Academy H2O Xpress TAC-40 Reel

[the reel ess]

Has anyone tried this reel? I have a large gift card there and I'm thinking of buying this reel. There aren't a lot of reviews on it yet. It replaces the Motive reel which had killer reviews as do their Mettle reels. It seems like it has some of the features that you'd find in reels that cost $30 more on average, including carbon fiber drag. Either way, I'm not very worried about it because I have an Academy store nearby that I visit regularly if I should have any issues with it.

[Porkrind]

I handled it and thought it was really nice but I am having a hard time spending my money on a house brand over name brand. I’m sure it’s made by one of the name brands but without knowing much I can’t pull the trigger.

[Catt]

Reminds me very much of an older Curado ?

[the reel ess]

I ordered it. I'll give a review.

[Bluebasser86]

I've been happy with all the H2O products I've owned. Whoever makes Academy's stuff does a good job of it. 

[the reel ess]

It came in today. It feels like a very smooth reel. They didn't waste money on making it all shiny. It looks "murdered out" like the local Nova you never want to race for money. I'm going to spool it up right now. It's replacing an old, heavy BPS Johnny Morris JMX-1000 5.2:1

Features:

Machined aluminium frame 6.2 oz.

carbon fiber drag

alloy gears

carbon fiber handle\EVA knobs

6-pin centrifugal system-already adjusted half-way

The spool looks shallow, but it claims to hold 100 yds of 12lb mono

7.3:1 retrieve, 30"/turn

I hope to ge to use it this weekend

[CroakHunter]

21 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It came in today. It feels like a very smooth reel. They didn't waste money on making it all shiny. It looks "murdered out" like the local Nova you never want to race for money. I'm going to spool it up right now. It's replacing an old, heavy BPS Johnny Morris JMX-1000 5.2:1

Features:

Machined aluminium frame 6.2 oz.

carbon fiber drag

alloy gears

carbon fiber handle\EVA knobs

6-pin centrifugal system-already adjusted half-way

The spool looks shallow, but it claims to hold 100 yds of 12lb mono

7.3:1 retrieve, 30"/turn

I hope to ge to use it this weekend

Sounds nice. And yeah definitely a shallow spool. But that's not always a bad thing. Especially if you use braid.  

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

Sounds nice. And yeah definitely a shallow spool. But that's not always a bad thing. Especially if you use braid.  

The reel I was replacing had half a spool of 30#braid on it with half a spool of mono backing beneath it. I reeled just that braid up on the new reel and it filled it. Boom! New braid (the new end).

[Catt]

4 hours ago, the reel ess said:

It came in today. It feels like a very smooth reel. They didn't waste money on making it all shiny. It looks "murdered out" like the local Nova you never want to race for money. 

 

Told ya looks like ol school Curado...all business!

[Porkrind]

Updated review yet?

[bowhunter63]

I have the Meetle and had it for a few years ,fished it hard and the drag went out.Took it to Academy to get it fixed and they gave me a new one no questions asked.There H20 line is really good for the money plus there customer service is great.

[the reel ess]

 

Updated review yet?

Well, I haven't fished yet. It's been too cold and I've been too busy. Honesty, if it wasn't so windy, I'd go. I did take it out in the back yard and toss a small spinnerbait around. It seems very smooth and casts a light lure well. That's all I can report yet.

[Grantman83]

I can say the rods feel amazing.  They are crazy light 

[the reel ess]

On 1/13/2018 at 11:59 PM, Porkrind said:

Updated review yet?

I finally got to use the reel yesterday. I can't imagine what more you'd ask from a $100 reel. It operates pretty much the same as the $130 Lew's Tournament MB's I own. It doesn't have the mag brake, only the centrifugal one. But it casts just as well. I can set the cast control so the bait slowly drops and cast fine with no backlash even if I don't stop the spool. It's quiet and smooth. There's only .5 oz. difference in weight, but the TAC-40 just feels a good bit lighter. It also feels smaller in the hand. I used it with a 3/16 oz. jig and did catch my first bass on it. I even practiced skipping the jig with some success and no (major) overruns. It's just the first outing, but I see zero cons, only pros. I would certainly recommend it. I would buy another later if this one holds up, but it should be a long time before I need another one. I have three of the Lew's reels.

 

[the reel ess]

I'm resurrecting this thread to give an update on this reel. It has been my jig reel for almost 3 years now. I caught this 7 pounder on it Sunday and I think it's about to give up the ghost. It seems like the instant anti-reverse bearing is wearing out. It sometimes operates like a reel from the 80's now. I guess I got $100 worth out of it since I've been using it exclusively on my jig combo with the drag cinched down spooled with 30# braid on a pitching-specific Hvy-Fast rod. I've caught at least 10 bass over 6 lbs., several of those over 7 in the gnarliest of cover on the jig in that time.

[jimmyjoe]

   Nice update. You've given insight into the one thing that no one can know about a reel when it's new: longevity. Thank you for that!     jj

[the reel ess]

34 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Nice update. You've given insight into the one thing that no one can know about a reel when it's new: longevity. Thank you for that!     jj

And it's probably not useful info as the TAC 40 reel has been redesigned. I really abused this one. But I'll probably go a step up for the next one. I may just use one of my Lew's MB reels to fill in until I feel like pulling the trigger on a new one. I'm feeling like a Daiwa or Shimano for the next one. Maybe an AG-Revo. Not sure how far I want to step up.

[ChrisD46]

Bass Pro Elite series angler Stetson Blaylock uses Tac 40 bait cast reels and rods in Bassmaster tournaments . I would imagine if he had any problems he has several new boxes of reels at his disposal for every tournament . He must like them because he keeps using them and as a pro he fishes them hard !

[new2BC4bass]

On 1/22/2018 at 11:48 AM, the reel ess said:

I finally got to use the reel yesterday. I can't imagine what more you'd ask from a $100 reel. It operates pretty much the same as the $130 Lew's Tournament MB's I own. It doesn't have the mag brake, only the centrifugal one. But it casts just as well. I can set the cast control so the bait slowly drops and cast fine with no backlash even if I don't stop the spool. It's quiet and smooth. There's only .5 oz. difference in weight, but the TAC-40 just feels a good bit lighter. It also feels smaller in the hand. I used it with a 3/16 oz. jig and did catch my first bass on it. I even practiced skipping the jig with some success and no (major) overruns. It's just the first outing, but I see zero cons, only pros. I would certainly recommend it. I would buy another later if this one holds up, but it should be a long time before I need another one. I have three of the Lew's reels.

 

 

How can you say this and call yourself an enthusiast?   

 

On a serious note, thanks for the update. 

[MAN]

Thanks for the update! We have been following this thread since original first post. 

[NOC 1]

On 11/12/2020 at 7:34 PM, the reel ess said:

And it's probably not useful info as the TAC 40 reel has been redesigned. I really abused this one. But I'll probably go a step up for the next one. I may just use one of my Lew's MB reels to fill in until I feel like pulling the trigger on a new one. I'm feeling like a Daiwa or Shimano for the next one. Maybe an AG-Revo. Not sure how far I want to step up.

I'm generally a fan of stepping up, and admittedly have zero experience with house brand reels, but I have to ask. If you like the reel, why wouldn't you just replace the Instant anti-reverse bearing?

 

I did the step up thing a while back and have a ton of older top of the line reels such as Steez, TD-Z etc. Some of them are 15 years old and have had parts like that swapped a couple of times by now. I would never throw out a reel I like just because a bearing wore out.

 

Kind of like buying a new car because the tires wore out I think.

[the reel ess]

7 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I'm generally a fan of stepping up, and admittedly have zero experience with house brand reels, but I have to ask. If you like the reel, why wouldn't you just replace the Instant anti-reverse bearing?

 

I did the step up thing a while back and have a ton of older top of the line reels such as Steez, TD-Z etc. Some of them are 15 years old and have had parts like that swapped a couple of times by now. I would never throw out a reel I like just because a bearing wore out.

 

Kind of like buying a new car because the tires wore out I think.

I was considering that. Honestly, had I spent an additional $30 on the Lew's Tourney MB reel it would still be working. I'm not certain that's the problem and I'm not good enough at reel repair to do it myself. Also, its the first generation of the Academy store brand so I don't know who to have fix it. IDK if parts exist. That is not the only issue with the reel. The thumb bar intermittently sticks in free spool as well. Who would you suggest I have work on it? 

[roadwarrior]

Call Mike At DVT

http://www.delawarevalleytackle.com/

[MAN]

If you do decide to send it in to someone for repair and they are unable to find a part....let me know.