ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel review and price compare 2025- fishinghub

Brand	Abu Garcia
Material	Stainless Steel
Hand Orientation	Left Hand
Color	METAL
Handle Material	Stainless Steel
Item Weight	11.3 Ounces
Bearing Material	Stainless Steel

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Left-hand retrieve baitcast round reel with free spool baitcast design
Allows for superior accuracy and long-distance casting
Stainless-steel roller delivers instant anti-reverse hook-setting power
Ultra-smooth Carbon Matrix drag system; 5.3:1 gear ratio
Spool capacity of 14 pounds/245 yards (mono); weighs 11.3 ounces

The Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 casting reel offers you the smooth casting action of stainless-steel ball bearings. A stainless-steel roller bearing delivers you the solid hooksetting power of instant anti-reverse (except 7000 model).

Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 4.8 x 3.1 inches; 15.2 Ounces
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2007
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Abu Garcia
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B098XFP4N1

Q:

how do you use it?

Answer: If you mean, what do I use it for, usually for Catfishing. The free-spool feature of most bait-casters allows you to set a bait, and when the fish picks it up and runs with it it will feel almost no resistance. Great for Catfish, Carp, etc. If you mean technically, how does one use it. That is a difficult thing to describe because there are many steps (adding line, setting drag, casting, etc.). I would go to Abu Garcia's website. You can download manuals and schematics for all of their products. I will say that I've bought two of these, and they perform VERY well. Excellent products.

Answer: You place your thumb on the spool pull it behind your head and throw it forward as any casting reel while removing your thumb from the spool. Be sure to place your thumb back on the spool before it hits the water otherwise the spool keeps turning and you get a bird's nest and have a mess.

Answer: Usually attached to a rod.

Q:

What pound test line MONO works best for this reel? 17 Pound or 14 Pound?

Answer: both work but using a braided line will offer a significant advantage. You can spool more line in and the casting and retrieving will be much smoother. I use a 40 lb braided line on this reel which would equate to a 10 0r 12 mono. a braided line is more expensive but worth the money.

Answer: There must be very little difference between 14 and 17. I personally used power pro braid. 15 lb test with the equivalent to 4lb test mono. Works great for me.

Answer: 14 works the bests !!!

Answer: Both! Equally! Reel is wary good and useful.

Answer: I've got 20 lb on mine.

Q:

how to get parts like the crank handle?

Answer: do you have the manual that came with the reel .or go to abu Garcia website and see if they can help you

Answer: Try e-bay, if not there you can go directly to abu.

Q:

Is the embassadeur c3 good for salt water?

Answer: yes....its an acceptable salt water reel. most guys i know that fish in the ocean prefer the Penn reels...but I know of quite a few guys that use the c3 for the salt. The reel is not conditioned...that I am aware of....for the corrosive affects of salt water and so extra care may be required.....but any reel exposed to salt water should be cleaned regularly anyway. the drag is 15 pounds;not the highest in the industry. Abu's wench being at 24 pounds, if I remember correctly, but I use my c3 for salmon in swift water and can keep up with most chinook.

Answer: Yes. I Always use for salt water fishing. Just remember to rinse with tap water every trip

Answer: Have used it in the piers, beaches and rivers of the Puget Sound for a while now with no problems. Rinse well in fresh water and wipe dry then air dry after each use.

Q:

Is the warranty valid when purchasing it online through amazon?

Answer: To my knowledge, Abu Garcia does not use an "Authorized Retailer" type of system. It shouldn't matter where the reel is purchased so long as you can provide proof and date of purchase. If repairs are needed, you would want to use an Abu-Garcia Authorized Service Center for warranty purposes. See Abu-Garcia warranty information here: http://www.abugarcia.com/support/warranties

Answer: yes it is. I received mine back but it tookabout 4 months for them to fix it & send it back.you also pay for shipping & include a check for $7 or $8 S&H. If you can live with that, then the reel is worth it.thanks

Q:

Is this reel made in Sweden like the other high quality Abu Garcia's or is this one made in china?

Answer: The 46/55/6500 C3s are still made in Sweden. While some will argue quality changes over the years, they are still solid performing reels.

Answer: It's definitely made in Sweden and I will back it 100% I haven't oiled the durn thing skin nearly 2 years and it still throws like a brand new reel!

Answer: Hello Jake. This one is made in Sweden (not like others ones). It' s a great fishing reel! You will not regret about it!

Answer: This is a real Abu Garcia, high quality made product as always, and yes, it's also made in China. Unfortunately

Answer: It's stamped made in Sweden on the reel. I've had good luck with it.

Answer: This reel is made in Sweden.

Answer: China. Look at a c5 if you want a good reel

Answer: Jake,

Answer: This one is Swedish made, stamped on the side. I believe only the BCX series is made in china.

Answer: Yes this is Swedish

Q:

what the max line #

Answer: For mono, 20# is about the most I would do. For braid, 50#+. Your limit will be how much drag force you can get without totally locking up, maintaining smooth drag, castability (lighter lines cast better), and your rod. This reel can hold more than enough line of the heavy stuff.

Answer: I use 14-17lb mono, 20 ok. Braid or other small diameters can go higher.

Answer: I used 12-20 mono, but mostly 25-35 braid. I'm sure it could go higher for braid, probably around 50.

Q:

where is it made?

Answer: look on the side, they are made in Sweden and China. i buy only the ones marked " MADE IN SWEDEN" if it doesn't have that marked it's made in China.

Answer: The 6500C3 is MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: Svängsta, Sweden.

Q:

dose this modle come in rigt

Q:

Why can I not received it to my Arizona adress ?

Q:

Do they have in red

Q:

What is the warranty on this item?

Q:

where is it made?

Answer: look on the side, they are made in Sweden and China. i buy only the ones marked " MADE IN SWEDEN" if it doesn't have that marked it's made in China.

Answer: The 6500C3 is MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: MADE IN SWEDEN

Answer: Svängsta, Sweden.

Q:

what max line #on 6500c

Answer: I fish Muskie and I run Cortland 36 Lb. braided dacron with no problems. Have been using this reel since the 1980's. Good heavy duty reel.

Q:

why are you charging $530 for a $119 reel?

Q:

Does 6500c3 have a clicker setting?

Answer: Yes. I assume you mean the setting that "clicks" when a fish takes the line out.

Answer: Sorry, I don't know. I just paid for these for a friend, and they were delivered to him. It should state whether or not it has a clicker in the description. Try looking on the Cabela's or Bass Pro sites.

Answer: yes it is one of the reasons I bought the 6500 series . Use them for stripper fishing , all good .

Answer: Yes, it does.

justAreviewer : Nice, durable casting reel

I used this reel all last summer and it was my first casting reel. Overall, it is a great first casting reel if you are looking into baitcasting. Reel is very durable and it still looks brand new after fishing almost every day last summer. Only thing I dont like about the reel is the drag action. Other than that, this one does the job well.

stanier : This is a class product

Notwithstanding the ability to help you catch fish this Swedish fishing reel is an example of excellence in engineering. As a professional engineer I respect the precision and selection of materials that goes into this model. Dont waste your time with Asian knock-offs. They may look pretty but you don't know what materials have been used.

It was great that Amazon sold a left hand reel as all my local fishing shops only had right hand models. This I found weird as a right handed fisherman holds his rod in the right hand for that s where the power is needed and uses the reel to recover line. There are more right hand people than lefties.

S. Fassett : Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 Series Rule!

Great reel works great for side drifting on river. I use it for Salmon steel head fishing on rivers in the great northwest. Not much more to say except every fisher person should have one of these reels in their arsenal.

Roger Benson : Love the reel. Plan on using it for Tiger Musky.

have spent over 2 hours filling out how I rate products that I bought through the last year or so and then you have to have 20 more words in order for me to submit my ratting. This is it.

Ahmad A. : expected better for the price

this reel had some problems mainly casting distance & line retrieve speed.frankly I expected better for the price,nevertheless i did land a 40 lb black drum using it.after using it 3 times the handle that secures it to the rod broke off. I decided to send it to Abu Garcia to fix. I still think it's worth it but it may be wise to invest in a better reel if you can afford the price tag
Update:
I have sent it to Abu Garcia to fix 2 months ago & I have yet to get it back. questionable customer service. I'm starting to regret this. Thanks

FriedFish : Abu Garcia 5500C3 Ambassadeur C3 Baitcast Round Reel, get one for yourself!

Lost my first 5500 to an overly aggressive jack a few weeks ago and since the first lasted for almost 20 years I figured why change. The new one is even smoother than the first and the first one never had to be professionally serviced. Get one of these reels for the long run!

Dennis Murphy : Great reel, great price

Sturdy reel I have been using for salmon fishing. Easy to cast even for a first time. Loaded it up with 30# test braid and have been using it constantly since. Comes with oil for maintenance which is nice as well.

HIRAM FOSTER : Bomb proof reel

This reel is bomb proof. I’ve had mine sine 98 and I’ve tried to kil it. It can’t be done. It’s been dropped,I’ve missed a good fish and slammed it on the ground. Go two years without cleaning or lubing. It doesn’t matter it just keeps fishing. I run 20lb stren mono on it,and it’s basically a winch. I’ve been hooked on downed trees in the water and just pull the whole tree to the shore. Lol Mine sees duty every now and then,as she’s semi retired. My Revo SX does most of the heavy lifting now. Don’t hesitate getting this reel guys, you won’t be sorry.

Buster : 5500 C#

Typical Abu Garcia quality. I have used variations of these reels for years and never been disappointed. This one is used for salmon and steelhead in Oregon and gets the job done.

ddshaker : The best

For a level wide reel I don't think, for the price, you will find anything much better. It's non my favorite reel especially for trolling.

Rock Man : Excellent

I had one of these for over 25 years. But lost it in the lake. So when I saw this reel on amazon I bought it with out question. I have never had any problems with this reel. To me it looks good and feels strong. Works well and I've never had any problems with it.

Derick Dennis : Worth every penny!!!

Just got this in the and cannot wait to try it out this weekend. Doing some surf fishing in Sargent TX. This reel is everything that you could possible ask for. Large spool for plenty of line, big handle to help bring in the big ones and also love the bait clicker. Just some advice I bought 300 yards of 80lb suffix braid and probably over filled it to get the line on. So if you are going with braid you may want to try 65lb if you want to put 300yards without over filling it. Over all very satisfied and very excited. Third abu I've bought, also have two bcx 6600's. Cannot say enough about Abu's, they are work horses for sure!!

Mark : Five Stars

super great reel love the left hand cranking

Aaron tx : cant go wwrong

12 lb test line and a maching rated rod and you are ready to reel in the biggest redfish. bought one 10 years ago and it still works great. caught a many of reds on it. when an older reel broke on me there was no question, I replaced it with an ag 5500 . this is a reel you buy to last you a long time of fishing.

PinMd : The absolute perfect left hand bait caster!

I own two 6501c3's and have just ordered a third. I use mine exclusively for surf fishing. A very wise man told me to spool these with about 100yds of 20lb braid then attach the 17lb suffix mono with a alberto knot. a pretty neat way to ekk out some extra line capacity. The other thing I do to mine is eliminate the level wind. You can buu a cnversion bar on line several places that goes in place of the level wind worm gear and cover. Talk about casting a country mile!!!

ddshaker : The best

For a level wide reel I don't think, for the price, you will find anything much better. It's non my favorite reel especially for trolling.

J.Bourne : Great reel!

I've been using this for several months and think it's a great reel. Truth be told, you're not going to have many problems with anything made by Abu Garcia. This reel is priced well and capable of bringing in large fish so it's a good medium ranged reel. No remorse!

Scott Shea : 4 star pending.

Bought this reel for an annual trip on a party boat. First trip the reel performed well. 1 year 1 month later, second trip the reel failed while pulling in a fish. Turned out to be a short fluke. Hardly a fish worthy of breaking a reel. Broke down the reel and found the bearing directly beneath the crank locked up unable to be freed. Everything else is in order. Rod and reel have been stored indoors wrapped in a neoprene case. Clearly a defective part. We will be seeing how Abu Garcia handles the warranty a month overdue with less than 10 hours of use. I trust the name but it's the service I'm about to get that will determine if I ever buy another Abu Garcia again.

tim hakenson : fantastic

made in sweden and works and feels great. this reel casts great and the drag does handle LARGE catfish with ease.

Danny : 6501 First baitcaster.

My wife surprised me by buying this reel last week. I tried it out today on the Santiam River. I was worried about tangling it up really badly because I'm new to baitcasters. I had a few little tangles, but nothing too bad. I used a 3 oz pyramid weight on a slider and a few different lures. It casts and retrieves so smoothly. It feels like a reel that will last a lifetime. I want every size of it now!

Ashley : Great reel

It is exactly what I wanted.

hog182 : Slaying Catfish with 6500C3

I love to tight line for Channel cats and I do it old school. No special rigs, a hook a sinker and bait.
I have always used cheap reels and they would wear out pretty fast with big fish.
I decided to take a chance on the 6500C3 even though I have never used a baitcast before.
Wow! What an amazing reel. One reviewer mentioned returning it because of the backlash. That's all about the user. After a few cast I had it down pretty good and have had no major problems with backlash.
I've had a few occasions when I had to adjust the drag while reeling in a fish. It's a piece of cake with this reel.
The reel is very strong and smooth. The only problem I have is it is too smooth. If I leave the reel "open" and a fish takes it, the line comes off so smooth that the pole doesn't move. That's easily fixed by turning on the bite alert.
I'm getting ready to order another one.
If your willing to try it and practice with it, I don't think you can beat this reel.

FriedFish : Abu Garcia 5500C3 Ambassadeur C3 Baitcast Round Reel, get one for yourself!

Lost my first 5500 to an overly aggressive jack a few weeks ago and since the first lasted for almost 20 years I figured why change. The new one is even smoother than the first and the first one never had to be professionally serviced. Get one of these reels for the long run!

Jason J. Siecke : Great Reel

I really like this reel and have had no problems with it. I like the brake on it and it really helps with the stinkin backlash. Also very nifty is the alarm that tells you something is on the hook while trolling. It holds plenty of line and has no trouble winding back in.

Spooky D : Does what it done do and did it well.

I'm a noob to baitcasters; been using spinners my whole life but I dig this reel. Casts nice, easy and far with minimal effort. I filled it with 15lb mono using 3/4 ounce weights. Bird nested it real nice once but that was just user error. Still getting used to these things.

The only thing I don't like about the reel is the switch for the bait clicker. It is the only part that feels weak and partly because it is made out of plastic and partly because it is a little wobbly. I do a lot of shore fishing and I feel like if I accidentally dropped my rod onto some rocks this would be the first thing to break.

Other than the bait clicker switch it feels solid overall. I don't see this thing breaking any time soon. I did a bunch of research on this reel and finally decided to drop my dough on it when I saw a video on youtube of some guy rebuilding a C3 his friend found at the bottom of a lake. The guy did a minimal part replacement if any and just cleaned and lubed a reel that was sitting at the bottom of a lake for ages.

Richard Stade : Built for a lifetime of fishing!!!!

I own three of these reels. The first one I bought 30 years ago and used it for bass fishing. I then went out and bought 2 more for a saltwater fishing trip 20 years ago. the 30 year old reel still works and casts smoothly and it is mounted on a 6 foot Berkly Lightning Rod. The other two are mounted on Bass Pro Shops 7 ft medium casting rods and are used mainly for catfishing. I couldn't believe how much the have gone up in price, but what ever price they are, you will only have to pay it once. These reels last forever and are simple to tear down and clean. The only difference between these reels and it's bigger brother the 6500c is line capacity and price. So unless you are fishing for Marlin or Sailfish, theis reel will suit your purposes!!

Jorge : Five Stars

Recomendable

Herb : This reel is awesome.

Absolutely no problems. Works like a charm and I'll probably buy a few others of this series throughout my life. AG is a great product.

Ibuyalotofcrap : Too pricey now

I've used these reels for years now. They used to be around $60 and they were worth that even though the gears would wear out fairly quickly. Now that they are over $100 they are not worth even close to that. Now the Chinese made versions are around the same price as these used to be. It's unfortunate that Abu Garcia has decided to go the way they have on these reels. I won't be buying one at the current prices, which means I probably just won't be buying one unless I can find a used one somewhere.

Ross Polk : GARBAGE!

Obviously Abu Garcia quality control is non existent! And Amazon will not take it back because it's been more that 30 days since I purchased it! Bought this reel on 4-20-2014 and today 6-1-2014 was my first chance to use it. First hook up and the reel seizes up! Completely SEIZES UP! I cannot move the handle at all! Took the reel apart after finding out that I cannot return in and found that the bearings are frozen solid! First USE!!! Very disappointed with Abu Garcia and Amazon return policy!

J.Bourne : Great reel!

I've been using this for several months and think it's a great reel. Truth be told, you're not going to have many problems with anything made by Abu Garcia. This reel is priced well and capable of bringing in large fish so it's a good medium ranged reel. No remorse!

Mark : Five Stars

super great reel love the left hand cranking

Jason J. Siecke : Great Reel

I really like this reel and have had no problems with it. I like the brake on it and it really helps with the stinkin backlash. Also very nifty is the alarm that tells you something is on the hook while trolling. It holds plenty of line and has no trouble winding back in.

hog182 : Slaying Catfish with 6500C3

I love to tight line for Channel cats and I do it old school. No special rigs, a hook a sinker and bait.
I have always used cheap reels and they would wear out pretty fast with big fish.
I decided to take a chance on the 6500C3 even though I have never used a baitcast before.
Wow! What an amazing reel. One reviewer mentioned returning it because of the backlash. That's all about the user. After a few cast I had it down pretty good and have had no major problems with backlash.
I've had a few occasions when I had to adjust the drag while reeling in a fish. It's a piece of cake with this reel.
The reel is very strong and smooth. The only problem I have is it is too smooth. If I leave the reel "open" and a fish takes it, the line comes off so smooth that the pole doesn't move. That's easily fixed by turning on the bite alert.
I'm getting ready to order another one.
If your willing to try it and practice with it, I don't think you can beat this reel.

Jorge : Five Stars

Recomendable

Scott Shea : 4 star pending.

Bought this reel for an annual trip on a party boat. First trip the reel performed well. 1 year 1 month later, second trip the reel failed while pulling in a fish. Turned out to be a short fluke. Hardly a fish worthy of breaking a reel. Broke down the reel and found the bearing directly beneath the crank locked up unable to be freed. Everything else is in order. Rod and reel have been stored indoors wrapped in a neoprene case. Clearly a defective part. We will be seeing how Abu Garcia handles the warranty a month overdue with less than 10 hours of use. I trust the name but it's the service I'm about to get that will determine if I ever buy another Abu Garcia again.

bsweezy : great reel for the $

This is a great reel. It cast smooth and retrieve is super smooth! I put it on a shimano tallus Bluewater 7' rod and 50lb power pro. I caught two blacktip sharks both around 5' today the reel preformed perfect. I have a feeling this rig will be taking down some cobia this year!!!

Sayla Ray : boyfriend loved it

I got this for my boyfriends christmas present last year. He really loved it. I know much about fishing reels so cant get specific.

Alsovain : WOW LOOK

I mean what is there to say about the best fishing reel ever i mean ever i have been useing these for years and i won't use any thing else. I have landed a 75 LB catfish with one so do i need to say any more. Just get one you won't be disappointed with it.

Eric Maldonado : Awesome reel

I have several Abu Garcia rods and reels. The 6500C3 is by far the best of the best. I paired it with a 7'3" Vendetta. Now, I fish 3 to 4 times a week, nailing 20-30 pound Red Drum, on the regular, and the power and performance are hands down the best on the market. I own every model, from the 4500 to the 7000, and am purchasing the 10000i this weekend. Happy fishing !

Herb : This reel is awesome.

Absolutely no problems. Works like a charm and I'll probably buy a few others of this series throughout my life. AG is a great product.

fylpz44 : Abu-Garcia C3 Series

Love it this is worth the price and is a good size, I use with 30lb test. I would recommend.

Bruce Hope : Too early to tell

I just bought this reel and so far it works and casts well. I certainly like it better than the low profile reels that are touted. While this reel is reportedly made in Sweeden, I still like the features of the Kalex reel I bought a few months ago, particularly the spool release. The Kalex has the release in the center of the reel body making it a one hand operation to cast. With this reel, the release is on the side frame which for me makes it a two hand operation to make each cast. Not a major deal, but I'd like this one better if the release was in the center. We'll see how they hold up against one another.

Mark : Five Stars

super great reel love the left hand cranking

Got Here As Soon As I Could : great reel

Reel(s) works as advertised , use them for striper fishing on fresh water lakes in SC and GA . Once I got use to casting a baitcast reel vs the open faces I have used for years all good , great drag system all in all a quality reel . I do think they are more expensive then they should or could be which I did not top rate it , ie good deal but not great .

Eric M. Jennings : Great, sturdy reel.

This is a very nice and sturdy reel. While I haven't perfected casting, I've still gotten some very nice casts with this reel.

As with any baitcaster, backlash is a problem - but I have had only one instance where I wasn't able to untangle the backlash.

Great reel, I'd definitely recommend it.

john Barrow : proven brand

i have been fishing with garcia for years and it is as good now as it ever has been. for the money it would be hard to beat.

Catfish Fever : Happy Catfisherman

I purchased 3 of these for one of my Catfishing friends, who was just getting started Catfishing. I personnaly have never used one, but, watching him, it's obvious he's very satisfied. He has no trouble casting out just under 100yds, using braid and a 4 ounce sinker. Never heard a single complaint from him, cept when his occasional ineptitude causes a severe snarl in the line, his response is better not printed ;-).

Alsovain : WOW LOOK

I mean what is there to say about the best fishing reel ever i mean ever i have been useing these for years and i won't use any thing else. I have landed a 75 LB catfish with one so do i need to say any more. Just get one you won't be disappointed with it.

Derick Dennis : Worth every penny!!!

Just got this in the and cannot wait to try it out this weekend. Doing some surf fishing in Sargent TX. This reel is everything that you could possible ask for. Large spool for plenty of line, big handle to help bring in the big ones and also love the bait clicker. Just some advice I bought 300 yards of 80lb suffix braid and probably over filled it to get the line on. So if you are going with braid you may want to try 65lb if you want to put 300yards without over filling it. Over all very satisfied and very excited. Third abu I've bought, also have two bcx 6600's. Cannot say enough about Abu's, they are work horses for sure!!

ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel review and price compare 2025

Product overview

product features

product description

product details

important information

Questions about ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel

how do you use it?

What pound test line MONO works best for this reel? 17 Pound or 14 Pound?

how to get parts like the crank handle?

Is the embassadeur c3 good for salt water?

Is the warranty valid when purchasing it online through amazon?

Is this reel made in Sweden like the other high quality Abu Garcia's or is this one made in china?

what the max line #

where is it made?

dose this modle come in rigt

Why can I not received it to my Arizona adress ?

Do they have in red

What is the warranty on this item?

where is it made?

what max line #on 6500c

why are you charging $530 for a $119 reel?

Does 6500c3 have a clicker setting?

Product reviews of ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur Classic C3 – Fishing Reel