ardent reels

[ward-212]

ive been looking at the ardent xs baitcast reels anyone got any info they would like to share about them???

[Al Wolbach]

I recently purchased two of them. The only info I can provide at this point is they cast a mile and don't backlash easily. The true test is still a few years away. I took one apart and they appear to be built very well, but only time will tell. Three year warranty and American made. They are a new company and it will take time for word to spread about this reel and I feel sure it will be a winner. One drawback, at this point they do not make a left hand version, it is due out later this year (around June). They also have a spinning reel due out towards the end of the year.

I have let several of my tournament fishing buddies cast mine and the overall response was wow! It truely does cast that well, and no I'm not paid to say that. This reel is a threat to the Japanise market, finally a quality American made fishing reel.

If you have specific questions about this reel e-mail me at awolbach@aol.com and I will try to answer them, be sure to put ardent reels in the subject line or I may accidently delete it........................Al

www.ardentoutdoors.com

[roadwarrior]

This reel is a threat to the Japanise market, finally a quality American made fishing reel.

A few years ago Ray Scott came out with a new, light fishing combination. The reel he helped develop for this rig was made exclusively by U.S. Reel in St. Louis, Missouri. Ray Scott has aggressively markerted this package in a number of fishing magazines, including Bass Master's just about every month.

I bought the initial offering, directly from Ray Scott. The reels were in such high demand that it took a couple of months to get the reel and it was delivered to me directly from the manufacturer. Oddly enough, I actually talked with the owner of U.S. Reel a couple of times. So, I bought into the hype, I trusted Ray Scott and I was one of the first people in the country to fish this equipment.

I fished the rod and reel a couple of times, then gave it to my dad for Christmas that year. I think my dad really likes it. He also fishes a Zebco 202 from the 70's and likes it, too. There is NOTHING about the U.S. Reel that remotely resembles Japanese reels. Maybe Ardent will turn out differently, but it's unreasonable for anything new and untested to be touted as the "Next New Thing." Unless of course, it turns out to be just that!

[0119]

I dont think you can say the Ardent is a new reel.  Its been out for at least 3 years now.  Oddly Bass Pro doesnt list it in their catalog anymore but I did see it on their website.  I looked at them when they first came to Bass Pro, the "staff" had nothing good to say about them(as if they know anything anyway!).  The display model was missing the cast control cap and was bound up tight.  They had no other reel to examine.  To bad he still doesnt make it in a non magnesium model and open himself up to the inshore market as well.

[Papa_Tom]

Got a friend who has one and really is impressed with it.  I've not used it.  The first stumbling block for me is that I find them to be somewhat cost prohibitive.  $250 is more than I am willing to pay.  Are they good reels. I hope so and hope they succeed, but I have been Shimano for so long and happily so.  I guess I don't see how I could be that much more satisfied with a reel.  $120 for a Citica (and older Curados) or $250 for an Ardent.  For now, I'm staying where I am.

[Bud]

A menber of the club I belong to has one.  On the last tournament I used it for about half a day.  It cast great and is smooth.  The only draw back is if you get it wet inside you have to dry it.  If left wet it will rusy for it is steel not plastic.  I don't know if it is smooth as my Shimano or not but it felt good.  I have thought about buying one just to play with and see if it is as good as shimano.

[Al Wolbach]

According to their website they had a limited introduction in Jan. 2006 and a national introduction in Dec. 2006. If this is correct, they have been on the market  2 years or less. If my memory surves me correctly this is about the same time the new curados and citicas hit the market. Still a relative newcomer................Al

[0119]

Probably talking about the newer improved version that recently came out. The one you dont need a special allen wrench to open as the first model had. Check another site, on the rods/reels forum and use the search feature. Tritonmike who I see is a prostaff member was writing about it a couple years back.

[Al Wolbach]

Probably talking about the newer improved version that recently came out. The one you dont need a special allen wrench to open as the first model had. Check another site, on the rods/reels forum and use the search feature. Tritonmike who I see is a prostaff member was writing about it a couple years back.

Yes, I believe you are right. That timeframe sounds correct. At my age time seems to go by fast, just didn't seem that long ago.................Al

By the way if anyone is interested, the older version that you need an allen wrench to remove the side plates, is marked down on the website to $199............Al

[R Tilson]

I've found the Ardent Reel to be very smooth and a distance caster. No problems with over-runs throwing small crankbaits in the wind. Drag has not stuck or bumped and the 6.0:1 ratio has enough power to pull them up out of the grass. If I'm nnot mistaken, 3 year warranty is the longest in the industury.

The 2006 model needs the hex driver to remove the side plate and these are on sale. The 2007 has a quick release tab on the underside to remove the side plate with does not come all the way off so you don't have to worry about it falling in the water.