Infidel. Posted April 2, 2008 Posted April 2, 2008 Now I've heard a lot of horror stories about this reel but I didn't listen because I wanted to believe that someone in the US was making a good freshwater baitcasting reel. I figured that some since some of the best rods, ocean reels, and fly reels are made here, there is no reason for the Ardent to not be great. Well my girlfriend suprised me with one for my birthday and she had a sad look on her face when she gave me the gift, as if she knew I wouldn't like it. Well she was right. It is one of the cheapest feeling reels I've ever felt. It may perform great but I just can't get past the feeling of it. I mean, a $99 revo S feels better than this thing. Why? Couldn't they just make the frame out of expensive magnesium and use the cost difference in improving other aspects of the reel? It just kills me because I know that the US has the ability to create a reel that would blow the competion away but this is the best the US comes up with? Quote
Super User Micro Posted April 2, 2008 Super User Posted April 2, 2008 OK, FINALLY someone with an Ardent reel. PLEASE be more specific. What's up with the reel? What don't you like? What's right about it? How about some pictures, especially of the brake. BTW, that's a helluva good girlfriend you got. Quote
Super User Micro Posted April 3, 2008 Super User Posted April 3, 2008 This is what bugs me about the few Ardent owners we have here > You guys make fleeting, non specific comments about the reel then never come back. > Infidel, since you now have the reel, please be alittle more specific about your likes and dislikes. I've been interested in this reel for sometime now but I've never even gotten to touch one. Please give us a rundown on this reel. Quote
Pencil Pusher Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 I hear Alton Jones really likes Ardent reels. Quote
Infidel. Posted April 3, 2008 Author Posted April 3, 2008 This is what bugs me about the few Ardent owners we have here You guys make fleeting, non specific comments about the reel then never come back. I would have loved to have answered you last night but unfortunately the only chance I get to go on this forum is during my breaks at work. You would think that a fisherman would have a little more patience Now about the reel, It feels as if there are no bearings or oil inside the reel. Maybe this is due to the magnesium but I have fished Fuegos, TD-Z's, and Cronarch 50mgs and they don't feel like this. The left side plate doesn't mesh flush with the frame. If I hold the reel up against a white background, you can see a line between the two. The thumb bar flops around pretty loosely which I don't mind when the bar is pressed down but I do mind when it is at the normal position. If I keep spool in one place, the handle can move back and forth 10 degrees. The molded rubber knobs on the handle have way too much play for my taste. They fit loose over the shaft they are on, not to mention the fact that there is flash coming out along the entire parting line. Now if I were Alton Jones and I was getting paid to fish these, sure, I'd fish them. I caught plenty of bass on my first Zebco baitcaster back in 1990. You don't need top notch reels to catch fish, but I expect to get what I pay for. It just really bugs me because I know they could do a better job. I work for a machine shop in the US and I can tell you this, it costs almost the exact same to machine parts to +/-.002" as it does to machine them to +/-.020". There is no excuse I can think of for this reel to be like this. BTW, that's a helluva good girlfriend you got. She's one in a million that's for sure Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted April 3, 2008 Super User Posted April 3, 2008 Well now... Thanks for the review. Anyone considering this reel has been given fair warning. :-X Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted April 3, 2008 Super User Posted April 3, 2008 send it back for warranty replacement. Quote
Bud Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 Well I try to stay away from a thread like this but I also have a Ardent reel and my experience is nothing like Infidel. My reel is as good as any high dollar reel on the market. And this is from a Shimano fan. When I had my reels service this winter the service guy said he had nevery worked on a Ardent reel but would clean and service mine if I had the breakdown on it. When I received it back he talked about how good it was made. This was comming from a service center that works on a lot of high dollar equipment. I will bet if you call Ardent and talk to them they will make it right with you. Quote
Infidel. Posted April 3, 2008 Author Posted April 3, 2008 I will bet if you call Ardent and talk to them they will make it right with you. You are probably right and if I had not heard similar stories to mine in the past I would have figured mine was a fluke and never posted a thing. But I don't have the time to go through with it and I'll be adding either a Scorpion MG 1000 or an Abu Morrum SX 1600C Ultra Mag Forell to my aresenal instead. Quote
Super User Micro Posted April 3, 2008 Super User Posted April 3, 2008 You would think that a fisherman would have a little more patience Yeah, you'd think that, wouldn't ya??? ;D Thanks for the review. RW is spot-on. Beware. BTW, what's this I hear about a PLASTIC drag star? Quote
Infidel. Posted April 4, 2008 Author Posted April 4, 2008 BTW, what's this I hear about a PLASTIC drag star? Yeah, its a chromed plastic drag star. I was indifferent about that. Plastic isn't always a bad thing. But in this application I wouldn't say that it serves any purpose but to save money and weight. Quote
0119 Posted April 4, 2008 Posted April 4, 2008 Geeze...whats wrong with a plastic drag star, it was perfect on the 'beloved old' curado. Lord knows that reel and every part on it was absolutely perfect. Quote
Super User .RM. Posted April 4, 2008 Super User Posted April 4, 2008 Geeze...whats wrong with a plastic drag star, it was perfect on the 'beloved old' curado. Lord knows that reel and every part on it was absolutely perfect.No way.......Graphite yes, plastic never....... :-? Quote
Super User Micro Posted April 5, 2008 Super User Posted April 5, 2008 Geeze...whats wrong with a plastic drag star, it was perfect on the 'beloved old' curado. Lord knows that reel and every part on it was absolutely perfect. Curado drag stars had some beef to them. The one on the Ardent looks as thin as a metal star. And Chromed plastic? CHROMED? Come on, man. Is it a reel or a model kit? Quote
lubina Posted April 5, 2008 Posted April 5, 2008 No way.......Graphite yes, plastic never....... :-? Like you said it....no way. That is also not the description for their 600, the frame and covers are magnesium,.....like many other reels, Daiwas and Shimanos. I will never have one b/c of their weight, but justice comes first, their drag weight is about 10 lbs and good enough to win the Classic. I don't think that it is comparable to any reel already mentioned on this post. Thanks Reelmech Quote
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