AMBASSADEUR

[Phil]

DOES ANYONE USE AN AMBASSADEUR ANY MORE ? Is a 5600 or 6000 series ok to use for swim baits instead of expensive Shimano Calcutta's that a normal working man can not seem to afford ?? Am I imagining it or has bass fishing become a name dropping sport ?

[sTony]

I've got several of them and they are an important part of my arsenal.

sTony

[Mark Langner]

The reason allot of the guys throwing the big swimbaits (huddlestons, ragos, etc) go to the calcutta is that they hold up to the strain of casting/retrieving better in the long run, have great drags and smooth casting. Yes, you can use smaller reels, but those reels weren't designed for the stress that casting and retrieving the big heavy swimbaits exerts on them. Likely, you'd wear out the smaller reels faster but you'd get away with it for a while...

Calfishing.com has a trophey bass section in it's forum...you might check it out..they get into reel discussion for the big swimbaits there also.

[sTony]

One of the key features on many Ambassadeur reels is spool capacity. I grw up with Abu Garcia and Mitchell reels and they certainly still have their place in the market.

sTony

[Phil]

I guess I mention it for 2 reasons.
1, I am a dealer for Garcia and Mitchell and
2, I have used my Garcia's for Salmon & Steelhead since the 60's and they still are in good shape , hard to wear them out. I use 5000's and 5500's mostly for at least 30 to 40 years it seems. It has been for me hard to improve.

Just was wondering if any others out there still use or like theirs or have all changed to the "name" brands ?

[RogerB]

I've been using two 6500C's I picked up used off eBay for my swimbaits. No problems so far, even with the 12" Huddleston Deluxe which weighs about 8 ounces. Other lighter ones are handled very nicely. I like the extra spool capacity of the 6500C's.

[BShafer]

That's all I use, when it comes to bait casters. I still use my first 4500 that I got in 1980. As for swim baits I used a 5500 last year and will use it again this year.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I don't toss swimbaits, but it would seem to me that the 5600's would be excellent for the job..Very well made and big enough for the job..

mac

[R Marxmiller]

12" Huddleston??

[RogerB]

Yep...12 inches. It's as perfect a representation of the stocked trout as you'll find. It's hefty at about 8 ounces, so ordinary tackle doesn't work well with it. I'm using a very stout, ocean boat rod with it.
Unfortunately, I don't think Ken Huddleston is making them any more...and someone out there correct me if I'm wrong about that. My understanding is that he is now making only the 8" version. It is also a beautifully made lure, but smaller.
Before Ken stopped making them, I managed to get one of the 12" versions made for fishing on the surface (it floats with just the dorsel fin out of the water) and a slow sinking model (ROF 8' in 10 seconds) with a paddle tail that swims enticingly.
And, no I haven't caught anything with either of them yet, but when I do...HOOAH!!!
...RogerB

[Lugnut]

I through my swimbaits on a Lamiglas Big Bait Special with an Ambassaduer 5600, it works great.