Ardent Reels On Woot

[Jeezer]

I check the deal a day site Woot pretty often, today they have a few ardent reels available, including a pretty interesting looking flip and pitch specific on sale at what seems to be a steal. 

 

http://sellout.woot.com/offers/flip-n-pitch-reel-silver

 

Anyone have experience with the f-500? i was thinking of pulling the trigger.

[WiregrassRiverRat]

Looks good.. I have seen good reviews soo far.. never have used one... 28lbs of drag WOW! .. 

[WiregrassRiverRat]

I just feel like everything would break... the website says 28lbs.. further review shows 22lbs.. but still you got to have some stout stuff behind that reel to not tear up everything..

[Jeezer]

Yeah, either way is pretty extreme. I run 20+ pounds of drag on some of my offshore stuff and its no joke. I'm just not sold on the technique specific concept, but this looks to be a decent deal regardless.

[slonezp]

 

Anyone have experience with the f-500? i was thinking of pulling the trigger.

I've got 2. They take some getting used to. It's technique specific and cannot be used for casting. There are adjustable centrifugal brakes and an adjustable cast control to prevent the spool from overrun. The drag is fixed. I've got both paired up with 7'6" Fenwick HMG Flippin' Sticks and 55lb Samuari braid. One is for jig fishing and one is for punching. Here's a pic with a Hawgtech handle who is a site sponsor

  

[smalljaw67]

That reel has a set drag, it can't be adjusted and the reason it is set like that is for hook sets in weeds plain and simple. I don't want just a flip and pitch reel or I would have one, a guy in the club I belong to has 2 of them, one with 20lb flouro and the other with 65lb braid and he has like 3 or 4 at his home as back ups because he reallt likes them, some days he can't put it down but the guy does nothing but flip and pitch so it really suits his style of fishing.

[.RM.]

From $170 down to $40 gotta tell you something.

Direct drives suck. ...

Even the best in reels wouldn't be direct drive.....

 

Tight Lines!

 

[5dollarsplash]

I just ordered, I've been looking at these for a long time and always said the price was too high.  Thanks for the heads up!

[slonezp]

It looks like they may be revamping the flipnpitch line. The Ardent website shows "Coming Soon!!!" on the F500 drop down

[Jeezer]

Thanks for the insight guys. I'm holding off on this one but I do think its a decent buy if that's what you want.

[MichBassMan]

Anybody know the weight of this reel?

[WiregrassRiverRat]

Anybody know the weight of this reel?

9.6-9.8

[aquaholic]

hope you guys are fans of alabama, i have a feeling these reels have their logo on them

from the ad: 

"It must suck being a fish that gets caught by a fisherman, but when that fish sees you're a fan of Alabama, winner of the past two football National Championships, maybe that'll lesson the blow. Some fish might even take pride in the fact they were caught by a fan of such a prestigious football team. Reel Tide!"

[5dollarsplash]

That's a general quote for all the ardent reels woot has. If you look at the site they have 4-5 models.

[Grantman83]

I had the Denny brauer version. It's heavy and solid and meant for one purpose. Holds very little line but when you hook one it isn't going anywhere. Mine had a problem with the flipping switch right out of the box but they fixed it.

Ardents don't have the best reputation in terms of refinement and smoothness

[MichBassMan]

Thanks RiverRat

[slonezp]

I had the Denny brauer version. It's heavy and solid and meant for one purpose. Holds very little line but when you hook one it isn't going anywhere. Mine had a problem with the flipping switch right out of the box but they fixed it.

Ardents don't have the best reputation in terms of refinement and smoothness

No they don't. They do have a 3 year warranty. I sent a reel in for repair that was out of warranty and it was replaced for free. I only paid to ship it to them. 

[Blues19]

I bought their first reel and loved it, still do!  I wasnt sure about getting it cause it was high priced and i didnt have too much to spend at the time, but I had the bass pro reel trade in offer. Anyway, the president of the company told me that he would give me (a young college kid) $40 to the reel if I were to send him an email letting him know how I like it.  He said he knew I would be a life long Ardent lover if I bought the reel. Gotta say, I love my reel and am looking to get another this year possibly.  I have a flipping stick with no reel and that F500 looks like a perfect fit, too bad they are all sold out now. 

[Hooligan]

From $170 down to $40 gotta tell you something.

Direct drives suck. ...

Even the best in reels wouldn't be direct drive.....

 

Tight Lines!

Uhhh...  They aren't direct drive.  They have a gear ratio and reduction, as well as a drag that is fixed.  Were they direct drive, as you state, it would be a 1:1 gear ratio, with no anti-reverse, and no drag.

They're  great reels for the purpose of flipping and pitching.  I've never had a problem with my 500 or 700 reels.  The reason they are down that far is they were discontinued two years ago in favor of the 700 series that has a couple extra bearings.