So, it's a tougher decision there, since these big fish are not my primary target. In IL, only 2 rods per fisherman/woman is allowed. From a practical standpoint I find that 3 rods, well spaced apart, is the maximum manageable, and even then, am amazed at how often bites happen almost simultaneously, after sometimes an hour of nothing. In KY, I can put out as many rods as I like, so I might try that again (heavy weights) with one. So, the 5000 really makes sense to try to make work.Īs for getting a line wet - hahaha - after yesterdays "frustration", I went down to my closest "spot" (nice big pond) after supper, figuring, okay, I know this place so well, and around sunset, surely I'll catch something to make me cheer up: *There's a lot of wear and "play" in the spool of the neighbor's reel, so sometimes the spool "chatters" on a cast, making the distance cast very inconsistent (on top of me being inconsistent). catfish on line that could "hold" him out of trouble (my trouble), he'll probably pull me in! ? (Make these up while waiting for bites?)īesides, if I do hook a 100 lb. braided leader before the steel leader at the end, so the "fuse" breaks and saves the pricey new line, should it come to that. If ok, then go look for new line with characteristics as similar as possible, regardless of the break rating, put it on, and practice with that. What I might do initially is put that old-school braid from that reel the neighbor gave me* onto the 5000, and see how that behaves. That hurts me on "compact to the rod", but not as much as a big spinning reel. and even heavier braided line, from several sellers, and I already have a spare 808, tho' it's of recent vintage / Chinese made. braided leader would work in a Zebco 808 (spincaster)? I see Zebco 808 variations for bow-fishing with 80 lb. braided leader? I have no idea if "old school" braid is even made, anymore, and it'd likely be ridiculously expensive anyway.
![abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c](https://images.proxibid.com/AuctionImages/4504/105451/FullDetail/28.jpg)
If I really want to use the 5000, maybe I should try putting 60 lb. Accuracy stinks, but I "can" get the "lure" out there half decently. on a really good sidearm cast where I sort of "pitch" the "lure" upward. out there maybe 40' with an overhead cast, and maybe 60 ft. It still has the old style heavy braid on it, and somehow, those properties of the line help. 5000) baitcasting reel a neighbor gave me yesterday. I did have somewhat better luck with an old (adjustable, like the Amb. It's ok - I have other skills, like not marrying the wrong women, 6 times. (Not that I didn't have incentive - I wanted to impress a young lady!!!) My brother can do it (play guitar) wonderfully, through shear innate ability & coordination.
![abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c](https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/393704429455_/Ambassadeur-Abu-GarciaVantage-Vxl-5000C-Green-Right-HandedLevel.jpg)
But, then, in my 20's I tried to learn to play guitar, and that was pretty hopeless too. mono line, and regardless of casting drag setting, I do not have the finger & hand coordination to make it work (casts of any length at all, using ~1.3 oz.
![abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c](http://www.realsreels.com/reels/ambassadeur/RecordAmbassadeur5000.jpg)
Unfortunately, after hours of trying, today, I conclude that even with the Ambassadeur 5000 and 17 lb. line I no longer have the "fuse", so to speak, of the line breaking to protect the reel. fish and think I have to turn it, with 60 lb. braided line should not harm the reel.īut, if I hook a 60 lb. or smaller fish, and I don't "force" things via the reel if snagged, then 60 lb. This (reel and line combo) seems like it should not be hard, but I guess it is. braid, in the stores, so I hoped the 5000 would be able to handle quite a bit, if Abu Garcia put a little $$ into the gears. I see much smaller reels rated for 30 lb. This without the reel gears being damaged by a once or twice a year 30-40 lb. Trilene XT mono, using similar terminal weight (mass), say, 1/2 - 3/4 oz., and a reel no bigger than the Ambassadeur 5000. I'd really just like to be able to cast about as far with 30 lb. Ditto on the "big" for a friend's spinning reel I tried.) mono line mentioned, and the 808 is really "big" in my carry case. (Best seems to be my Zebco 808, but that's just with 20 lb. mono line isn't cutting it (breaks), and so far, my experience is that with heavier mono line, I lose casting distance with spincast reels. I do need some moderately strong pulling power, as the whole idea of acquiring the Ambassadeur 5000 was to be able to pull 30-40 lb. (I suspect smaller bait and lightish line may fool "line sensitive" cats, sometimes.) line might not be enough, even though the bait was small. mono when I tried to turn the fish from cover. Plus, I don't really know how big a couple of these fish I've hooked are: I just know they snapped good condition 20 lb. braided line, but then I saw multiple comments online saying line that thin would be unmanageable on an Ambassadeur 5000. braid, that would (likely) do damage to the reel?
![abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c abu garcia ambassadeur 5000 vs 5000c](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~C0AAOSw7WxduQJT/s-l400.jpg)
Is it the braid itself (seems unlikely) or the pull (60+ lbs.) I can achieve with 60-70 lb.