into malacca clan 2 column. Look for binjal n gang…they r the experts in baitcasters…u may get some speedy answers there.
No expert here, but if you plan to invest in a abu bc. Save more and get the revo range. The max range is not that durable in my opinion.. But if you take care of your reels properly and just wanna have a feel of bc before investing more. Max is ok for you.
go with the ABU! for that price point, it’s really hard to beat…
but be warned that u may want to upgrade real soon as u go along…
as from personal experience, i started off lure casting with a Banax Tova worth slightly above RM100 back in the year 2000. then changed to ABU Rocket CS6500 for heavier lure casting. found that to be inappropriate , and then got a Daiwa CV-X 103L. found that too cumbersome to change the drag settings for different lures. Got my self a Dawia Alphas 103L in 2006 and it became THE reel for all my lure fishing. Finally settled for the Alphas R-edition now as i find it most comfortable for my style of fishing.
i’m sure there are others with their own choices, but what i am getting to is how much do you fish at the end of the day, and how much u demand from the reels.
if u are lure casting all day then u would need an easily-castable, lightweight reel.
then there are other factors which may influence your next purchase, like:
bigger line capacity
able to handle smaller lures(lighter spool)
design(subjective)
drag rating and smoothness(depending on type of fish targeted)
price
if u can find equilibrium in the reel and the type of fishing that u do, then it is good.
one more thing people mostly overlook. the fishing rod is very important for the type of fishing that you do. most will just concentrate on good reels but overlook the rods. the reels cannot perform at its best without a MATCHING rod.
Not a pro here so can’t comment much, only started to take baitcasting seriously 2-3 years ago altho hav them for half decades edi.
But for both ur choice, the Black Max come highly recommended. Many good reviews on it and in fact, i would love to own one for extra if i hav the money lol. No worries bout lefties baitcaster too when comes to Abu Max series, they’ve got to one the brand tat do not discriminate us left handers. With tat said, yeah i;m a left hand caster too due to the very same reason as yours!
Anyway, you should consider yourself lucky as today’s wide selection of baitcaster on left hand configuration is undoubtly praiseable, it’s great to know tat most malaysian anglers which are used to left hand casting can hav the fair treatment as their counterpart up north in Thailand, where bc are common in lefties! Compared to the days when i started baitcasting, its just sheer hell trying to get one. Usually it;s u can only like or afford a certan reel but just keep drooling as it’s a right handed reel. Today, i am proud hto own 5 nice baitcaster with 4 on left hand config!
Hope this helps.
Btw, my fav go to reel is my trusty old school calcutta51, which is a lil too old today i guess lol
Novice angler here, any constructive advices greatly appreciated. Thank you
know of any good tackle shops that sell abu garcia products? coz i know one place but they only have very limited models as it’s quite a small shop.
where would one go to get a good deal on abu garcia stuff? any tackle shop yous preference or is popular for having good range of abugarcia products? i live in klang.
klang i knew a place my uncle brought me before, quite loaded with abu stuff, in fact very loaded in terms of shop size. Just a normal shop lot, next to a chinese restaurant. I know the direction given sounds really bad but i only been there once, wat to do lol…
Anyway if u could drop by to syarikat kepong then no doubt a lot of selection there, not just abu… Another place tat i frequently get abu stuff is the shop beside Rawang KTM.
Novice angler here, any constructive advices greatly appreciated. Thank you
IN Klang look 4 KK [KurauKing] lo…his shop is JT Tackle</font id=“purple”>
quote:Originally posted by nyamaoan know of any good tackle shops that sell abu garcia products? coz i know one place but they only have very limited models as it's quite a small shop.
where would one go to get a good deal on abu garcia stuff? any tackle shop yous preference or is popular for having good range of abugarcia products? i live in klang.
aiyoyo[:0]…kurauking hv so many posting here ma[:(!]…err…go 2 the seawater tread…u u will c his website, tel no, and other details. U need sifu advise? get it fr him lo[;)].</font id=“purple”>
quote:Originally posted by nyamaoan thanks. heard about him n his shop. will try to locate it. heard it's in port klang?
ok ppl. i’ve decided to go for the ajiking tournament queen. just ordered at my friend’s shop. he’ll get it from tce soon. let me know what i should test out n i will soon.
about the abu garcia bluemax or blackmax… i’ll pass n give the ajiking a try instead. if all goes well, i’ll (hopefully) get a revo next time, once i’m more comfortable with baitcasters n all.
went to the jt fishing bazaar to look n touch the abu max series low prof. baitcasters, but still decided to give the new ajiking product a try.
quote:Originally posted by nyamaoan ok ppl. i've decided to go for the ajiking tournament queen. just ordered at my friend's shop. he'll get it from tce soon. let me know what i should test out n i will soon.
about the abu garcia bluemax or blackmax… i’ll pass n give the ajiking a try instead. if all goes well, i’ll (hopefully) get a revo next time, once i’m more comfortable with baitcasters n all.
went to the jt fishing bazaar to look n touch the abu max series low prof. baitcasters, but still decided to give the new ajiking product a try.
lab-test rat,
nyamaoan.
nyamaoan,
How is the Ajiking… just be warned that if u stinge on a BC reel generally they turn out to be lemons and are super hard to cast… some are better than others, and sometimes u will find something that is pretty good and cheap… if unlucky u wont…
In my point of view, up the price by a 100RM or so and go get a Shimano or a Daiwa.. if can go look for the ABU 3600 or 4600… Ultracast or C4 models they are not too expensive and good to use…
No pain no gain, dont try dont know… muahahahahaha
quote:Originally posted by Tan Jiin Sheng nyamaoan bro,
klang i knew a place my uncle brought me before, quite loaded with abu stuff, in fact very loaded in terms of shop size. Just a normal shop lot, next to a chinese restaurant. I know the direction given sounds really bad but i only been there once, wat to do lol…
Anyway if u could drop by to syarikat kepong then no doubt a lot of selection there, not just abu… Another place tat i frequently get abu stuff is the shop beside Rawang KTM.
Novice angler here, any constructive advices greatly appreciated. Thank you
TJS… which shop in Klang? For Abu stuff normally I go to Pandamaran… [:)]
Abu max series are not the smoothest around but fair for the price… bought one for my buddy… landed patins, tomans, pacu… up to 7kgs… so far reel still very good…
Anyway my fav always been a RBC… using a Cal50, Abu CS6500 and a Tica Caiman 150… looking to add an Abu Record 40 or 50 soon…
Not too sure as far as i know it;s just as i explained in my earlier post, i;m very bad in direction over there haha sorry can’t help. Some few km away from the Bata shoe factory too
Ah… Record… a great reel to say the least, however since having a morrum around i giv most if not all abu round bc pass liao lol… and i;m so broke now… the truth is i still havent hav the money to buy a matching rod for that morrum yet lol, sad…
Cal50! wow my fav reel! small and light, easy to palm, easy to cast, fair distance, strong and reliable… definitely a worthwhile buy!
Novice angler here, any constructive advices greatly appreciated. Thank you
quote:Originally posted by Tan Jiin Sheng Gelama pisang bro,
Not too sure as far as i know it;s just as i explained in my earlier post, i;m very bad in direction over there haha sorry can’t help. Some few km away from the Bata shoe factory too
Ah… Record… a great reel to say the least, however since having a morrum around i giv most if not all abu round bc pass liao lol… and i;m so broke now… the truth is i still havent hav the money to buy a matching rod for that morrum yet lol, sad…
Cal50! wow my fav reel! small and light, easy to palm, easy to cast, fair distance, strong and reliable… definitely a worthwhile buy!
Novice angler here, any constructive advices greatly appreciated. Thank you
TJS… I think I know the shop.. [:D]
Agree on the Cal50… small and strong reel… mine is the old one… ppl say it’s outdated… but i dun mind… had the drag system upgraded… [:D]
