I am looking for a decent LH reel for using with my downrigger. I'm leaning towards an AMBASSADEUR 7001. Any opinions on this one or another decent, cheaper reel?

Penn now makes a left handed 209 for around $55. Tight lines.

You might want to look into Okuma reels. I picked up a couple last year from Sportco and was pleasantly surprised on how well they functioned. Price is very affordable.

I have 3 LH Abu 5600c3's, I love them. Came from the Wally Mart with decent poles in a combo for $74, I figured I would almost pay that much for just the reels.

6501's work pretty well for my salmon rod's.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Another vote for the 6501. the 7000 series may be a little bigger than you will need.

You might also try looking on ebay or in some classifieds for a left-hand Penn 109. They don't make them anymore but what a great saltwater reel they are. Direct drive, clicker, and pretty much bulletproof!

The GI Joes at Northgate in Seattle has a whole bunch of Abu Garcia EONs on sale for about $40 each last week. They retail for about $120 elsewhere...

The EON E6601 makes for a nice downrigging reel, especially for that price.

The 6500's are not really made for salt use so they take alot of extra maintainance. I do use the 6500 and bantam 50 alot in the salt and both are good.

I am not a Salty guy so are the 6501's big enough for a mooching reel?

The 7001's are big enough for mooching and would work good as a dual purpose reel. Same reel could be used for trolling and mooching.

I have 2 of the 7000's that are 20 years old, the ones with the red case. They still look and function like they just came out of the box.

Elkrun, try a new centerpin. You have caught a hundred salmon on various levelwinds I am sure, but a battle on a hot fish with a knucklebuster will keep you coming back for more. Mono e mono, you and the fish, like fly fishing, no super-ratio to horse them in with. Most I have seen are reversable so you can fish right or left handed by simply fliiping it around.

I think it adds alot more fun to the fight.

I forgot to add that I like direct drive reels in the salt because of thier simplicity. Super easy cleanup. My Shimano has a sealed center drag, Three ball bearings, a nice silent retrieve with a crisp out going click, Quick release spool, and an exposed palming rim. It is a hell of alot of fun to palm a fighting fish than to fiddle with a star drag. Plus most centerpins are much lighter than levelwinds.

I like to fish with all different types of gear, that's why I bought one. Now it is my most favorite reel to troll with. The ONLY drawback is that the retreive can be a bit tedious at times from deep depths.

I know GUTZ knows what I am talking about.....how was your and Barry's Sooke trip? Break in your new centerpin up there???

I would take a very serious look @ the new shimano Tekota 500. Its a little expensive ($150) , but I am super pleased in the one I bought.