Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Fishing Reel

This is the real reel. Casting is quite and smooth. I can cast a weightless plastic worm distances that blows my mind. This reel you can tell is made to be used for a long time. Retrieve is remarkable, just 1 full turn of the handle brings 28 inches of line onto the spool. Alot of copy cats out there with a lot of plastic parts. When you hold just the reel in your hand and feel the weight of this reel your mind is going to tell you this is the real reel deal. I purchased 1 and a few days later bought another.

We bass fish a lot and these are the perfect high quality light weight reel for everyday use. Nothing too fancy so it's fine letting the kids and teens use, but also it is not junk and it works well. Doesn't snag easily, keeps tension on the line, casts great. Easy to put on any pole we have used and its really durable. Stays outside in an enclosed shed but not climate controlled and have had no rusting or issues. This is at least the third or fourth abu garcia bait cast reel we have purchased and it was yet again a win. This white color also looks really sleep and high quality.

I would recommend this reel to anyone. It is not a top-of-the line reel that a pro would use. But I think it is all the reel most people need. Personally, I would save the money and buy more baits! More below. I am a bass fishing enthusiast -- I fish every week and more if I can. I use all types of baits from soft plastics to topwaters to jerkbaits and crankbaits. I have fished them all on the PMax. This was my first baitcaster. I have since purchased and used a more expensive Abu Revo STX reel. The Revo is a higher-end reel that is widely used by experienced bass anglers. The PMAX is the fast gear-ratio model, and most expensive reel in Abu's "standard" or "entry" level Max series. I have looked closely at intermediate-priced reels. In the context of my experience with both reels: 1. Feels very sturdy and well-made. Physically a solid reel. No sign of loosening, grinding, or any other negative attributes after several months of frequent use. 2. Performs suitably for a bass fishing enthusiast, serious enough to fish at least weekly. 3. Was fairly easy to learn on. To elaborate on points 1 and 2: after comparing with other more expensive reels, this feels every bit as sturdy, and perhaps even more. It casts a 3/8 or 1/2 oz jerkbait or crank a mile smoothly, and cranks smoothly. The drag is smooth, and the star clicks between settings precisely, like it does on a higher-end reel. I bought this reel not appreciating the importance of the brake and brake adjustment mechanism. If you are a rookie like I was - this is very important! Fortunately, the brake is very easy to adjust with just a turn of the adjustment dial. Not all reels have this type of easy adjustment dial, even some of the higher-end Abu Garcia reels. I found it's really important when you are learning to be able to make adjustments easily and quickly. I would not ever want to use a baitcaster without this feature. The more expensive reels have some more features. For example, the Revo has a sophisticated two-mechanism braking system that requires you to pop one side off the reel. For a hardcore angler this might be justified. The drags of more expensive reels also have a higher braking capacity than this does. This might come into play if you are catching monster stripers or huge catfish. But the drag is more than adequate for bass fishing. They might be made of more advanced and somewhat lighter materials - but this reel is still very light. The braking response of the PMax is not so different that it would justify spending much more on a reel. I don't see why a fairly serious freshwater angler for bass, walleye, or other game species less than about 10 lb or so would ever really need a higher-end reel. I can't imagine ever "replacing" this reel and taking this out of my arsenal of gear. The 7:1 gear ratio picks up slack on topwaters and jerkbaits quickly, but I also fish crankbaits on it without problems. I was coming from spinning reels, and had never used a baitcaster before this one. I found this reel fairly easy to learn on. My "teacher" has been You-tube videos and trial and error. I found that I backlashed quite a bit in the first week, but after some practice and adjusting the setup a bit, I was doing just fine and within two weeks was consistently casting 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz lures further than I can with any spinning setup. Backlashing was not the reel's fault - it was a matter of learning. I would not hesitate to buy this reel -- for a beginner looking for more bearings and a higher gear ratio, or for a permanent spot in the toolbox of a serious fishing enthusiast.

Great reel for the money. Very smooth drag and cast a country mile. Have been an Abu fan for years going back to the early round reels expect it will last a long time. Mounted on a 7' medium heavy nice balanced combo.

Buying a casting reel can be an intimidating process for beginners and veterans alike. Cost, features, longevity, feel, and ease of use are some of the most important factors anglers consider before deciding on a purchase. I’ve used the Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile Reel for a year and honestly, I’m shocked with how it preformed. I picked the reel up when it was $60 - it’s proven me to be a worthy purchase. WHY YOU’LL LIKE THE REEL I’m not the easy on my gear. I do a lot of bank fishing so my reels are jostled in and out of my SUV, dropped on the ground, and sometimes they end up in the water. The Pro Max reel has stood the test of time and works just like the day I purchased it, as stated earlier, that was a year ago. The Pro Max reel weighs in at 7.3 ounces making it easy to fish all day. This is not as light as some of my other reels, however, the low profile design makes it feel smaller than it actually is. The 7+1 stainless steel ball bearing system provides a consistently smooth retrieve. I let my buddy, who was just learning to use casting reels, borrow the reel for a night. He was impressed with how ‘simple’ it was to operate. Despite being a casting reel ‘newbie’, he only had a couple small backlashes. I’ll consider that a victory for the MagTraxTM, externally-adjustable, braking system. The Pro Max reel does not have an abundance of features. What it lacks in frills it makes up for in reliability. Boasting a stout 18lb max drag – it’s never slipped on any of my hooksets. Though there is a tiny bit of side-to-side play in the handle, the Pro Max has always allowed me to winch fish through the grass and brush. This reel is available in the left or right hand 7.1:1 gear ratio. That speed covers 90% of the applications I fish so I can’t complain. My Final Thoughts The Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile Reel doesn’t have an array of features. However, this reel provides durability, ease of use, and reliability. I’m confident in saying you can depend on this reel for years. It’s a reel with which a novice angler can become proficient in a short amount of time.

looks to be good quality, great price, love the look

Sorry for the face down pic in the grass - I was too excited. This thing is my first work horse and couldn’t be happier. Had it for over a year now and it has seen some abuse as you can see from the pic. The casting is great on it and it’s got that tick sound when adjusting that people like. Reels nice and fits in my hand well which was something I was searching for when picking out a bait caster. It seems like they’re all made for big meaty man hands as if some men and women don’t inherit their mom’s little lady hands? Didn’t what to go with the profishiency mini one cuz I ain’t no chump. Def thought about it tho lol. Learned how to use a bait caster with this and I thought it’d be harder since all the spinning reel guys laugh and cry when a bait caster is brought up. It must’ve been too hard for their pretty little spinnin selves. Overall it’s worked great for this long and holds the normal amount of line you’d need for the majority of fresh water fishing. Caught me some of the biggest, sharelunker worthy, bass pro hotline callin bass and never gave any trouble. S**y little white bait caster.

Great reel in every aspect once you get it set up you have to TRY to backlash it. Will add I got two of them for under $75 each here but these are now on sale at Ebay for UNDER $50 TYD making them an absolutely unbeatable Bargain in baitcasters, I literally do not see how you can possibly match let alone beat this reel at $50 TYD at Ebay. I ordered two more at that price. Like to update my review I now own six of these Abu Garcia MaxPro4 baitcasting reels. I and my sons now have several months and many MANY thousands of casts using these reels and have caught 100s of bass and dozens of freshwater drum. Have 12-15lb Yo-Zuri copolymer line on some and 30 and 50lb test Power Pro braided fishing line on the rest. Absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever at $50 to my door you can not beat this baitcaster. Just can not. Casts VERY smoothly very quietly, drag is smooth and works great, if you set it up correctly you literally have to try to backlash or over-spool with it. Works great with any luer at or over 5/16oz. up to 3/4oz which is the heaviest I have casted with it thus far. Best baitcasting reel under $60 there is.