Abu Garcia 6500 C3 - First baitcast reel
Will be used to target mainly catfish but also bass, muskie and pike.
Will be used to target mainly catfish but also bass, muskie and pike.
New toy!
- Thread starter jworth
- Start date
C3 6500 was my first baitcaster, originally a catfish/musky reel 
I'm more than happy with it. It's not quite up to par for hucking big musky plastics or pulling double 13s all day every day for a whole season, but that puts SERIOUS punishment on a reel. Since I won a 7000i in a musky tourny it's taken a back seat in musky fishing, and I use the 6500 as a backup.
However for everything else OTHER than throwing 8oz. and bigger lures and pulling double 13s, it'll do the job. Feel free to spool it with 50-100lb braid and take it sturgeon fishing, wrestle in 60+lb catfish, or cast more traditional musky lures rather than the "bigger is better" stuff that's come out in the past decade.
I'm more than happy with it. It's not quite up to par for hucking big musky plastics or pulling double 13s all day every day for a whole season, but that puts SERIOUS punishment on a reel. Since I won a 7000i in a musky tourny it's taken a back seat in musky fishing, and I use the 6500 as a backup.However for everything else OTHER than throwing 8oz. and bigger lures and pulling double 13s, it'll do the job. Feel free to spool it with 50-100lb braid and take it sturgeon fishing, wrestle in 60+lb catfish, or cast more traditional musky lures rather than the "bigger is better" stuff that's come out in the past decade.
mainbutter;4819677; said:C3 6500 was my first baitcaster, originally a catfish/musky reel
However for everything else OTHER than throwing 8oz. and bigger lures and pulling double 13s, it'll do the job. Feel free to spool it with 50-100lb braid and take it sturgeon fishing, wrestle in 60+lb catfish, or cast more traditional musky lures rather than the "bigger is better" stuff that's come out in the past decade.
Excellent review, thank you.
I do not have any huge musky lures. The biggest I use are the 6" rapala's so I could even throw those with my spinning rods, which is preferable to me. This will be used typically to float live bait (chubs, shad, goldies, etc...) and fish bottom with heavy catfish bait specifically live/cut 'gills.
awesome choice, might be alittle hard to bass fish with unless u mean striper/rockfish. I know youll be happy with it
Dreamsofpeace54;4820075; said:
By bass fishing I am referring to floating live bait. More so when I get to Florida after the big ones! Can't imagine it would be too great tossing artificial. Can't wait til it's warm!
Isnt it a little bit much for large mouths? I know people use that for striped bass and other saltfish but with large mouths your just gonna be dragging them in.
likestofish;4822289; said:
haha I agree, it would have no trouble bringing in largemouths, or as you say dragging. I prefer my spinning reels for largemouth fishing. The application that I would use it for largemouth is floating live shiners down in FL where the potential is there to land largemouth 10lbs and up easily. However, it is very much a catfish and Esox reel (and the occasional saltwater trip).