Ultralight casting goals...

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

I've dropped $800 on a production fly rod, so that's not completely out of range for a custom rod. The 1500 series Abu's were always some of the best casting reels I'd ever used (I had five at one time) but they would need some bearing upgrades today. One common denominator in a lot of these videos is lure weight. They use 1/4 oz range minnow plugs and that does dampen the rod's action making it easier (IMO) to cast accurately.

I agree with lure weight for sure. The overloaded, parabolic rod helps a lot, as counter intuitive as it seems.

[Craigthor]

Yeah, went through some of the videos was hoping to see some casting lighter weighted lures. He seems to fish this rod at max most of the time.

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

Yeah, went through some of the videos was hoping to see some casting lighter weighted lures. He seems to fish this rod at max most of the time.

Still sweet though. You see the video where he is cooking a prok stew? He has a sweet "pull start like" food chopper.

[Craigthor]

Yeah, went through some of the videos was hoping to see some casting lighter weighted lures. He seems to fish this rod at max most of the time.

Still sweet though. You see the video where he is cooking a prok stew? He has a sweet "pull start like" food chopper.

I have not, I need to go back and watch more of his videos.

[Knotty]

Amazing casting skills but at 1/4 oz lure weight it falls outside my definition of UL.

Are 1/4 oz lures actually practical for that kind of pocket water? Honest question. Trying to learn.

[Craigthor]

Amazing casting skills but at 1/4 oz lure weight it falls outside my definition of UL.

Are 1/4 oz lures actually practical for that kind of pocket water? Honest question. Trying to learn.

Actually quite productive in small pocket water I’ll fish up to 6.5g with great results. Really triggers the active or aggressive fish. I’ll try to go into more tonite when I’m home.

[Wpeart7]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

[Craigthor]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

The 2500 series has a bunch of upgrades you can do, won’t say cheap but they are available

[Dalleinf]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

I have avail spools in my Amb 4601C3, Amb 5601 Ge Fan i vara vatten, Amb Mørrum 1601 and 3601.
These spools are light-ish and good for 3-4+ gram lures and less expensive than Zpi and KTF spools.
They are not that shallow and not true BFS. However, there are other options - especially if you are so lucky as to have an Amb 2500 series.
See
https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/phone/product-list/32

[toddmc]

That is an impressive video, but he has fairly open targets with nothing around him most of the time when he is taking his rod back. I cut my teeth trout fishing small overgrown streams in California. I have always dreamed of having a stream as open as that guy has. Most of our fish are under 12 inches. I am forced to underhand cast (pitch) with ultralight spinning tackle because I fish much smaller baits and the growth is too heavy to even take the rod back. I love the way the rod he is using allows him to crouch and still cast without spooking the fish. That is some serious fish hunting.

[LowRange]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

Those spools are expensive but cool in an old abu. You would be better of with a $30 spool and $16 micro bearings for a Black Max if you want cheap UL. You can put that combo together for under $100 and it will have an 8.7 g spool with bearing. You can go even cheaper than that with the Trulinoya XF50/51 reel for $50 total but the spool is a little heavier at 13 grams with bearing. An avail spool in an ambassador would be cool though.

[Wpeart7]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

Those spools are expensive but cool in an old abu. You would be better of with a $30 spool and $16 micro bearings for a Black Max if you want cheap UL. You can put that combo together for under $100 and it will have an 8.7 g spool with bearing. You can go even cheaper than that with the Trulinoya XF50/51 reel for $50 total but the spool is a little heavier at 13 grams with bearing. An avail spool in an ambassador would be cool though.

Hah! It's funny you mentioned that because I just ordered a BFS spool off Aliexpress for a Black Max and a bearing kit based off an old post I saw you made.

I made that post originally about the Abu's based on what I remember the smaller ones going for years ago.. IE pretty cheap. I just saw what 2500's go for now and people have lost their damn minds And as much as I'd like to have a 2500 BFS'd out, I'd need a 2501 because I'm not weird handed and those things in good shape go for 5-600 bucks now. So onto the Black Max it is!

[LowRange]

Does anyone make BFS spools or even lighter than stock spools for Ambassadeurs? That plus some ABEC 7 bearings seem like a good way to get BFS-ish reel on the cheap.

Those spools are expensive but cool in an old abu. You would be better of with a $30 spool and $16 micro bearings for a Black Max if you want cheap UL. You can put that combo together for under $100 and it will have an 8.7 g spool with bearing. You can go even cheaper than that with the Trulinoya XF50/51 reel for $50 total but the spool is a little heavier at 13 grams with bearing. An avail spool in an ambassador would be cool though.

Hah! It's funny you mentioned that because I just ordered a BFS spool off Aliexpress for a Black Max and a bearing kit based off an old post I saw you made.

I made that post originally about the Abu's based on what I remember the smaller ones going for years ago.. IE pretty cheap. I just saw what 2500's go for now and people have lost their damn minds And as much as I'd like to have a 2500 BFS'd out, I'd need a 2501 because I'm not weird handed and those things in good shape go for 5-600 bucks now. So onto the Black Max it is!

I'd love to build a BFS vintage ambassador but they are pricy for the small reels. I'll get to it eventually.

[Dalleinf]

I'd love to build a BFS vintage ambassador but they are pricy for the small reels. I'll get to it eventually.

X2
And difficult to get a nice 2501/2601.
I wonder why they do not make the reels right now...

[Edward78]

That is amazing skills, I can only dream