Anybody use the 4600 or 5500 for Bass Fishing? Only Difference I see between the 2 is spool capacity and .3 ounces.

4600 10 lb/170yds
5500 12 lb/205 yds

Thanks

I have used both and the 4600 is narrower, not sure about the weight difference. I still use the 4600's, have 2 of them.

I don't anymore. . .I still have 2 but they don't get used, they're just too heavy compared to a low profile.

I have the 5500 on my cranking rod till I can get a winch. It cast a mile though and the low gear ratio works great. Just heavy like they were saying.

Thanks for all the comments, think i'm going to give the 4600 at try, it will be used for deep cranking. Just couldn't see spending more money on a reel I would probably only use on occasion.

I used 4600 C3, C4 and C5 reels for years. it was not untill two years ago I upgraded to all Revos. They work well and are very easy to take apart to repair. I still have probably a dozen just sitting in a closet.

not familiar with the 4600 and 5600, but i assume that they are the same relation to each other as the 4500 and 5500 series, where the 5500 was a higher speed reel than the 4500.


the 5500 is 5.3 and that was high speed in the day , the 4500 was 4 something to one iirc.

I still use the Ambassadeur "round" reels for bass fishing. I've always been a big fan of those workhorse reels.

4600 has thumb bar instead of push button.thumbbar is better for my liking esp.in bass fishing.

I think an older 4600 with the fixed spool shaft and anti reverse pawl instead of bearing in 4.7 to 1 is the ideal crankbait reel.The fixed shaft on the spool is heavier than newer models and builds up better inertia for longer casts and the handle back play with the pawl seems like it helps hook short striking fish a little better than the newer anti reverse bearing.My.02cents

I was thinking of using a 5500 that i have for cranks as well. Waiting to hear all the feedback...+1 on the OP's ?.

I use a 4600 now on my deep crankin rod.. 5.3:1 is just about as high as I can crank those 6XD's and the like. I have it on a St. Croix Mojo Bass 7' and it will cast a mile and never lashes on the big baits. I use 12lb mono.. works great.

I use 4600C4's, 5600C4's, Revo S's. and Curado's. They all good reels, but handle a little differently on the cast. All my ABU Garcia are 6.3:1 gear ratio. The 4600 C4 works a lot better with light lures than the 5600 C4 because its spool is lighter when filled with line than the 5600 C4. The 5600 has a faster retrieve on a normal cast because its spool contains more line and doesn't unload as fast and maintains a larger diameter. I use the 5600 for heavier lures in open water and the 4600 for lighter lures and when casting into tighter cover.

They do well, but not as good as the newer reels for obvious reasons.

I used to only use 5500's and one 4500 for decades, i finally went to low profiles two years ago and couldn't be happier.

They are work horse reels and darn near indestructible, but the newer reels are way better.


I have a ton of them in the closet and never use them at all anymore, i used to have one in the boat as a spare with braid on it, if i wanted to swith over to braid in thick stuff and now have a cheap black max with the braid as a spare.

I was late to the bandwagon to switch, and i won't go back now.

The new winch or a lews t-pro in a 5.4 is a much better reel imo and i've chunked 5500's for over 30 years

I too still use them 4500 4600 also have 2 3:8 to 1 4600 cranking reels. Proably have at least2 dozen they last forever.