Abu Garcia Silver Max vs Black Max vs Pro Max, which one should you choose?
If you are a regular reader here at my blog you know how I feel about abu garcia reels, I love them and I would recommend them to just about any fisherman.
However, between these three affordable reels, what are the differences and which one is better?
In this article, we are going to take a closer look each one so that you can make the best decision for your fishing reel needs.
The Abu Garcia Silver Max vs Black Max vs Pro Max Showdown
To begin with, let’s take a look at each reel and then we will talk briefly about the differences.
- Gear Ratio: 6.4:1
- Retrieve Rate: 26 inches
- Line Capacity: 145 yards of 12-pound mono, 140 yards of 30-pound braid
- Ball Bearing: 6
- MagTax Braking System
- Power Disk Drag
- Max Drag: 18 pounds
- Rocket Clutch
- Weight: 7.37
First up is the Abu Garcia SMAX3 Silver Max.
The silver max reel is made with a graphite frame, side plates, and star drag. This helps to make it durable, but lightweight at the same time. Overall it weighs in at 7.37 ounces which is pretty decent for an affordable baitcasting reel such as this one.
It has a gear ratio of 6.4:1 bringing in 26 inches of line per crank. This is a good all around gear ratio for just about any type of such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits, pitching or flipping.
It is equipped with the MagTax Braking system which helps to keep pressure on the line throughout the cast so as to prevent backlashes.
Let’s take a closer look in the following video:
Now, let’s have a look at the specs of the Abu Garcia Black Max
Features:
- Gear Ratio: 6.4:1
- Retrieve Rate: 26 inches
- Line Capacity: 145 yards of 12-pound mono, 140 yards of 30-pound braid
- Ball Bearing: 5
- MagTax Braking System
- Power Disk Drag
- Max Drag: 18 pounds
- Weight: 7.30
Like the Silver Max the Abu Garcia BMAX3 Black Max too is a very affordable option for those starting out fishing with a baitcasting reel for the first time.
The side plates, frame and star drag are all made with durable graphite with an aluminum spool and push button. It is a shy lighter weighing in at 7.30 ounces, but the amount is so small that I don’t think the average angler would be able to notice the difference.
Like the silver, it has a 6.4:1 gear ratio bringing in 26 inches per turn. Overall it has a good amount of line capacity. You can put on 145 yards of 12lb mono or 140 yards of 30lb braid.
It too is equipped with the MagTax braking system and the Power Disk drag system that are available on most reels in the max series.
Take a closer look at this reel in the following video:
The Differences
As you can see, there are many similarities between these two reels. For example, they use the same material, they have the same gear ratio and they have the same line capacity.
So, what are the differences? Why would I want to pay more for the Silver Max?
In my opinion, it comes down to one thing and that thing is called the Rocket Clutch.
The Abu Garcia SMAX3 Silver Max is equipped with the Rocket Clutch while the Abu Garcia BMAX3 Black Max is not.
What is the Rocket Clutch feature?
Basically, this feature allows you to operate the reel with one hand.
Simply click the push button and the reel goes into free spool mode. When you are ready to engage the reel rather than turning the handle you simply click the Rocket Clutch Button located on the reel.
This allows you to operate the cast with one hand.
In what situations is this feature useful?
This feature is really designed for the angler that does a lot of flipping and pitching as it makes casting much easier. However, having this extra feature isn’t going to interfere with your day to day fishing.
To make things even more interesting, let’s add another great Abu Garcia baitcasting reel to the mix, it is called the Pro Max.
Features:
- Gear Ratio: 7.1:1
- Retrieve Rate: 29 inches
- Line Capacity: 145 yards of 12-pound mono, 140 yards of 30-pound braid
- Ball Bearing: 8
- MagTax Braking System
- Synthetic Drag
- Max Drag: 18 pounds
- Weight: 7.30
Like the silver and black max, the Abu Garcia Pro Max is made with a one-piece graphite frame, graphite side plates and it is equipped with an aluminum spool.
This is going to help keep it lightweight and overall easy to use. In fact, the pro max weighs the exact same as the previous two models; 7.30 ounces.
In addition, the aluminum spool is a pretty standard sized spool. It has the capacity to hold 145 yards of 12-pound monofilament and 140 yards of 30-pound braid.
So far in this review, you can see that there aren’t many differences between the three options. They are made with the same materials, they have the same braking system and they even have the same spool capacity.
So, what is the biggest difference between the black max vs the silver max vs the pro max?
The difference between these models really comes down to 2 key features; the gear ratio and the number of ball bearings.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these features.
First, let’s talk about the ball bearings.
The previous two models are equipped with 5 ball bearings while the Pro Max is equipped with 8 ball bearings. The question now is, are you going to note a difference?
While many fishermen are going to have different viewpoints on this question, I say yes, you are going to notice a difference between the two.
Simply put, the more ball bearings the smoother the retrieve.
Is this difference worth the extra money?
Well, that really depends on you and your fishing needs.
Next, let’s talk about the gear ratio.
The silver and black max both have what I like to call a standard gear ratio; 6.4:1. This is a gear ratio that you can use on a wide variety of different baits.
However, the pro max is equipped with a faster gear ratio of 7.1:1 and it brings in about 29 inches of line per crank.
This also is a good gear ratio for a number of different fishing techniques.
You will particularly notice a difference when flipping and pitching or when you are trying to move your lure quickly across the surface of the water such as fishing with buzzbaits, or lipless crankbaits.
Overall like all Abu Garci reels, the Pro Max is a high-quality reel with a reasonable price tag.
To learn more about these reels, please take a look at the following video:
Final Thoughts….
All three of these models are great to have in your fishing arsenal, but as you can see it really comes down to personal preference.
If you are the type of person that does a lot of flipping and pitching and would find a use for the rocket clutch button I would definitely recommend the Abu Garcia SMAX3 Silver Max.
Yes, this feature is available on other baitcasting reels, but you simply can’t beat the price of the silver max as well as the great reputation this brand has in the fishing industry.
On the other hand, if you occasionally do some pitching and are just looking for a good affordable reel than you can’t go wrong with choosing the Abu Garcia BMAX3 Black Max.
Lastly, if you are looking for an affordable option with a faster gear ratio that you know is going to last a long time, I would recommend the Abu Garcia Pro.
The bottom line is that these are great reels built by a company with a great reputation in the fishing industry. You simply can’t make a bad decision.
What are your thoughts about Abu Garcia Silver Max vs Black Max vs Pro Max? What have you experienced? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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