New Reel At Academy

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Seems that Academy has a new house brand reel out called the mystic. I'm a big fan of their ethos rods,spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Seems like their version of the carbonlite. May have to go by and check these out. Anybody have a chance to look or fish them yet?

[rockchalk06]

I held one and messed with it the other day. It feels soild and well built. I liked the EVA knobs. The color was cool too.

Not sure if I'm ready to drop 130 on it yet, but if I was in the market, I wouldn't feel bad about doing it.

[Matthew Veillion]

If its half as reliable as the mettle it should be a pretty good reel.

[fishingman88]

Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but should be a pretty decent reel looking at the construction/specifications.

[Diggy]

probably only rh versions available 

[PondBoss]

I have used it in minimal fashion at the Classic.  It's very smooth, I wanna say it weighs 5.9oz.  It's definitely on my list of things to get.  Just hoping they offer it in different gear ratios.

[TNBassin']

No way I'd drop $130 on that over a Revo S. It doesn't look like a bad reel, but nah.

[jhoffman]

Im with ya, no way id buy a reel at that price when theres name brand reels with more time in development.

[PondBoss]

I would buy that reel over a Revo any day, if nothing else for the return policy or house brand items.  I have several H2O reels and they are all great and well worth the money.  For it being lighter and having more bearings than a Revo at the same price......H2O all day

[Matthew Veillion]

Anybody got one yet?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Looks like a lexa

[mtaag3]

Doesn't come in LH so no bueno for me

[TNBassin']

I would buy that reel over a Revo any day, if nothing else for the return policy or house brand items.  I have several H2O reels and they are all great and well worth the money.  For it being lighter and having more bearings than a Revo at the same price......H2O all day

Bearing count doesn't mean much though. The quality of the bearings used is much more important. I guarantee that 4 of those bearings are in the reel grips. The S has 2 bearings, and 2 bushings in the grips so internal bearing count is the same as the Mystic. I trust Abu internals more than some store brand though, especially at the same price point. I'll admit that the Mystic seems like a good value, as the Revo Shop sells the carbon handles for $50 and the EVA knobs for another $15-$20. I'm just not gonna lay down Abu/Lew's money on a store brand. Isn't the Mystic just the Mettle with carbon side plates, carbon handle, and EVA knobs? I know everyone and their brother loves the Mettle, so I can see this one being a huge seller for Academy.

[Fishwhittler]

The Mystic and new Menace have a different frame than the Mettle and Manic, judging by the pics.  The new frame appears to have a larger gearbox to accommodate the higher-ratio gears.  Don't know about the insides being the same.  Only worry I have about the Mystic is that it might turn out to be another Johnny Morris Carbonlite:  Super-light and the good ones are great reels, but there's a fair number of lemons in the mix.  I've heard the JMC's have gotten better with subsequent production runs, but they've acquired a track record that won't easily be shed.

 

Still, if I'm ever looking to spend that kind of money on a RH reel the Mystic will be very high on my priority list.

 

Here's a link to a previous thread on the Mettle, including pics of the Mettle's internal parts:  H2O Xpress Mettle or Daiwa Laguna baitcaster

[PondBoss]

I jokingly told my dad to pick one up for me and when I came to visit a few days later there it was.  This thing is kinda awesome!  Casts a mile, retrieves smooth and is super light @ 5.8 onces.  The only down side to this reel is, like the Mettle it only comes in one gear ration.  (7.3:1)  I burn a lot of baits all year long, so I'm not turned off by this like some others maybe.  That being said, deep cranking is not really an option with this reel.  But for shallow cranks, flipping, and pitching the Mystic seems to be a winner.

[bowhunter63]

I got the Mettle combo ,Its Realtree camo and black.It was marked down to 29.00 dollars from 99.00.Last years model.So far i cant complain,great outfit.I was skeptical but not anymore.They make a good rod and reel IMO.