ATC jigging reel

[Minnow]

Today I had a chance to test out the drag of the blue ATC Jig Hunter reel, since McGolfer and Ragman were heading to my place. Rick arrived early so I showed him this little reel and it took him a minute to take a good look. But from his expresstion, I could tell he liked what he saw. I pulled out a drag scale and offered Rick to test out how much drag this little bugger can produce. First pull at strike the scale read at 30#. I was thinking this can't be right, but I remembered checking this scale the night before. I had lifted 5# weight and it read 5#. In disbelief I asked rick to pull one more time and the scale read out the same 30# of drag. This really sparked our curiosity, so we pulled several more times to make sure the drag was warmed up.

Mcgolfer stood in the corner of my living room as I pulled the line away from him. He applied extra drag using the special auxilary drag button on the left side of the spool, called the "Assist Side Brake System." At first try he was able to acheive an extra 5# of pressure and that is a whopping 35# at strike. How about button it down? Well we did try and it registered 43# at full drag without palming the auxilary drag button. Wow, what a beast.

We decided to put down the reel and discuss our upcoming product line until Ragman showed up. When Ragman arrived he got quite excited about the reel so we took it outside to the front yard to test it some more. We tested 30# drag setting at strike a few times and then we decided to really push the reel to the limit.

Ragman pulled the level to free spool and dialed a few turns to set more drag. I was at the end of the line attached to a hand-held drag scale, telling Ragman to hang on tight as I'm going to give it all I got. I tried to run as hard as I could but there was something that just wouldn't let me move as fast as I'd like LOL. The scale read 47# at strike, I was thinking Holy sH++ how can it be? Is this a Shimano Torsa with buttom fishing drag cam? Hmmmmmm I don't remmember paying Torsa price for this reel LOL.

Well this time Ragman really buttoned down the drag to full, Mcgolfer was helping him hold the rod and I as usual at the end of the line hanging on to the drag scale with both hands. I tried to run as fast as I could, but once again felt like I was running in slow motion. There was just so much drag.

The 50# scale wasn't enough to measure how much drag this reel can generate. On the scale it exceeded the 50# mark and I believe it still had more in it. And that's not including the extra drag by palming the auxilary drag button.

How smooth is this reel? Well lets ask Ragman and Mcgolfer.......hey guys, how smooth is this reel?

Pro:
1. Insane amount of drag
2. Inexpensive (only about $230)
3. Very nice handle (just like ATD style)
4. Nice color
5. Cast control dial.
6. Auxilary drag button on the left side "Assist Side Brake System"
7. Nice harness lugs


Con
1. Noisy as hell
2. No clicker (it's a jigging reel, for god shake LOL, who need one anyway)
3. Real thin reel clamp.
4. Real thin screws attached to the reel for attaching reel seat.
5. No support and warranty in the State.
6. 2-piece level arm (it concerns me)

[Fullboar]

Hello Minnow just a few quick questions. At the top of your post it reads Accurate Fishing is this Accurate Fishing who make the boss twindrag reels?
Where is the reel made? I thought the all Accurates where made in the USA.
What is the gear ratio? How many bearings does it have in it? Where can I buy one or two from and is there a web site for this reel? Thanks for you time regards
Simon

[Minnow]

Hi Fullboar welcome to the site.
Sorry I made a mistake posted as Accurate, this reel is made in KOREA by ATC.
4 ballbearings, gear ratio is 4.07:1
You can get this reel in Singapore one of the retail store is http://www.fishingbuddy.com.sg/produ...eyword=&page=1http://www.fishingbuddy.com.sg/produ...eyword=&page=1

[Bazztex]

Good looking reel TJ!

I'm wondering if the Reel Seat/ Base Plate could be adapted to use an aluminum Penn-Accurate base. Tapping the Base Plate holes out bigger and using bigger diameter screws would be an easy fix on the light hardware issue.

Is the Drag lever grafite/ composite with a metal wrap around bolster... was that the 2 piece construction you refered to? Anyhow from looking at the photos... It looks like that is the way they fabricated the lever. The TLD levers are grafite and I've never had any issues with their durability. I guess time will tell for the ATC reel.

I had hoped to take a look at that one Rick has on the Cinco Trip and the OTI rod Kevin wrapped... Dang it...It's a No Go today!!

Bazz

[Minnow]

Originally Posted by Bazztex

Good looking reel TJ!

I'm wondering if the Reel Seat/ Base Plate could be adapted to use an aluminum Penn-Accurate base. Tapping the Base Plate holes out bigger and using bigger diameter screws would be an easy fix on the light hardware issue.
I think that will fix the problem

Is the Drag lever grafite/ composite with a metal wrap around bolster... was that the 2 piece construction you refered to? Anyhow from looking at the photos... It looks like that is the way they fabricated the lever. The TLD levers are grafite and I've never had any issues with their durability. I guess time will tell for the ATC reel. Please see picture

I had hoped to take a look at that one Rick has on the Cinco Trip and the OTI rod Kevin wrapped... Dang it...It's a No Go today!!
Sorry your trip is no go

Bazz

Check out the picture

[North Texas Fiberglass]

Minnow,

Is this is the same reel as the one your posted after one Tuna?

[Minnow]

NTF, yes this is the same reel.

[North Texas Fiberglass]

Makes you wonder if it was just that one reel and what is their failure rate of that reel overall.

Would hate to see what a bigger YFT would do to that reel.

[Knothead]

Might want to check this out.
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/...d=163751&page=

[Bazztex]

After reading your inital drag warm up pulling 30# then 42# that might have been what did in the reel.. not the Black Fin. I belive the Black fin just exposed the previous damage.

It's possible that this reel could stand 20# of drag pressure without failure... or you could adapt a stainless dog from another reel to replace the original brass anti reverse dogs. You could even fabricate new dogs from a piece of
.125 " 361 (F/H) or 17-7Ph (F/H) Stainless steel flat stock... or I could do it for you anyway.

The rusty drag lever ratchet ball could be replaced with a stainless ball no problem.

It just seems a shame to throw away a repairable reel some body can still use.

Bazz

[bigbangtheory]

Originally Posted by Anglers Pro Shop

Rick,

This is an exact clone of one of the earliest purpose made jigging reel - Ryobi Marfix. The Marfix is one heavy reel but built like a tank and cost twice.

The real test will be when you put the reel on a couple of good fish with prolong runs.

I would have got one if they made them lefty, I am a lefty when it comes to jigging with conventionals so might have to stick to Accurates for quite a while...

Randy

Hey all.

I am new to the forum and I am currently in the market for a jigging reel, that needs to handle PE8.

Can anyone tell me if the Ryobi Marfix is the better reel or a Jig Hunter? And how do these compare to the Blue Heaven and Torsa.

What would everyone recommend as the best jigging reel?

And in saying that what would be the best rod for jigging too?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.


David.