[Fishin Widow]

First off I would like to say hi to evryone. I do have a quick question though. I do want to get my husband a birthday present. He would like to get a fine reel for fishing the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantc being I do live in NJ now. Which would be the best bng for the buck? Please do not try to guess who I am, my husband is on the forum. HI TJ and Roe.

 

[STx Fisherman]

I think he would love the Accurate 665W 2 speed....or even the narrow version.

 

[MrBill]

Would you rather drive a Hyundai or a high end Lexus?
Don't even think about the Avet.
Get the 665W 2-speed accurate.


Look on ebay. I picked up two 665W's last week for myself. Saved about 300 bucks on the pair. Good luck. You will make your husband very happy. He might even buy you some diamond earrings for your choice.

 

[gman]

accurate 665 2 speed hands down no comparasin

 

[tass]

No question 665. I prefer the wide

 

[hstsw]

"fine reel " = Get the 665W 2-speed accurate.

 

[rhale]

I have a 2 speed Accurate and an HX. Last week I would have said Accurate hands down but I am second guessing that right now because I just had to send my broken Accurate back for the second time in 3 months...... Either I got a lemon or Accurate needs to make some changes to there 2 speed Boss reels. If you check on it some more you will see that this is not the only time someone has had problems...
I have owned Avet reels for three years and I fish them hard. I have not had one problem!!!!!
I love my Accurate when its working properly but I hate it when its setting in the rod holder broken and I am watching other people fish!!!!!

 

[shanker]

Really and truthfully, you cant go wrong with either reel

 

[lite-liner]

yep, the Accurate is a cadillac. strong, but touchy.
Avet's are just like a chevy 3/4ton pickup-indestructible!
Shanker's right, either is a great reel.
tight lines
-Brian

 

[jojo]

I wonder what rod is she going to match that reel up with??? I think that might be her next question

 

[Uncle Russ]

I Either I got a lemon or Accurate needs to make some changes to there 2 speed Boss reels. If you check on it some more you will see that this is not the only time someone has had problems...

rhale: I find this very interesting, having sent two back and having a fishing buddy who has had one brand new one repaired. Then Accurate annoyed me by not keeping their word to call me back with what the cause of the problem was. I was actually on the verge of ordering another one, in spite of my best judgment. I know Kil and others have had good experiences.

Would you mind describing specifically what happened on both occasions? Thanks very much.

Russ

 

[ksong]

The Accurate must tried to make 665 or 870 two-speed in a hurry. Though I haven't have any problem with my 665 two-speed except drag increase mysteriously after fight, I hear so many minor problems from many fishermen around me. I think it takes time to get rid of all bugs of the reels as Twinspin 30 did.

 

[Tonto]

Hogwash. Anybody who disses the Avet reels has never fished one. Here in the Pacific, the Avet reels have been proven on many a long-range trip, with some of the most hardcore, brand-loyal anglers around (Shimano, Accurate fans, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, I happen to love Accurate and own a couple of Boss Magnum's in my arsenal (the 270 and 870; I'd probably own a platinum if they weren't so damn expensive). They're fantastic reels with incomparable drag systems. But Avet is a worthy competitor that has forced Accurate to get off its one-trick, twin-drag ass and finally start thinking about how to improve on it's weaknesses and deliver a better product (e.g. the long over-due cast control feature; more colors; smaller, 2-speed reels, etc.).

Bottom line, the emergence of Avet has been good for all hi-end tackle ho's, whether or not you own an Avet.

And for those who've had the good fortune to own and fish both brands, dollar-for-dollar, a lot of people seem to agree the Avet is a tough value to beat (compare the avet sx 2-speed at $295 against the boss magnum 270 2-speed at $539 or the avet hx at $429 against the accurate 665 at $579. That's a pretty big difference).

Both brands of reels are machined from aerospace-grade aluminum; and while I agree the patented twin-drag system on the Accurate is smooth as butter, the dual-drag system on the Avet is pretty darn good (I just wish they made it standard on all their reels, like Accurate does with the Twin Drag). The Avet also seems to have the leg-up on casting, free spool, and overall drag strength.

The one area both brands could improve on is their service. In comparison to Shimano, neither one of these family-owned companies even comes close (word to the wise; don't even think about having your reel serviced in the summer).

 

[ksong]

I followed the development of Avet Hoo-X closely as I thought the Hoo-X could be the ultimate small, but powerful lever drag jgging reel I had been looking for and I gave my opinions to them while in development stage. One of my requests was the max drag at strike should be 25 lbs at stirke at least.
I use star drag reels for tuna jigging most of time, but the problem of the reels is I can not increase drag while fighting big tuna when they are circling under boat wiithout knowing how much the drag would increase.
But when I saw the final products, I am very disappointed with it.
First of all the max drag at strike is only 20 lbs. Second, when I increase the drag past over 25 lbs at strike, I barely move the drag lever.
Third, it is a 4/0 size reel while Accurate 665 two-speed is 3/0 size.
Most people don't care whether it is 4/0 or 3/0, but I found 3/0 size reel is much convenient for jigging for long hours.

The Avet reels are known for superior free spool and excellent castability.
But surprisinlgy, 665 has better freespool when I compared them side by side.
It doesn't matter how much you increase the drag, 665 has the same free spool. I don't know how they did it.

It is apparent Avet decides to make Hoo-X for wahoo as the name implies.
I am not saying the reel is not capable of catching tuna. On the contrary, many tuna fishermen will use the reel for tuna as they don't need more than 20 lbs drag at strike for average tuna under 100 lbs as they are enjoyng to catch tuna with LX reels.

Accurate 665 two-speed has some bugs to be cleared and it is more expensive, but I believe 665 is much better reel than Avet Hoo-X.
The only think I don't know about the reel at this moment is its durability as I caught only three tuna with the reel.

 

[Tonto]

Both reels (the HX and 665) weigh 26 ounces, so they're comparable in that regard. But yes, you're right, the HX is a 4/0 size whereas the 665 is closer to an LX (3/0).

I don't know if the HX you tested is different from what's on the market now. But my HX hits 25lbs of drag with a few pounds to spare. In any case, I wouldn't fish more than 60lb test on this reel anyway, and for my application (deep yo-yoing and fly-lining), even 20lbs of drag is excessive.

As far as the free-spool test, I'm not sure how to objectively compare that. All I know is in my experience, I have a much easier time casting a light sardine on an Avet than I do an Accurate reel.

What are you jigging for? Volkswagen buses?

 

[Gunsmoke]

Tonto,

Any relation to the "Lone Ranger"?.

I assume you love your avets. Want to go fishing? Bring your avets, and I'll show you a trick.

Speaking of the two speed 665's, I'll tell you that they don't have the line capacity to handle a 400 pound blue marlin. I hooked one on a live mackerel a week ago only to find it was like shooting a elephant with a BB gun.

 

[ksong]

What are you jigging for? Volkswagen buses?
You are right. I fought a couple of cow on jigs with my Saltiga 50 on the Qualifier105 and I thought small, but powerful lever drag reels could shorten the fighting time to fight at full when they were circling. And I was looking for a such a reel and 665 two-speed is very close to what I am looking for.

I like my Avet reels and I am one of the first guy who bought Avet reels when they were introduced. I own Avet SX, LX, EXW 4/02 and Pro 50.
So I can say I am pretty familiar with Avets.

25lbs of drag with a few pounds to spare. In any case, I wouldn't fish more than 60lb test on this reel anyway, and for my application (deep yo-yoing and fly-lining), even 20lbs of drag is excessive
That is exactly what the Avet guys are thinking when they make the Hoo-X, but Avet guys should know that there are lots of demand for higher drag among jig fishermen outside of California. If I need only 60 lbs line and 20 lbs drag, I don't have to buy any extra reels as I have too many jigging reels for the applications.

 

[Tonto]

Tonto,

Any relation to the "Lone Ranger"?.

I assume you love your avets. Want to go fishing? Bring your avets, and I'll show you a trick.

Speaking of the two speed 665's, I'll tell you that they don't have the line capacity to handle a 400 pound blue marlin. I hooked one on a live mackerel a week ago only to find it was like shooting a elephant with a BB gun.

Yeah, I know the Lone Ranger well. We used to be buds until I got tired of playing second banana.

I wouldn't call myself an Avet fanatic. I'm a Shimano guy first (at least as far as reels). However, I've been pleasantly surprised by the Avets -- and while the Accurate is a better reel, I think the Avets are probably a better value.

If your trick involves catching more fish or meeting rich, beautiful babes with nice boats, count me in.

 

[Tonto]

You are right. I fought a couple of cow on jigs with my Saltiga 50 on the Qualifier105 and I thought small, but powerful lever drag reels could shorten the fighting time to fight at full when they were circling. And I was looking for a such a reel and 665 two-speed is very close to what I am looking for.

What exactly are you jigging with? Do you use anything like the shimano butterfly system? Would you recommend this for beginners who are new to deep water jigging? When you say cow, what kind of cow and how big?

Sorry for all the questions. I've been curious about this technique for a long time and have been reluctant to make the jump.

 

[ksong]

What exactly are you jigging with? Do you use anything like the shimano butterfly system? Would you recommend this for beginners who are new to deep water jigging? When you say cow, what kind of cow and how big?

Sorry for all the questions. I've been curious about this technique for a long time and have been reluctant to make the jump.
The most popular jigging technique for tuna on the East Coast is slow jigging by moving rod up and down in potential strike zone. Japanese style jigging become popular nowadays. I mix both techniques and both work for me.

My biggest yellowfin landed on jigs was 172 lbs and lost a 240-250 lbs within gaff range. I caught several bluefin in 200 - 250 lbs range on jigs. All caught on 3/0 size reels except a few bluefin over 200 lbs on 600 series Newell reel.

-see my Japanese Seven Seas' Hooker jig. I don't know how many tuna were caught on this single jig.

Here is a picture of a 172 lbs yellowfin caught on a jig on the Qualifier 105.
I lost a 240 - 250 lbs cow within a gaff range on the same trip.
I used 8' GUSA Wahoo and Saltiga 50 with 80 lbs braided line for both tuna.