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[Damien]

What would you all knowledgeable knowers of knowing suggest would make the best all round size for local flows, Ho's and Springs predominantly the target of choice.  But we all know big bad chum and springs can be encountered.  

So what would you run if you had choose one size of the other?  

Would the 6600 limit the enjoy ability of fighting the smaller Hos and Steel and be loo laborious to cast enough to warrant using the 5600 exclusively?  Or would it be better to have the bigger reel for piece of mind?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Blackgivesway2blue]

i have the 6600, works fine for all the above, i use it everywhere and anywhere you need a baitcaster.

[bigblue]

I use to use a 5500C as my general purpose reel and depending on how you look at it 205 yds of 12lb or 160 yds of 17lb line is more than enough line to handle most situations unless you are targeting big springs in large rivers or sea.  For coho, steelhead and chum, 5500C is more than enough as long as you fill it with quality line and maintain it well.  At the end of the day, salmon or steelhead fishing on river is a lot of casting and retrieve and a lighter reel will tire you out less over the long run.  A less tired fisherman will also tend to catch more fish.

[Oilcruzer]

I have both.  6601 is a great reel.  Not an elite reel but those are at least 2 x to 3 x as much and they don't give you twice to three times better performance.

The next reel will be a Calcutte and the 6601 will become my Vedder reel (and backup), and the Ambass will become the guest / friends to borrow reel...

Why?
Because, the 6601 is so good at both but a bit light for the Fraser

If you only want one reel, I'd get it for both.   If you're going to get two... then I'd use the 5601 on the Vedder or a CP, and a bigger reel for the Fraser.  
The 6601 isn't bloody heavy compared to the 5601... that isn't an issue at all, it's a non-issue actually.

[Stratocaster]

I try to match the reels with the rods that I am fishing.  Generally for rivers like the Vedder or Chehalis, I like to fish rods rated at 8-17lb.  i.e. Sage 2106B, Lamiglas Certified Pro 106 MCT, Gloomis 1263 etc..  The 5500 Series Abu is better balanced with these rods.  Certainly, the 6600 Abus work but I find them better for my heavier rods like the Lami Certified Pro 106 MCHT or the Sage 3106B (i.e. 10-20lb rating).

If I were soley targeting springs on the Vedder, I would use a 6600 Abu or Calcutta 400.  But since I'm targeting cohoes most of the time, I use my lighter gear.  For my lighter gear I run 15lb ultragreen mainline and 8-10 lb leader.  For my heavier gear, I use 20lb mainline and 10-15lb leader.  You should try and have a 5lb difference between the mainline and leader.  If you use too light a leader with a heavier stiffer rod, you break off more fish. 

If you can only buy one reel and you need to use it for the Fraser (BB for Sockeye I assume) and for the Vedder or Chehalis, then the 6600 Abus would be your choice as it can do both.  Yes you can use the 6600's on the Fraser as long as you clean them frequently and have a spare pawl and or Worm Gear on hand in case something happens. 

[Zackattack]

great thread here
I'm going through the same process as Im thinking through my first baitcasting rod/reel. was contemplating the  5601 and 6601 also.
I might just buy a used setup on here though..

[FlyFishin Magician]

Go with what Stratocaster said.  For smaller rivers like the Vedder, I'd recommend the smaller Abu.  If you want an all around reel that can do it all, go for the 6600 series.  Also be sure to match the rod with the reel.  Better yet, get both!   

Seriously, when I started out gear fishing, I went with an Abu 6500 C3 spooled with 20 lb. Maxima Marine Green line.  Eventually, I ended up buying an Abu 5500 C3 which I spooled with 12 - 15 lb. Maxima ultragreen and used this as my coho/steelhead reel.  I then upgraded to a Calcutta 200B, spooled with 12 lb. Maxima ultragreen and this is my prime coho/steelhead reel.  If I want to target springs in the Vedder, then I can go with my Abu 5500 C3 spooled with 15 lb. Maxima ultragreen which has more line capacity than the Calcutta 200B.  If I want a couple of sox for the freezer, I've got my Abu 6500 C3 spooled with braided line ready to go for the Fraser. 

One thing - Abu reels are decent reels.  Not top end, but not bottom end either.  Personally, I like Abu reels from the point of view that they're very common and it's very easy to obtain replacement or upgrade parts for them.  I know what to expect from an Abu Garcia.  They're also easier to take apart and clean, and put back together when compared to a Shimano Calcutta.

[milo]

Good advice so far.

If I were you, I'd listen to FF Magician and I would get myself both an Ambassadeur 5k and a 6k, and you'd be ALL set for less than what you would pay for one Calcutta reel.

The 5k loaded with 15 pound test monofilament mainline will cover all your smaller flow needs (Vedder, Harrison, Chehalis, Stave...), whereas the 6k loaded with 50-65 pound test fireline or braid will be great for whatever you may encounter in the Fraser (except sturgeon).

Keep them clean and lightly lubed and they will last you a very very long time. But make sure you get the Swedish-made c3 or c4 series, not the Chinese BCX crap.

In fact, I'd get in touch with KenD from the forum and politely ask if he would custom-build you one of each. You'd be certain to get the best possible performance at a reasonable price.

[Damien]

I went with the 6601.  I will likely use it the odd time in the chuck off of a downrigger, so that tipped it for me.

I will pick up a 5K if I feel the 6K gets to be too heavy this winter.

11.3 oz = 6600
10.6 oz = 5600

I will see how that effects my day.

[Zackattack]

I went with the 6601.  I will likely use it the odd time in the chuck off of a downrigger, so that tipped it for me.

I will pick up a 5K if I feel the 6K gets to be too heavy this winter.

11.3 oz = 6600
10.6 oz = 5600

I will see how that effects my day.

Haha ya the weight difference is marginal for the reels. Which rod are you pairing the 6600 with? I'm likely getting a 6600 or 6500 this season too but ill need a rod as well. I've heard only great things about both the c4 and c3s

[Damien]

I have an older convergence 10'6" to use, but I ordered a bit shorter rod as well.  A medium, fast action, 8-17lb 8'6" Browning Six Rivers rod.

Some of the places I fish warrant the short rod.