[night catter]

Hello everyone,
I was at Bass pro today and was looking at the 6600bcx how would this compare to the 6500c is the 6600 a better model. Bass pro didn’t carry the 6500c or should I get the catmaxx bait caster instead please help with deciding any input would help I know this is the best place to get the correct info from fellow catmen.
thank you
night catter

 

[ste6168]

I wouldn't fish with a BCX, but that's not to say they are bad reels. They are chinese made Abu Garcia's. Lately, I have been a tackle snob and I am trying to dump all my low-end equipment. Trading off 2 or 3 reels to purchase 1. Friend of mine used to fish with a BCX and he liked it. Again though, I wouldn't fish with one.

 

[yellingrebel78]

the bcx is a insult to abu that reel isn't no good if you going to get a abu make sure it made in sweden I know the bcx isn't no good I got on on a trade and the reel was only 2 weeks old and it came apart and I have seen several more of them do the same thing also I got a freind that works at bp and he said people who buys them always bringing them back but if you get a abu get you a 6500 or the 6600c4 you be better off

 

[Flamekeeper]

They throw a 3-4oz swimbait real well, I would use it for channels with the lighter weights, for the heavier weights needed for the blues and flatheads you will need to upgrade to 6500c's - 7000 IMHO

PS- as our brother just said above, I too look for this one to blow one day with a heavier weight, because when I first casted a 8oz+ rig I could feel the reel wooble, that when I knew it would not take the Hvy stuff, and started casting with it and use it for the light weight stuff.

 

[wvcatfisherman]

if you going to get a abu make sure it made in sweden

I just bought 2 6600 bcx, one today and one friday, and they both are made in sweden. Now for the fact if they are any good or not I don't know. I haven't got the chance to try them out yet.

 

[Flamekeeper]

They throw a 3-4oz swim bait real well, I would use it for channels with the lighter weights, for the heavier weights needed for the blues and Flatheads you will need to upgrade to 6500c's - 7000 IMHO

PS- as our brother just said above, I too look for this one to blow one day with a heavier weight, because when I first casted a 8oz+ rig I could feel the reel wobble, that when I knew it would not take the Hvy stuff, and started casting with it and use it for the light weight stuff.

Sorry about the above , But I mistook the BCX. I have a 6600EXT, and yes they are engineered in Sweden but made in china..(guote straight from the ABU..)

Abu Garcia 6600BCX Baitcasting Reels
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]• Instant Anti Reverse Roller Bearing
• 3 Stainless Steel Bearing
• Smooth Powerful Multi Disc Star Drag
• 6 Pin Centrifugal Brake
• Synchronized Levelwind
• Preision Brass Gears
• Line Out Alarm
• Anti-Distortion Spool
[/FONT]

 

[yellingrebel78]

the ones I've seen were all made in china and they maybe engineered in sweden but they can't hold up I'm abu all the way all my spinning reel and baitcaster are abu and going to tomorrow to pick up four more of them and everyone of mine is stamped saying made in sweden like I said the 6600 bcx was design crappy it will not hold up I was disapointed in them alot and all I was using it for was small channel with 1/2 weight I still got the evidence of it they are just not strong at all

 

[BIG_D]

Jim Kenny is right they are china made...
i have a few they are good in there place lite work channel cat fishing!!!!! use them for trophy fish and they will puke there guts out..
i got mine new but dirt cheap from ebay out of the store you can get a 6000 or 6500 for a few more bucks and have a reel your grand kids can fight over!!!!!

 

[wvcatfisherman]

and yes they are engineered in Sweden but made in china..(guote straight from the ABU..)

I wonder why they would put "made in sweden" right on the package if they are made in china? Not trying to argue with you, no doubt you know more about them than I do, just wondering.

 

[farbeyonddriven]

I ordered a 6500TC for $74.99, that's just $10 more than a BCX, and the 6500TC is made in Sweden. To me the BCX's just look cheap, like they have more plastic components than most other Abu's I've seen.

 

[yellingrebel78]

I wonder why they would put "made in sweden" right on the package if they are made in china? Not trying to argue with you, no doubt you know more about them than I do, just wondering.

man if you look at them most of the time they'll have a sticker on the base of the reel say's made in china and on the sweden model reels it will either be stamped in or lazer etched in on the side of the reel

 

[BIG_D]

i just look mine over it dont say where its made but i know the blister pack said china.

 

[BIG_D]

like Brian said if it is sweaden made it will say it on the side plate

 

[slimdaddy]

the bcx Ive looked at was made in china they just had a sticker on the reel foot says made in china

 

[ste6168]

I wonder why they would put "made in sweden" right on the package if they are made in china? Not trying to argue with you, no doubt you know more about them than I do, just wondering.

As if this thread isn't already. I am not trying to be a ball-buster, but in no way are your Abu BCX reels made in Sweden. If you have a package that says that, I would love to see a picture. The BCX reels, along with any 7xxx "I" series reels are produced in china. Abu in China produces a few good reels, the 7000iC3CT and all the big game reels are decent products. The BCX and 7000i are both great examples of a GOOD company using cheap parts and labor to put a consumer product on the market! A lot of people do not want to spend $100 on a reel.

Personally, If I did not want to pay the money for an actual Abu, then I would buy another Ming Yang. I had one and sold it. Good reel for the money, but like I said in my previous post. I have lately been a tackle ho and I am getting rid of my "cheap" stuff! I would rather buy a $200 reel (like a Daiwa Saltist, Abu Record, or Abu Inshore) that I know will outlast me, than a BCX that will last a few, if that, seasons. Call me a snob, call me the rich-folk. By the time you are done "upgrading" your reels every two years. I will have made out in the long run. Buy what you can afford, but I would suggest saving for the better reel upfront!

 

[wvcatfisherman]

Yeah my bad, it does say "engineered in sweden" not "made in sweden". I thought it said made. Oh well. I will try mine out for a while if I don't like them I will sell them or take them back whichever.

 

[Flamekeeper]

I wonder why they would put "made in sweden" right on the package if they are made in china? Not trying to argue with you, no doubt you know more about them than I do, just wondering.

I was speaking of the 6600EXT I own, Heres a guote for your 6600BCX... But they look cheaper than any reel they produce IMHO...


This reel is made in sweden. This reel is not as good as all the other reels they make.
Thank You
Larry

In a message dated 6/20/2010 10:29:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:

Ambassadeur 6600BCX Baitcasting Reels, Could you help me please. Is this reel made in sweden or engineered in sweden and built china?.

Thank you

Kenneth Price @
FlameKeeper Rods

​

​

 

[kyelkhunter3006]

I used to be an Abu guy, used the 5500, 6500, and the 7000, along with their spinning reels. Personally, I don't even look at the casting reels anymore. Too many maintenance issues with them.

Everyone is always talking about how much they are a "quality" reel, yet I see 10 times the amount of threads on how to repair or replace parts on Abu reels than all other companies combined. Scroll through the reel section and see what I mean. Bent spools, bent frames, broken pawls, broken worm gears, broken feet, etc. Search on the site for repairing Abu reels and see how many results you get. News flash, it's not because Abu sells THAT many more reels than other companies do.

Abu round reels are a good reel for the recreational fisherman. They'll catch big fish. Most any reel will. They are NOT good reels for hardcore fisherman that have high demands on their equipment. Just my honest opinion.

Spending $75-$150 on a reel and then spending another $50 to put better bearings and a better drag in it before you even hit the water is is pointless to me. Buy a $150 or $200 reel in the first place and be that much ahead.

How many threads are there on repairing Shimano or Daiwa reels? How about Avet or Okuma? I don't know if I've seen one honestly. And for the Penn haters, well, there are hardly any threads on the repairs for them....

Shimano and Daiwa get my FIRST look EVERY time I'm shopping for reels. Never had a reel from either company fail me in any way, or need to be "refurbished" every few years from wear and tear.

That's definitely NOT something I can say about Abu Garcia.

 

[night catter]

Big thanks to everyone I knew there would be great answers here
I went to Bass pro today looked at the 6600 bcx and the plastic bag said made in china I decided to go ahead and get the 6500c3 from cabelas Bass pro didn’t carry the 6500c3 this will be a great reel for me to start out with. Many many thanks to everyone in helping me to decide on which reel to get.
night catter

 

[Catfishboy1995]

I would deffiantally go with the 6500c3 or c4.....But the catmaxx is a decent reel...I have 2 of them and have caught some big carp on them and a 20lb flathead...I like my abu garcias alot better i havent personally used a 6500 model but i have 7000c3i and a 7000i and i love them both