Has anyone ever used/seen an AVET reel - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Mr. Sandman · 04-07-2003, 02:27 PM

http://www.avetreels.com/

whats your take?

MakoMike · 04-08-2003, 07:48 AM

I haven't personally seen one, but several guys I know and trust say that they are pretty good value.

Mr. Sandman · 04-08-2003, 07:50 AM

I just ordered one... they look amazing for the $. I'll give it a work out this summer...thats for sure.

fishweewee · 04-08-2003, 08:44 AM

I had a chance to examine (but obviously not fish) a few at one of my favorite NY tackle shops recently.

They look and handle SWEET - FOR THE BOAT ANGLERS!

I'm not quite sure how they would be in the surf for a number of reasons.

The spool just spins and spins and spins and spins, longer than just about any reel I have ever seen! BUT...I would caution that it would probably be hard to control a cast on these reels with your thumb (short of burning your thumb on the line) as the spool flanges are very narrow, if not non-existent.

They are fairly hefty reels - if weight is an issue for all-night casting then there's another slight drawback.

Also, even the smallest one has a strange "feel." I can't quite put my finger on the quality - the dimensions on the reel give me that uneasy je ne sais quois feeling.

In past years I would have pulled the trigger and bought the reel, but I have enough surf and boat conventionals to keep me happy for the moment.

-WW

Mr. Sandman · 04-08-2003, 08:48 AM

I bought one for drifting live bait from a boat.
I'll let you know how it works out.

Goose · 03-11-2004, 04:25 PM

Had a chance to meet with a local avet dealer today. He demonstrated how well balanced the spool is by putting a dot of ink on the center of the spool and spinning it, when it finaly stopped, the ink dot would be under the spool meaning the the weight of the dot had caused this. I had to see it to beleive it and even after seeing.. I think it could have been tweaked. It is a fine machined reel and for the $ you can't go wrong. Steve, the rep, was tellin me guys are luving it in the surf but IMO because of the lever drag system and no level wind I'd prefer another reel. I'd rather fish at ease. They say a spinner and level wind reels by avet are in the works. Which one did you get sandman? I like the mx or the mxj(narrow spool) for the same purpose.

Bliz · 03-11-2004, 04:33 PM

GBOUTDOORS was checking them out at RISAA...

I think that he broke one of them!

chris L · 03-11-2004, 05:02 PM

and then they booted him out ? cause I saw everyone else on Friday except the old fart greg .

Gloucester2 · 03-11-2004, 06:35 PM

I got the LX for codfishing. I jigged with it all day Sunday and it was great. I took a peek inside and what is amazing is the simplicity of the design . . . seems to be very few moving parts to mess up. Ya can tell the two Armenia brothers that do these are fisherman/engineers.

One other concern I had was using a lever drag for this kind of fishing . . . after only one day I'm not quite ready to say I'm sold but it was a good start.

And ya that spool spins! Although I'm not sure about that dot of ink trick

One other point - the model I have has a "stop" just out of complete free spool that the Co. touts as a "cast control". It's not magged but it does seem to make a big difference. I only blew it up once . . . I had gloves on, the boat pitched on a swell and it was in complete free spool by accident . . . 'twas not pretty.

I'll post a few pictures tonight if I can figger it out.

maddog2020 · 03-11-2004, 08:36 PM

Who was it that purchased the LAST small silver SX @ the RISAA show on Saturday (this person mentioned he was gonna use it for fluke) ?

Most reels that I can spin and spin the spool I get the BEST backlashes EVER. :P The people I know who own the Avets cast with them and rave about them (shore guys not just boaters). I've never used one. Just played with some last Sat.

Made in the USA !

Another reel to add to the want list.

MakoMike · 03-12-2004, 08:09 AM

Some of the guys over on SOL have been putting mags on them for surf work.

GBOUTDOORS · 03-13-2004, 11:37 AM

So I guess you did not see the sign on the door at the show Chris? Long haired hippy freakes not allowed?????

I think the spool on the Avet reel I was looking at is still spinning

If I had the need at this time I would give one a try. Would like to see a levelwind at that time I will try for sure. Sandman let me know how it works out for you? They did have a feel about them that was a little differant

Mr. Sandman · 03-13-2004, 02:05 PM

It had a nice machined-tool feel to it. Tight, quiet and smooth. I did get it for a fluke rod (its a tiny reel the model I got). If it works out I may get two larger ones for bass...bait/jigging. We will see. I plan to load it with braid and put it on a 6'6 casting/conv rod ...I will try it casting bucktails as well. Will report back later this summer.
It feels slightly off balance because the handle is oversized (which i like!) but you really can't tell untill you use it. (Remember the okuma...felt great...but the bail sucked when you really put the boots to it. )

I keep it on my desk as a paperweight until the season gets rolling...when I am talking on the phone I tend to pick it up and play with it.