Best made in the USA

[CrashVector]

I'm a fan of Abu, Shimano, and diawa, but I want to get some equipment that is actually made HERE.  Love my reels, but I want a few that have a "Made in the USA" sticker on em.

 

Not just the brand from here, but reels and rods actually MADE here.

 

Looking for: high modulus graphite casting and spinning rods, likewise for reels...casting and spinning.

 

Let her rip with recommendations and opinions as I'm gonna spend time actually going out and seeing them in person.

[Lead Head]

High end St Croix (SCV and above) and NFC/Edge are the only made in the USA blanks that I know of. Probably a few more out there that I don't know about... 

 

As to reels, good luck! Last I saw nobody was making baitcasters for bass fishing. Hopefully that has changed and I'm just out of the loop.

 

Keep in mind anything made here will be pricey. If you have ever considered building your own rods this search might push you over the edge. 

[Blaine Donders]

ALX makes their own blanks I believe. I know Cashion does. Hammer, I am unsure where he gets his blanks. Cajun rolls their own. Kistler gets his from Japan since he quit using NFC with his new generation. Don’t forget Loomis. Pride (Billie Kistler) uses NFC. Not sure where Big Bear sources blanks from.

 

Sixgill just started production of a bait caster in Texas. 

[rangerjockey]

Virtus also.

[CrashVector]

47 minutes ago, Lead Head said:

High end St Croix (SCV and above) and NFC/Edge are the only made in the USA blanks that I know of. Probably a few more out there that I don't know about... 

 

As to reels, good luck! Last I saw nobody was making baitcasters for bass fishing. Hopefully that has changed and I'm just out of the loop.

 

Keep in mind anything made here will be pricey. If you have ever considered building your own rods this search might push you over the edge. 

 

I'm not patient enough for that lol...I'd rather pay for it.

[padlin]

Reels

 

I did not verify this list.

[Jigfishn10]

Are you looking for products where materials are sourced, fabricated, machined and assembled here? That's a tall order. I'm sure they're are some manufactures out there, but a 100% product maybe be out of reach IMO.

 

Rod:

Rod Material. cork/eva grip, guide materials, thread for guides, ceramic inserts for guides, epoxy for grip and guides (2 different epoxies are used), rod finish paint, decals and what not. I'm sure I'm missing something here and within those items listed, there are some things that need to be considered. Not to mention the equipment used to make the rod.

 

Reels:

Way too many to list.

[J Francho]

 

'Merica! 

[bulldog1935]

1 hour ago, padlin said:

Reels

 

I did not verify this list.

that list looks complete. 

In addition to high-end St. Croix, I'll add that high-end Lamiglas and all Crowder rods use US-made blanks. 

[zpelletier]

6 hours ago, CrashVector said:

Not just the brand from here, but reels and rods actually MADE here.

Can I just ask why? I’m genuinely curious

[Hulkster]

Loomis rods are all still made in the USA along with St. Croix premier line and up.

 

no idea about reels though. I think Penn reels were made in the states for many years but not sure if they still are. their reels were too??

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

I think Penn reels were made in the states

Just their high end conventional reels.

[Deleted account]

11 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

I think Penn reels were made in the states

No, they were made in Philadelphia.... LET'S GO RANGERS!

[Mat_ski]

3 hours ago, Blaine Donders said:

ALX makes their own blanks I believe. I know Cashion does. Hammer, I am unsure where he gets his blanks. Cajun rolls their own. Kistler gets his from Japan since he quit using NFC with his new generation. Don’t forget Loomis. Pride (Billie Kistler) uses NFC. Not sure where Big Bear sources blanks from.

 

Sixgill just started production of a bait caster in Texas. 

Kistler get blanks from Japan?

I don’t think that’s accurate.

[Blaine Donders]

2 minutes ago, Mat_ski said:

Kistler get blanks from Japan?

That’s what my understanding is. What I read was he didn’t want to use NFC for the current generation of his rods, so he went straight to Toray. 
 

This is of course, unsubstantiated.

[Mat_ski]

23 minutes ago, Blaine Donders said:

That’s what my understanding is. What I read was he didn’t want to use NFC for the current generation of his rods, so he went straight to Toray. 
 

This is of course, unsubstantiated.

I just checked on their web:

KISTLER KC9 100% Japanese Carbon by Toray-Extreme High Modulus

 

The way I read it, the blanks are made from Toray carbon. I think all Toray carbon is made in Japan. Alx enox is also made from Toray t1100 but it is made stateside. Lots of rods made in China are made from Toray carbon. 
 

edit: not all toray carbon is made in Japan.

https://www.cf-composites.toray/products/carbon_fiber/

 

 

[MAN]

I think Argent was the last stronghold for the common low profile baitcast reel in the U.S. and they moved them overseas about 6-7 years ago.  Now its all larger machined aluminum reels remaining here.  But someone please correct me if I am wrong. 

[FishTank]

Loomis and St. Croix. As far as made in the US reels go, I haven't seen one in a decade that's worth buying. It's a shame. The best I can hope for now is "Made in Japan". 

[Blaine Donders]

3 minutes ago, MAN said:

I think Argent was the last stronghold for the common low profile baitcast reel in the U.S. and they moved them overseas about 6-7 years ago.  Now its all larger machined aluminum reels remaining here.  But someone please correct me if I am wrong. 

Sixgill is launching a LP baitcaster made in Texas. All Carbon though.

[Mojo Bass]

St Croix rods are the way to go for “made in usa” I even have a premier ??‍♂️
 

As for reels all I can say is Goodluck, hope you can find something 

[EWREX]

cashion "core" series rods have this nice stamp on their rods

 

[CrashVector]

5 hours ago, Blaine Donders said:

Sixgill is launching a LP baitcaster made in Texas. All Carbon though.

 

I'm okay with that for a light duty reel,as I feel carbon reels aren't as "weak" as some make them out to be.

 

I've caught 50+lb channel catfish on carbon-framed Abu Garcia silver max combos with no problems except for some *slight* flex.  I'm sure doing so repeatedly would prematurely wear out the real, but then again I wasn't intentionally trying to catch huge fish on it either LOL!

[gr8dzynr]

I've been researching this for a new mid size spinning reel (3000 or 4000).

 

Only thing I can find is Penn but like several posts above can't tell about components.

 

 

[Blaine Donders]

Don’t forget Impulse!

[gim]

On 3/16/2022 at 8:13 AM, Hulkster said:

along with St. Croix premier line and up

It is my understanding that the Mojo line is a higher quality rod than Premier and they are made in Mexico.