U.S. Reel?

[rvrnr64]

Anyone heard of or have a US Reel supercaster spinning reel? I'm thinking this might be my christmas gift to me this year since my b-day has passed. I saw it in my Cabelas catalog.  

[justfishin]

I was just talking to a Pharmaceutical Rep the other day in the office and he and I were jawing about fishing and he loves these reels. I saw them and I did not think they were all that. He swears by them so, who am I to say?

[cart7t]

Made here in St Louis.  A guy posted on a Florida fishing forum I frequent that he had bought one and loved it.

I seem to recall that there may be some connection between this company and the Ardent reel folks, also made in Missouri.

[roadwarrior]

Do you sometimes wonder why I am so often skeptical of new products? Kinda of a wet blanket, maybe?

I used to buy a lot of "innovative" equipment, from lures to rods & reels and everything in-between. Kick-tail, Banjo Minnow, Vanish, Iron Silk, Cobra X-Tex, U.S. Reel...

When Ray Scott first introduced his "special" light equipment package, I bought into it. This was the beginning of the push to force tournament anglers to compete with no line heavier (stronger) than 8 lb test. Well, Mr. Scott has brought his "vision" to fruitation a few times in the past, so why not again?. Who would have ever thought, nearly fifty years ago, that fishin' would be a "sport?"

Anyhow, I jumped on board and ordered the first rod and U.S. Reel package directly from Ray Scott. This reel was (is) supposedly designed in cooperation with Scott and the new "American Manufacturer" in St. Louis. I recceived my rod within a few weeks, but the reel didn't show up for months. According to the people working for Scott, Ray was not happy with the first batch of reels and wouldn't sign off on them. So, my reel was either the first or second run.

At the pricing point ($120) I think it's fair to compare the U.S. Reel to the Shimano Stradic. Well, there is NO comparison! Now to be fair, I have been told (but never notified) that these initial reels were recalled and replaced, but...After using mine twice for a couple of hours, I packaged it back up and gave it to my dad for Christmas. He likes it...he doesn't know any better.

My next adventure into the "innovative" will be based on a recommendation from a member of BassResource.com. I don't trust the industry hype, at all. My review and experience with the U.S. Reel would not support anyone's consideration of buying this reel.

[dodgeguy]

the reel is completely redone since those reels.it's not the same.i know a guy who has the ALL ALUMINUM VERSION of the new model and loves it.i tried it and it was very smooth.have no idea on durability.

[Bud]

You might look at the new spinning reel from Ardent.  I have several friend who have them and all like them and these guys are die hard tournament guys.   As some  know I purchase a Ardent BC last fall.  I have fished it hard this year and it holding up.  Only time will tell.

[rvrnr64]

Thanks Bud. I've never heard of Ardent and will give them a look. Hopefully they will stay around 'cause the bigger they get the more choices they'll have to chose from. I must say I do like the look of their spinning reel (I went online in the middle of this reply to look at the reels) and would gladly pay more for an all American made product if it suits my needs. I would like to know more before buying.

[Bud]

rvrnr64

First let me say I am a shimano man.  

I purchase a Ardent reel late last fall just to try it out.  I had heard so much stuff and I wanted to make up my own mind.

Said reel is a low profile.  

10 SS bearings

6 Pin brakes

8.7 oz

6.0 to 1 ratio

3 year warranty

made in U.S.A.

I have fished the reel last fall and up to now it has performed as would be expexted for a reel in that price range.   No problem at all.  I would say the spinning version would be the same.

[notenoughigloo]

hmm, if you're buying these possibly inferior US Reels out of loyalty......

Zebco shuts down its U.S. reel plant  

The manufacturing plant that provided generations of Americans with their first fishing reels shut down Friday after 52 years because the company shifted production to Asia. Tulsa, Okla.-based Zebco laid off about 100 assembly workers Friday following a scale- down that began last year when Zebco and its parent company, Lake Forest, Ill.-based Brunswick Corp., opted to shift production to Asia. Zebco could no longer compete with the cheaper and flashier reels produced by tackle companies that made the same move two decades ago, said Jeff Pontius, Zebco's president.

maybe they could make a superior quality reel instead of something flashy?

[Bud]

      hmm, if you're buying these possibly inferior US Reels out of loyalty......          

At the risk of starting a war.  The reason I bought a Ardent reel was to see if the workmanship in a reel made in the USA was on par with a Jap made reel.  So far it is.  I have order a Ardent spinning reel.  If it proved out to be a good reel I may go Ardent 100 Percent.

The reasons that Zebco left the country is many just like a lot of other company that has gone to Asia.  It is to complicated to discusssed here on a fishing forum.

As far as the comment Zebco could no longer compete with the cheaper and flashier reels.  I don't see hov you could get any cheaper than they were.

[burleytog]

Cheaper meaning cheaper to assemble.  Why pay someone $10-15 an hour to assemble a reel that will sell for $20-40 when they can pay someone $10 a day to do the same thing?

[Bud]

                    Cheaper meaning cheaper to assemble.  Why pay someone $10-15 an hour to assemble a reel that will sell for $20-40 when they can pay someone $10 a day to do the same thing?            

Exactly

[Guest avid]

the reel is completely redone since those reels.it's not the same.i know a guy who has the ALL ALUMINUM VERSION of the new model and loves it.i tried it and it was very smooth.have no idea on durability.

Call me old fashioned but I believe that quality control should happen BEFORE a product comes to market.

[flechero]

the reel is completely redone since those reels.it's not the same.i know a guy who has the ALL ALUMINUM VERSION of the new model and loves it.i tried it and it was very smooth.have no idea on durability.

Call me old fashioned but I believe that quality control should happen BEFORE a product comes to market.

Avid,

I know what you mean but if "defects in materials or workmanship" always showed up before products went to market, there would be no need for a warranty on anything produced. And remember that everything produced, is done so by man... meaning none of it is perfect.

[Triton_Mike]

First off let me say that I am on the Ardent Pro Team.  I am one of the select few that has gotten to play with all of the Ardent Reels before they even hit the public.  The 2007 XS and the spinning reels are both a home run.  I am very impressed with the spinning reel.  I have been playing with it since November of last year and both of mine are still going strong.  Heck you can't beat the 129.99 price point.  I fish 100% fluorocarbon on all of my spinning reels and I have to say that I am getting significantly less twists than I did with my Stradic and my Daiwa Capricorn which in my opinion were the best bang for the buck until the New Ardent spinner came to.  

Mike

[notenoughigloo]

ok, honest, i'm not starting a war either and i love my country, hell, i almost cry every time hear the national anthem before nascar races, :'( <----- ;D

but....

i took some time to check out ardent's webpage and i was a little embarressed of america's idea of what'll get their share of the fishing reel market.

1. only one spinning reel? i myself was looking for an ultralite, sorry, ardent thinks this is a one size fits all situation.

2. speaking of one size fits all, theyre awfully concerned about getting those shirts and hats on the market, even before the meat and bones, the fishing stuff. it screams all flash, no content to me.

3. i couldnt see the casting reels the website was really screwed up. (i went back on and saw the $250 reel they offer. i'm not sure how many people out there can shell out 250 bucks and for that kind of cash they had better put out the best, THE BEST casting reel out there, i watched the video and aside from the american selling point it seemed like it had everything i need in my $70 5500C3 swedish reel that i've been using for 10 years.)

4. they do have reel fixit stuff, for somebody else's reels i guess.

bust the chops of the overseas guys but i dont see them putting out a line of two reels, take a company like okuma, though i'm not a fan they have steadily worked hard over these past 20'ish years for a decent part of their market, do you think they'd jump into business with one spinning reel and one casting reel? two reels? thats crazy. i wish ardent make a better effort instead of just saying "pay extra, it's built in america" cause thats taking all of us for suckers and its doomed for failure. crush me if you want but when i troll offshore i use AVETS (2 brother's in California) and i love my Penn International 975 and 965's when i'm jigging for stripers (not made in america anymore sadly), i try to support american workers. thanks, chris