Double__Digits Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 Are there any "American made" reels on the market? Reason I'm asking is I'm always interested in buying American if it's available and economical. I keep getting Facebooked about a mostly American made reel coming out from 6gill. I'm considering giving one a try. Are there any others out there in the ether? Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted October 2, 2020 Super User Posted October 2, 2020 Here's a list of some https://usamadeproducts.biz/outdoor-recreation-fishing-gear-fishing-reels.html Quote
CountryboyinDC Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 Ardent was the last company of which I'm aware to make freshwater bass reels in the US, and they haven't for some time. There are still fly reels, centerpons, and saltwater spinning reels made here, but for the most part your reels are likely going to be made in southeast Asia. 1 Quote
Double__Digits Posted October 2, 2020 Author Posted October 2, 2020 10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said: Here's a list of some https://usamadeproducts.biz/outdoor-recreation-fishing-gear-fishing-reels.html Interesting. I cruised through your link and see PENN reels listed as USA made. I thought Penn was a spin-off of Pure Fishing, as in made in Asia. Lord knows I could be wrong and happy to be corrected. If so I'd give them a second look just to buy USA made. But then again maybe not, if Diawa and Shimano spinning reels are better Quote
CountryboyinDC Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said: Here's a list of some https://usamadeproducts.biz/outdoor-recreation-fishing-gear-fishing-reels.html That list is generous, it even lists Penn. Penn may make a reel or 2 in the US, but look on the box of a Fierce or Battle. I guarantee it won't say 'Product of the United States.' Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted October 2, 2020 Super User Posted October 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Double__Digits said: Interesting. I cruised through your link and see PENN reels listed as USA made. I thought Penn was a spin-off of Pure Fishing, as in made in Asia. Lord knows I could be wrong and happy to be corrected. 1 minute ago, CountryboyinDC said: That list is generous, it even lists Penn. Penn may make a reel or 2 in the US, but look on the box of a Fierce or Battle. I guarantee it won't say 'Product of the United States.' Read the fine print "Select models of Penn's freshwater & saltwater reels are fully assembled in Pennsylvania using mostly domestic sourced components." That's why it only gets a silver star instead of a gold '100'. 1 Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted October 2, 2020 Super User Posted October 2, 2020 I don't know what all of Ardents problems were. They were listed as being from Macon, Missouri and every time I tried to call them I got an answering machine and they never called back. I never saw their products in any stores ( with the exception the live well tags and their reel cleaning kit. The few times I got to touch an Ardent reel (I forget exactly where - I think some guy at the ramp had one and I noticed it and asked if I could touch it). Anyway, I thought that the one I touched was a little overweight and a little "clunky" compared to the Shimano reels I was using at the time. Anyway, I feel like they could have done better had they paid attention to customer service, done better marketing and returned phone calls. *** Edit prior to posting ***. I believe the place where I handled the Ardent reels was Everhardts in Clinton, MO. They had one " regular" reel and a few of the Flipping reels. The flipping reels had a much narrower spool and no line guide - just a nose cone that you threaded the line through. That was the only store I ever saw them in and that was a number of years ago. It wold be nice if American made reels were an option, but I don't think that they are a serious option. Quote
D_Stephenson Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 *** Fishing just announced they will start manufacturing a new reel that will be built in Texas. They're taking pre-orders now. www.sixgillfishing.com Six Gill Fishing that is. Not sure why it added stars up there. Quote
frogflogger Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 Owned three Ardents USA made - just purchased another one, very low price, from a member here. I guided and mostly threw frogs for several years. I love the Ardents because I could cast them a mile. I know they are considered clunky by enthusiasts and such but they perform well for me - of course I palm a 400 calcutta. Quote
NOC 1 Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 19 hours ago, Double__Digits said: Are there any "American made" reels on the market? Reason I'm asking is I'm always interested in buying American if it's available and economical. I keep getting Facebooked about a mostly American made reel coming out from 6gill. I'm considering giving one a try. Are there any others out there in the ether? Not if you are looking for an ordinary Low Profile casting reel. Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 2, 2020 Super User Posted October 2, 2020 I have several Penn reels that are over 20 years old each and I still use them for big game saltwater fishing. These are American made reels and they where built to last. Hopefully more reel companies start making reels in America again. 2 Quote
Linewinder Posted October 2, 2020 Posted October 2, 2020 19 hours ago, MN Fisher said: Read the fine print "Select models of Penn's freshwater & saltwater reels are fully assembled in Pennsylvania using mostly domestic sourced components." That's why it only gets a silver star instead of a gold '100'. The news report I read (still looking for the source) is that the Z series (Spinfisher?) reels were reintroduced to US manufacturing. I believe previously Penn discontinued the product, I may be mistaken. But these 2 reels are not freshwater fishing models, or not intended for that. https://www.pennfishing.com/collections/saltwater-spinning-reels/products/z-series-spinning-1315424 Made of domestic and foreign parts in Pennsylvania. It piqued my interest because I have a Penn Spinfisher 716Z from way back that is USA-made. They look like from the same family. I'd be pleased in having a mid-size version, but a $200 price range is out of market at the moment for me. Quote
zell_pop1 Posted October 3, 2020 Posted October 3, 2020 The original Ardent reels were pretty good. I still have my C400 as a backup reel. I sent it once to DVT for a cleaning and I believe he even posted on here it was like a Curado on the inside. It was a $150 reel when it was brand new. There was a review on Tackle Tour of the x1000 which was biased because Daiwa/Shimano was not on the reel. Sad they were not a success. Quote
Super User WRB Posted October 3, 2020 Super User Posted October 3, 2020 Currently no fresh water conventional or spinning reels are made in the USA, that I know of. A few Fly reels are made the USA. Both Accurate and Avet salt water reels are manufactured in SoCal, aerospace quality reels, very popular. I sold my Iovino tuned Ardent XS casting reel recently on the Flea Market, good reel! Tom Quote
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