KastKing Rover 60R VS Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 6500

I take apart these reels and discuss the differences between them. This video will help you decide which reel to get: the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 6500 or the KastKing Rover 60R. They are very comparable reels but have a large price tag difference, so you're probably wondering if the Abu Garcia is worth the extra money. Both reels are great purchases, this will explain the pros and cons of each.
Outro Music:
Music Credit: OurMusicBox (Jay Man)
Track Name: "Raw Rivalry"
Music By: Jay Man @ ourmusicbox.com/
Official "OurMusicBox" KZbin Channel: / ourmusicbox
License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Music promoted by NCM goo.gl/fh3rEJ

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey, here's an update on these reels a few years later. All 3 of my Abus are still in great shape and are just as smooth as when I got them. My Kastkings are a different story. A thumb bar snapped on one and the drag is worn out on the other. Both that I used frequently are very rough too. I have since moved to Piscifun Chaos 60 reels (not sponsered) and have been blown away by them. 2 years of solid abuse and they're holding strong, plus they are way beefier than the Rovers.

[@keithscott4939]

Thank's for the review it was really helpful to me considering someone just posted two Kastkings that I am was considering!

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

They're decent little reels and I'm glad you liked the video! I've since had a few minor issues with my Rovers. The one's thumb bar broke andade it hard to engage after casting, and the other one's drag is a little worn out. But considering the abuse I put them through I'd say they held up well.

[@robertchillcott7669]

I'm glad you took the time to make this video. It answers the question why one bait caster cost more than the other . It all boils down to quality and workmanship. We basically get what we pay for, most of the time.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yes with fishing reels that is almost always the case. The quality parts are harder to make and cost more. There’s also better tolerances on the higher end products that reduces wear on the gears. Thanks for watching!

[@williamkellichner]

Great information. Glad you took the time to show the reels, talked about maintenance since many people forget they must maintain their equipment and blame workmanship when it fails. Thanks and really enjoy your channel.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Thanks a lot! I'm glad you find the video useful, I don't make many review videos so it felt awkward making it. But if it was helpful that's all that matters!

[@rider660r]

Kastkrap is garbage no matter if you tear it apart every hour and clean it.... Actually,I had tear them apart and lube them after every 3-4-5 casts because the bearings are garbage and after a few casts it would lose distance.The whole reel is garbage.They may be ok for noobs that fish once a year on the free fish days but day in and day out like I do they're krap.After 2 weeks of nothing but fighting with the reel I sent the POS back to Amazon. Save a little longer and get yourself quality that can last decades.I prefer Shimano then Daiwa and haven't had a chance to use my Penn,but I have a Abu STX (I prefer a thumb bar) and don't care for it,it's worlds better than the Kastkrap and those other pieces of off-brand garbage though. I clean my reels once a year or if it gets dirt or sand in it.Other than that they keep on going and some of my reels are Shimano's from the late 80's I bought new and are still catching fish.

[@CatfishandCrappie]

Good stuff brother! I am a HUGE Abu fanboy just because it's what I have grown up using. I buy em used and rebuild em ;) Happy Fishing!

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

I definitely like them too they're holding up great.

[@constantinepapoutsis6556]

I love my ABU reels but recently bought a Kastking Speed Demon Pro. Just waiting for delivery then we'll see the quality. A recommendation I have for reel breakdown is to use a small muffin tray. Helps keep parts organized in order of breakdown. Also, a towel underneath rather than just hard table will help catch any small parts. Small details make big difference. Thanks for your time making the video. Tight lines.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey thanks for the solid tips! I'll definitely use that next time I break down my reels. Good luck with that new Kastking I've heard good things about those Speed Demons but never tried one. Thanks for watching!

[@lgbass]

Thanks for the review. I have an old ABU 6500 C3 and I absolutely love it. I actually bought the upgraded power handle but I keep forgetting to put it on.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

I'm glad you liked it! The Abus really are great reels I love mine. And you'll love the power handle it changes the entire feel of it.

[@leeweiming3368]

Thanks for your video, really help alot^^

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey thanks a lot! While I still like the rovers, I have found that the Piscifun Chaos reels are much more durable for the money. Either way you should like the reels.

[@lad63bird]

Very well done, no nonsense and you have changed my descision on my next reel. For fity two bucks, I'll happily replace the Kast King every three years and have a brand new reel to start the season!!Keep up great work...

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey thanks a lot! I'm glad you liked it and found it informative! I like the Abus more but those Kastkings are great for the price. I've actually picked up 2 of the Piscifun chaos 60 reels and I have to say I like them better than the kastkings and they're the same price range. Very well made, smooth and powerful. I would hands down buy the Chaos reels over the Rovers in the future. I'm going to make a video comparing them after this season but so far they have blown me away. Good luck out there good ya catch some big ones!

[@captainsnakehead2432]

Then u should change to accurate every 3 year for prestige class record n usage...

[@soupertrooper3864]

@@TheFlattyDaddies Really? I think the Chaos has at least some plastic in the gear train and the Rover is all brass... how are they holding up?

[@kyredneckoutdoors]

I found a kast king 60r at a venders mall store for $20 that was a great buy.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yeah that's a steal!

[@rider660r]

LOL,you still got ripped off.......don't care what anyone thinks..Kastkrap is garbage as is all those other off-brands.

[@riverrat988]

Great review, a lot of companies have tried to beat ABU . There good but a ABU is hard to beat . Been using them since the 80s.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey I just saw this comment- I'm with you on the Abus the more I use them the more I love em. I will say that the Kastkings are pretty good for the money if that's all someone could afford. But they will never be a C3.

[@riverrat988]

The Flatty Daddies what kind of spinning reel are you using . Yes ABU gets it done

[@DERPYBOB]

my dad has the same reel but 20 years old still works fine!

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

That's good to hear! The Abus have a great reputation for lasting a long time.

[@2olvets443]

Nice review/comparison!

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Thanks! I figured there’s probably a lot of people who don’t have a lot of money wondering if they need to spend the extra money on a more expensive reel.

[@2olvets443]

@@TheFlattyDaddies I have several of the river 40’s and love them. They work for me on this water, I don’t know how they would fare at Kerr or Where there is 50+ lbs. I am one that if you can spend less money to get a very good product why spend more for a name.

[@baobo67]

I have a heap of reels that all catch fish but the Abus are the ones ear marked for my grandkids. Great video. Cheers from Australia.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey thanks a lot! Nothing wrong with the Abus they are incredibly durable and will probably get passed down another generation after your grandkids. Something tells me these Chaos reels won't make it quite as long but I think they will last long enough to get my money's worth out of them. What's your target species in Australia? I bet there's some awesome fish there.

[@baobo67]

@@TheFlattyDaddies Our most awsome fish is the mighty Barramundi. Most exciting chasing them amongst the crocodiles in the Northern Territory and Queensland.Absolutely delicious eating. Plenty of barra fishing to see on KZbin.Cheers.

[@jeffsmith350]

I am still using my 6500-C Garcia from late 80's to early 90's.

[@ericshayer]

Awesome video.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Thank you I'm glad you liked it! And thanks for the sub too I'll have a blue catfishing video up by the end of the week.

[@acecriss9326]

I collect and repair as a hobby Abu Garcia bait casters. I own so many I lost count. I'm gonna buy a KastKing due to your review. Thanks...

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey if you have Abus I wouldn't get the Kastkings. They're good for about a year of hard fishing. Then they get loud. I have 3 that are in pretty rough condition. I've really put them through their paces after this review and I'm a little disappointed. For the price they are definitely good reels but they can't replace the C3s when it comes to durability. Thanks for watching!

[@acecriss9326]

@@TheFlattyDaddies Thanks, I will now not will not buy a KK. Thanks for replying. FISH ON!!

[@allenbmooresharinginformation]

Thing I love about the C series is that you can get replacement parts when things do wear out.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Allen Moore good point. Although I haven’t tried getting parts for the Kastkings yet there’s got to be a way. Probably not as easy or accessible as the Abu Garcias though.

[@allenbmooresharinginformation]

@@TheFlattyDaddies the majority of manufacturers seem to think you should just buy new reels from my experience. Quantum is terrible about that with all the marketing hype about quality they claim.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

@@allenbmooresharinginformation yeah it definitely seems to be going that way with reels. Use them till they break and buy a new one. Kind of how all products are going anymore.

[@nicholasdalton7420]

I don’t know the uploader has looked into it yet the kast king website has all replacement parts ready to go

[@allenbmooresharinginformation]

@@nicholasdalton7420 I had one negative experience with Kast King and never considering spending more money on them. Not hating on those with good luck with them, or those loving Shimanos. I just know what has worked well with me personally for decades and what has failed me when I tried to use it over a few days.

[@konaboss83]

Keep it up man you’re good with the content you’ll definitely get some more subs.....unfortunately the rover 60 I got was faulty so back it went I was bummed but what do ya do....anyways for the money of the abu you should really check out the daiwa seagate on eBay or amazon I picked up one without the levelwind it’s smooth and can cast 6 miles according to catfish Dave :) they’re built to withstand a lotta species swimming around in the oceans nothing against either of yours if fish em in a second...just a mention ✌️

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey thanks for the info and feedback. I've seen him using those Diawas and they do look really nice. I typically fish from a boat so I don't need to cast the 6 miles you guys have to, so these two reels work out well in my situation. If I was bank fishing I could see how they would limit casting distance and line capacity. Also, I'm not a big social media guy and don't promote the channel as much as I should so it'll probably just be a slow grower. But I'm ok with that I appreciate everybody that has subbed and watches like you did. Thanks!

[@reddragonmirage]

The new Abu Garcias will fade I only had my c4 for about 2 seasons and the carbon washers were not stopping anything. There are a lot of factors but I have a 5 year old older school Abu ambassador and zero fade with the same usage.

[@edwarddoonan5253]

I know it an old video. I have Abu that I got in 93 and it still works great, it's a shame if they have decreased in quality. I've used mine for bass, snook and channel cats and it has never let me down. I was looking for a cheap but good bait caster for my son to learn on hopefully the cast king will do.

[@mitchhelms6772]

i have 3 kastking rover 40 and a 70 im tough on reels i am hard on them and they hold up very nice reels i have 3 6000s and a 6500 c3 i like my abus but i am impressed with kastking reels to me they hold up to the abu i've caught nice cats and hybrids on both drags worked well i have no complaints with either one. my kastking 40s ive had for 3 years still hold up to my abuse of big blues and flathead. for the price very nice and easy to work on

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

mitch helms that’s good to hear man! I’m in the same boat- I like them both and I’m really surprised about Kastking’s quality vs price. Not as good as the Abus but they take a lot of abuse and keep going. Thanks for watching!

[@mitchhelms6772]

@@TheFlattyDaddies i just found your channel the other day i will be watching more videos count on it. if it swims where i fish i try to catch it i really enjoy catfishing but i love to fish period

[@nancylor6106]

The plus about the KastKing rover is the bearing supported pinion gear. Haven’t seen it before in lower cost reels before.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Nancy Lor it definitely has some great features for a budget reel. All three of mine are working great after 3 years of hard fishing. I really can notice the difference those extra bearings make. Thanks for watching!

[@nancylor6106]

My kastking rover 40 came in today and it is super smooth compared to my abu c4 6600. I upgraded to Orange deal Boca bearings for my abu so it has great freespool but doesn’t feel effortless like the kastking.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

@@nancylor6106 that's good to hear! Hopefully it stays that way. I noticed with my Kastkings they got noisy and less smooth after about a year of use whereas the Abus are still like when I got them. But the Kastkings are still fine otherwise.

[@anthonykosloski3799]

Kastking is made in the US not China

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

I have a ABu 5000 D (the emerald green one from the 70's) and the KK R 40 is a work of art compared to it. I love my Rover 40. One more thing, I lost the centrifugal brakes for the Rover, and if that happens you can make some more out of plastic stick Q-tips they work fine, after you cut them to size and they fit flatten them with some pliers so they fit the flat bar they go on. I wrap mine in 2 layers of Gorilla Tape to add some weight to them, but I also tried them without and that also works fine.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

That's good to hear I'm glad you like your Rover so much and it's treated you well. Since I've made this video I've had some problems with my rovers but it's probably just from me not taking care of them the way I should. I like the tip about the Q-tip brakes that sounds like a cool fix!

[@labtrainer09]

Thanks so much for this EXCELLENT comparison of the Rover, which I have and use in coastal saltwater fishing, and the C3, which I'm strongly considering. My motivation is improved casting distance: Even with the spool tension on the Rover set very low, it seems to slow down a lot at the end of each cast (primarily with big swimbaits). Unless I'm missing something (possible), I don't think there's a way to adjust the Rover to improve distance. As you point out and explain, your C3 casts considerably farther than the Rover, in part because of the independent spool "axle" and in part because of the more sophisticated braking system. This would definitely help me in my particular fishing situation. Have you ever considered trying the Daiwa Millionaire 300? It has been around "forever" and at $90, it SEEMS to be a very good reel. But I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about it. All the best, Chris (in Maine)

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey Chris, thanks for watching and the kind words! It really does mean a lot and I'm glad the review was helpful since It's not something I do too often. They definitely are both great reals but I've since had a few problems with my Rovers and had some parts break. Pretty much from me abusing them and not the reel's problem. I've had no issues with my C3s yet though. I've actually never tried the Daiwa Millionaires yet but I would be interested in one. I do want another baitcaster since you can never have enough setups. I've been trying the Piscifun Chaos reels for the last few years and have fallen in love with them. I even use them over my C3s now because of their larger line capacity and higher drag resistance. Nothing that I've tried casts quite as far as the Abus though. They have that braking system that really seems to help.

[@Sertao2013]

I like the handle to be on the left side and I hold the rod with my right hand . Can you change it and switch it around ?

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

steve dental no you can’t switch them around but they sell left handed models. These are both right handed even though you reel with your left hand.

[@bsdgffishtuna5186]

Can you remove all the markings/decals on the Kastking...oh and the 40r the same internals (drag etc) as the 60? thx

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

No they’re painted on so you would have to scratch off the finish to remove them. And sorry I’ve never had a 40 size in the Rovers so I don’t know what the internals are like. The drag is lighter but I can’t remember the exact specs.

[@sagarkgear]

How is the casting ability between the two.....? I ma looking for a long range caster And I'm a noob too still trying to under the difference between a conventional reel and a multiplier reel

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

If you're looking for casting distance the Abu Garcia definitely beats the Kast King. But neither of these two are ideal long range casting reels because of the levelwind reducing the slowing the amount of line that comes off the spool. You'll get more distance without one but then you'll need to manually move the line back and forth when you real. Good luck out there!

[@sagarkgear]

@@TheFlattyDaddies Abu is it......I'll just remove the line guide......not sure how but hey......if I can hit that distance that my baitcaster can't why the hell not

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

@@sagarkgear right on! There's probably KZbin videos on how to remove it.

[@hudsonfonseca7550]

Which line did you put on the kastiking rover and how many meters of line did you put?

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

I had 30lb Berkley Big Game line on it. Not sure exactly how much line I was able to to spool on but it had to be around 200-250 yards (180-230 meters). It was an ok amount but I wish it had more capacity.

[@ericl2969]

You commented on there being six braking weights in the centrifugal brake of the Abu. Those weights can be selectively activated and deactivated, though guys with fat fingers might find it difficult to make the changes. It looks to me that on your reel here, four of the brake weights are active and two are not. I think that's the arrangement you get on the reels, straight from the factory. On my reels I decreased the number of active brake weights to either two or three (right now, I can't remember which), for more casting distance but also more need for manual spool control on my part. Also, it might be being fussy on my part, but when I change the number of active weights, I change as many weights as necessary so that the layout of the active weights around the spool axis is symmetrical. That will eliminate any bit of off-balance being created due to brake adjustments. For what it's worth, I have a really old Abu with the same spool design and two-weight braking system as the Kast King, but in those days Abu reels came with lots of extra parts (especially the small parts that might get lost during disassembly), including extra brake weights in a wide variety of sizes.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Wow Eric thanks for that awesome information! I never knew you could deactivate the weights like that. I pinned this so hopefully others see your good info and learn from it.

[@brinkee7674]

@@TheFlattyDaddies Looks like Kast King copied the old Ambassadeur. I love my old Abu's and I have updated the bearings and drag washers. I have nothing bad to say about them. Problem is parts but they are pretty stout. These are from the early 80's or earlier and I had 2 brand new in box which went into use about 7 years ago cranking in some large stripers. I have 2 others that have been in use for around 30 to 40 years

[@LovingIdaho]

i would choose the Sougayilang round bait caster over the rover .

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

I'll take your word for it as I haven't used one yet. I ended up switching to the Piscifun Chaos reals and won't be going back. They are amazing. Thanks for watching!

[@LovingIdaho]

@@TheFlattyDaddies , That the next ones I am thinking about trying .

[@pauli2559]

Need close up of left top inside leaf spring assembly...

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yeah looking back I should have dove a little deeper into those reels for that review.

[@Frenchbroadcatman.]

You can have the Abu I'll take the kast king any day I've had mine for five years no broken anything my abus I had the plastic strips and cracks over time I'll never own another one. My kastking are rated at 15lbs drag never has slipped. Kast king is a kiss reel if you know what that means and matinance is super easy

[@HelloThere-dp9cr]

Man I have a 6500 that I upgraded all the way. Went from being a c3 to a c8. It's smother now and cast farther.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Sounds pretty cool what all did you upgrade?

[@HelloThere-dp9cr]

@@TheFlattyDaddies I upgraded the spool bearing, dual bearing levelwind/cog, drive shaft, spool gear, drag washers, and got a power handle. Now my reel is noisier when I cast due to me getting ceramic bearings.

[@HelloThere-dp9cr]

@@TheFlattyDaddies I forgot to add more info about these upgrades. You can either buy them in a premade bundle online or you can buy the parts separately (I bought mine at "mikes reel repair")

[@Tor-os5di]

Bit of a cop out not choosing one to be the better reel?

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Epic Squad sorry I thought I was clearer in the video. The Abu is definitely the better reel no questions asked. I was trying to take into account the price difference too and the Kastking is great for the price. But the Abu is more smooth when casting and retrieving, has more drag, is lighter and feels more durable than the Kastking. Thanks for watching though!

[@andrewmorke]

The C3 and C4 are still made in Sweden, and the rest is made in China. I get the vibe that parent company Pure Fishing will ultimately allow the Abu round reels to disappear. Other Penn reels such as the Squall and Fathom will supplant them.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

There's a good chance of that. It's getting harder and harder to find a non-chinese built reel without paying over $200. But at least the quality control seems pretty good for the squalls and 7000 plus on the Abus. It'll be interesting to see what Harriet's with them.

[@allenbmooresharinginformation]

I bought Kast King in past after reading reviews that appear to be lies now, and came to the conclusion that it was garbage compared to any of the near dozen C3 and C4 reels I own and love. I'll never waste money on them again. Maybe mine was a lemon, but it was so worthless I would not consider even giving it to someone.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Definitely seems to have a lot of mixed reviews. So far I've been pretty lucky with mine but they definitely are nothing compared to the Abus. What was wrong with yours, the drag? Or did it break? Just wondering because you're not the first person I've heard that from.

[@allenbmooresharinginformation]

@@TheFlattyDaddies I can say it performed, but not well comparatively. Casting distance was just more than half what I can do with Abu when all variables are the same. I tried to tolerate it for fishing close quarter scenarios, but it was not even tolerable there to me. I would rather get a C reel used and give it some tlc personally before getting a new Kast King.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Allen Moore fair enough they don’t cast nearly as well as the C series even though it’s in their name. I do get plenty of distance for fishing on the boat but they would be tough for bank fishing.

[@jessiemathews3957]

calcutta and international way better or even avet

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

I wish I knew who this "Gize" fellow is. Everybody greets him at the start of their videos.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yeah I need to switch it up a little I definitely get repetitive with that. But me and Gize go way back so I like to make sure he knows I haven't forgotten about him in my videos. We used to fish together a lot but after a bad case of scurvy he just can't make it out anymore.

[@rexwright2386]

I got abu c3 that side.of it make funnie nose

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Hey man thanks for checking out the video. Which side are you talking about? The clicker side or the handle side?

[@rexwright2386]

@@TheFlattyDaddies handle side

[@eddiedyer5126]

Little note king is made in the USA

[@rider660r]

IDK what the video holds,but Kastkrap is absolute garbage if you want to use it more than a few minutes.Had 3 from Amazon and returned the POS within 2 weeks.Even modded them to try and fix and make them better but it's lost cause. The bearings are garbage,the spool tensioner is garbage,and no doubt the levelwind is garbage. It's best to save up a little more and buy a name brand and skip any of these garbage off brand reels from Kastkrap,Piscifun,etc.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yeah since I made that video, most of my KastKings are hurting. Mainly the drag has worn out on mine and the thumb bar broke on another. But I have gotten 3 of those Piscifuns and have absolutely abused them in the last 2 years and can't find anything wrong with them. I doubt they will ever hold up to a Penn, Diawa, Shimano, Abu or any of the other big names but they definitely are a bargain and a beast for that price. I'm going to pin a comment to that KastKing video about the problems I've had with them since, thanks for reminding me!

[@viddy228]

I have 4 ABU's and 6 Rovers.. The Rovers perform much better to me..

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

That's impressive and I'm glad you're having so much luck with the Rovers. I really liked mine at first but over time they wore down and had parts break on them. I only have one Rover that's still functional and that's the larger push button model. I hope you continue to have luck with your Rovers and thanks for watching!

[@sergioandreozzi]

Shity Comparison... were u paid or got just the reel?

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Phill Androlla I’ll take any feedback thanks. And no this channel is tiny no paid ads or sponsors. Just my opinion after using them at least once a week for years. I still use both and like them both. The Abus are definitely better but I like the quality of the Kastkings when looking at the price.

[@cory5875]

so what you're saying, which took 25:19 seconds of my life that i won't get back, is if you have money, buy the things you want and can afford. you should write fortune cookies.

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Yeah pretty much. Thanks for wasting your 25:19 minutes on my video when there’s tons of other videos on KZbin to waste your time on.

[@cory5875]

Don't get all butt hurt for some criticism. You're just not that good at making a point in your video. I thought your video would be informative. My mistake.

[@bigcountry2756]

Abu Garcia ambassadeur suck. Penn Squall 30LW. Is around the same price as the Ambassador and a much better real

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

Did you have a bad experience with the Ambassador? And was it the C3 model or a cheaper version? I know the cheaper models really are crappy. So far the C3s have been great for me and have handled a lot of abuse and big catfish. But you’re right the Squalls are great reels I know a bunch of people that use and love em. I personally just like smaller reels with the auto engage but that’s not real important in the big picture. They all have enough drag to handle the biggest catfish out there. The Abu 6500s just suffer from line capacity if you use mono. Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldnorris2179]

I have several 6500 and 5500 Abu Garcia reels…in my opinion there is no better as long as they’re the Sweden versions…there are China cheap version Abu’s that you need to stay away from!!!!!!!

[@TheFlattyDaddies]

You’re right I’ve used some of the cheaper Abu models and they are definitely not the same. Tacos for watching!