Anybody use the Abu Garcia Ambassador 6501? Been using the Mitchell 300 for salmon.

[brianvolt7]

I just purchased the 6501 because a friend of mine recommended it. Does anybody out there own one? Would like a second opinion, or any war stories with fish and how it worked for you.

Mitchell 300, I would recommend it for anybody going after salmon, steelhead and fish up to 30 lbs. I have never had a problem with it and you can?t beat the price!

Using both reels for salmon, sturgeon, and stripers.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody use the Abu Garcia Ambassador 6501? Been using the Mitchell 300 for salmo

I have 2-6500CT Chrome Rockets, a 6500CS Mag-Elite and a 6500CT Mag-Elite that I use for “light” surf fishing and heavy jigging.

Good reels but the stock drags are lacking. The stock drag washers should be upgraded to carbon fiber if they didn't come from the factory them. Lapping the metal washers will help as well. Even upgraded, a #30 fish on a 6500 is going to be “sporty” to say the least. My largest fish to date on a 6500 was a #47 Red Drum and I was down in the backing (#14 x 245 yds.) several time before I got things under control.

The line capacity is a problem in some applications if you go above #14 line. Fill it with #20 line and I can just about dump the reel on cast.

 

[pdgs]

Re: Anybody use the Abu Garcia Ambassador 6501? Been using the Mitchell 300 for salmo

I checked them out a while back thinking they would be good for clients. I felt they were a little too much on the klunky side. It wasn't horrible and certainly better than the older models but I just didn't like the feel. Maybe it was just me.

I ended up getting Shimano Calcutta 400D's instead and so far may clients really like them. Personally, I use Team Diawa Luna 300's and Shimano Calcutta 400TE's. I also have Shimano 400B that's pretty nice. I prefer a wider spool vs. a narrow deep one. Again, it's probably just me but I think a narrower spool is less subject to professional overrun in the hands of inexperienced bait casters.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: Anybody use the Abu Garcia Ambassador 6501? Been using the Mitchell 300 for salmo

this is the left hand version of the 6500 if your numbers are correct. i have 2 6500's cl3. they are great for fish upwards of 30 IMO. lots of my cyber fishing friends use and love them.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Anybody use the Abu Garcia Ambassador 6501? Been using the Mitchell 300 for salmo

I used to use spinning gear when I first started salmon trolling but soon switched to much larger level winds. I suppose river fishing they'd be okay but out on the open water, they don't have the capacity. Drag on a full spool is too different than with a 1/4 full spool.


Tom B.
(LongLine)