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SUBJECT: # 35471: Ambassador 7000
Submitted by Gus from NEW JERSEY on 7/14/01 9:37:00 PM
I am in the market for a new conventional reel for striper and blue fishing. Someone recommended the Ambassador 7000. Does anyone have experience with this reel or any thoughts?
- 7/14/01 10:23:00 PM
Submitted by
Longfisher (66.25.63.68) from TEXAS says Ambassador 7000 Would be a great reel for stripers and blues
Yep, I've owned one for some time now. Very reliable reel and very much resistant to salt.I bought mine as a longcasting reel for the surf. I needed a little more line capacity when I ran 20 lb. test than the 6500 could provide. I like the line capacity and have never been spooled from the surf. Understandably however, the larger spool and the greater line capacity or line weight results in somewhat shorter casts than the 6500 C3.
I've taken to using this reel and a 7 ft. ugly stick trout rod to fish for kings from a downrigger. Still have not lost a fish but I've not tied into a real smoker with it yet either.
All in all, a very good reel. It'll give you years of excellent performance if you keep it clean (easy to break down for cleaning too), if you get rid of that crazy even-wind thing and if you use corrosion X on it regularly.
Regards and tight lines,
LongFisher
- 7/15/01 5:15:00 AM
Submitted by
Captain Spike (195.44.13.187) from United Kingdom says Try a 7500
Take a look at the Ambassadeur 7500. It's the same capacity but built much better and with a faster retrieve. I personally don't like the small Ambassadeurs but I like the 7500.
- 7/15/01 9:38:00 AM
Submitted by
Longfisher (66.25.63.68) from TEXAS says Capt. What are your reservations about Ambassador Reels?
Just curious.LongFisher
- 7/15/01 11:16:00 AM
Submitted by
Captain Spike (195.44.1.154) from United Kingdom says Ambassadeur reels
I've always felt that the modern small ambassadeurs are a bit puny and not very well made. Fine for freshwater although even then I'd sooner use a small Shimano or Daiwa. The Ambassadeurs are fragile and corrode if you're not totally scrupulous about cleaning them thoroughly. The drags never seem very smooth either. That said I have an older model Ambassadeur 6000 which seems to be built to a much higher standard and which I like (the drag's still lousy though ). The 7500 seems to be a much better bit of equipment for saltwater use. Of course all this is purely my opinion and there are many, many anglers all over the world fishing happily with the very reels that I don't like.Spike
- 7/15/01 2:06:00 PM
Submitted by
Keith Parton (63.24.246.3) from NORTH CAROLINA says No Reservations Here
I use the 5600 Mag Elite, 6500 Mag Elite, and 7500 C3CT regularly and have no reservations about their use -- providing one uses them for the appropriate gamefish. I believe the 6500 Mag elite (in CT Model) is adequate for blues and stripers, and use the 7500 on large drum, cobia, snook and tarpon -- from shore. The 7500 is not, in my estimation, an offshore reel. The drags were simply not designed to handle wahoo, dorado and sails. I made the mistake of trying to fish this reel in that capacity and simply damaged the hardware. There are drag upgrades available, but they don't make the machines suitable for offshore use. Inshore and surf, just dandy.
- 7/15/01 7:14:00 PM
Submitted by
Brett (24.190.223.96) from NEW JERSEY says I have a different opinion than most stated above...
I agree with Keith that the 6500 is more than adequate. Unlike most others I think the 7000/7500's are too big and heavy for this application. I have personally seen tuna up to 75lbs landed on an ABU 6500 C3 and the reel never missed a beat. As a matter of fact I saw a few mates on a party boat fish the reel for tuna after tuna with poppers and take 4 or 5 fish on the reel in less than an hour. I was simply amazed with how well it held up. I am not going to say the drag is as good as a Calcutta but the reel costs 1/3 as much so there is no comparison there. They are great reels if you don't want to spend over $100 and there are many places to find a deal on them.Get one and fish it hard, I don't think you will be dissapointed. I am not and I own both a 6500 C3 that has taken numerous bluefish and stripers and a Calcutta 400 and the 6500 gets more use since I am not afraid to beat it up. After spending $200 on the calcutta I feel like I need to treat it like a fine watch and only use it when fishing my own boat.
Brett
- 7/15/01 11:38:00 PM
Submitted by
Longfisher (66.25.63.68) from TEXAS says I also own the 6500 C3. Great Casting Reel.
I use the reel (highly tuned) to longcast and longfish (hence the moniker). It's a great, smooth reel and casts a mile (or up to 160 yards) when loaded with 12 lb. line.I've also fished it pretty hard from my boat when I'm at the jetties. But I, generally, use heavier line (up to 25 lb.). I've never fished it offshore.
But I make a yearly pilgrimage in Sept. to a beach house on Bolivar and fish the Fall surf for surf-running bull reds. The casting ability of the reel allows me to get beyond the 3rd bar without getting my feet wet and the reel is tough enough to whip these fish. Of course, it takes a good 30 minutes or so. But that's what fishing is all about...the fight.
I really like the reels and can't fault them, especially for the price. But I do keep mine clean after each trip.
Tight Lines,
LongFisher
- 7/16/01 6:04:00 AM
Submitted by
Captain Spike (213.122.63.106) from United Kingdom says Distance casting
Well I'm in the minority here! Surf casters in the UK often use a special model of the 6500 that has no level wind or top frame supports and some of them achieve some incredible distances (I think the record is around 260 yards ). It's not something I'm into so I don't know the model number of that reel but I do know that it's considerably more expensive than the regular 6500. One thing's for sure, the casting ability of the Ambassadeurs is beyond doubt.Spike
- 7/16/01 2:51:00 PM
Submitted by
mudflap (144.189.40.222) from TEXAS says cheap drag update for Abu's
Go to a store that sells pinewood derby cars and look for the tubes of powdered graphite and sprinkle the drag washers with this. Works great. You will be suprised at how smoother they are.
- 7/16/01 5:38:00 PM
Submitted by
Capt. Ken Roy, Whopper Stopper Sport Fishing from FLORIDA says Not for super long range casting but--
The Shimano Mag 50 holds more than the 6000 Ambassadeurs and has a super drag. I load one of mine with 50# DACRON yeah, dacron to put the stop on big Cobia around pilings and wrecks. I can lock the drag down tight enough to stop a truck and it is still smooth. With light line it performs well on Kingfish too.Perhaps the best thing about the Mag 50's is I can leave them on the boat and give them a cleaning once every 6 months (whether they needs it or not) and they keep on Performing.
