Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I just acquired a BM 3600 & installed new bearings I already had  3x10x4 per tincanary's
Instructions.I mounted it on a 5' IM6
Fin Commander rod  I had lying around.I got 4# mono on it throwing 1/16 jigs pretty good.I think a longer rod with more flex I could get on out there 100+ feet.

We got the grandkids for spring break
& their parents are coming tonight.
I got 100 minnows tonight we are crappie fishing & they want to do marshmallows on the firepit    76 degrees here

I moved the 3600 to a 6.5' shimano catalina rod its m/h but I can get out there more better.

Need more flex though too stiff.

I have that reel too! Price on the box says $49.99. I was given it, I don't know how old it is.

James, fishing with the grandkids and roasting marshmallows sounds like paradise. Enjoy it!

The 3600 Black Max sounds like a great Ambassadeur for casting lighter lures.

An all-time great baitcaster and underappreciated except by enthusiasts.

Are you running the stock spool?

yes all stock for now...

Anecdote:
The father of a friend of mine once owned Abu Garcia.
So they went down to the factory one day, to look around.
And my friend asks, "wow, gee Dad, can i keep something?"
And Dad says, "well sure son... we own it now."
So he took a Black Max 3600.
He still has it.

.

Are they ok to use in salt water?

I put it on an old Shimano Teramar x-76ml rated for 8-15# line, 1/4 - 5/8 oz lures, and was able to cast 80' with a plastic practice casting plug... landing over the fence in the neighbors palm tree! I don't know what line is on it, maybe 6#? Probably never opened up since it was new.

I tied on a 1/16 finesse worm jighead with "morning dawn"Roboworm
Missed a 3# bass but was fun for awhile.
This color worm/jighead seems to work great
Everywhere I have fished with it.

https://www.basspro.com/p/bass-pro-shops-perfect-finesse-worm-jighead

https://www.basspro.com/p/roboworm-45-straight-worm

Mark, wouldn't be my preferred salt reel for corrosion resistance.

James, they were early 80's. I have a 6600W ProMax I got in 1993 or so- they were $200 way back then! Smooth reel but the PM finish was weak.

Quote from: thorhammer on March 26, 2026, 11:57:51 PM... they were early 90's...

Yep, typo....