For 4000 size fish, it is good enough to test with about 20 lb drag and for 10000 or bigger, it is good enough to test with about 30 - 40 lb drag. Every tester has different standard for testing. If anyone is not happy how I test, it is better to test yourself.
I am not going to test Fin Nor. It is good enough for me to test Penn Slammer III and IRT reels. I hope someone to test Fin Nor reels for other anglers.

 

I talked with IRT and told my max drag of the 700 is not close to what they claim.
They are very curious because their 700 reel gave 50 lb drag when testing.
I suspect I did not spool tight enough and the whole lines on the spool might slip. They will check my reel soon.

I like to concentrate on IRT reel testing on this thread.
If anyone wants to talk about other reels, please open a new thread.

 

Mr kill I respect you a lot but I wouldn't spend $600 on that irt reel if it caught fish by itself.
And there are many alternatives out there , with a little patience you can buy a close to mint Stella 8-10k, a mint Saltiga 5k ( like the one on the bst forum now). I bought an excellent condition saltiga z 4500 for $350 on the forum that will handle better than the irt reel at half the price.
As far as quantum reels are concerned they have proven themselves , I still own 5 of the first generation ( 2 50s, 1 60, 2 80s). Bought most of them used for close to $100-120 and they have done good by me( biggest tuna caught in the cabo 80 was close to 100# and biggest one for boca 80 was 80# on the scat cat). The newer generation had a bigger , smoother drag and pretty good drag, don't care for the handle.
For $600 those irt better impress the hell out of me in reliability, drag, performance because they don't impress a lot of people by their design. It's a different feeling when you get it for free I suppose than when you got to pay for it, good money I might add

 

Mr kill I respect you a lot but I wouldn't spend $600 on that irt reel if it caught fish by itself.
And there are many alternatives out there , with a little patience you can buy a close to mint Stella 8-10k, a mint Saltiga 5k ( like the one on the bst forum now). I bought an excellent condition saltiga z 4500 for $350 on the forum that will handle better than the irt reel at half the price.
As far as quantum reels are concerned they have proven themselves , I still own 5 of the first generation ( 2 50s, 1 60, 2 80s). Bought most of them used for close to $100-120 and they have done good by me( biggest tuna caught in the cabo 80 was close to 100# and biggest one for boca 80 was 80# on the scat cat). The newer generation had a bigger , smoother drag and pretty good drag, don't care for the handle.
For $600 those irt better impress the hell out of me in reliability, drag, performance because they don't impress a lot of people by their design. It's a different feeling when you get it for free I suppose than when you got to pay for it, good money I might add

I am not selling this reel. I am just testing. Consumer decide to buy the reel or not. I haven't tested big IRT 700/800 for big tuna yet.
But I can tell you that the IRT 400 is like Stella 4000 reel in size and it is as good as Stella for fighting 40 lb giant seabass and 35 - 40 lb yellowtail. I am very impressed.

 

Thank you for the info Kil, much appreciated.

 

Thanks.
I don't understand why some are so negative as it is just testing and I don't ask them to buy.
I am also curious myself what is the difference between reels made in China and made in the US.

 

I agree with the OP. This thread is about the IRT reel and the testing of it. If you have one of the reels feel free to contribute but stay within the topic of the OP. I'm interested in seeing how this reel tests out.

 

1: The IRT reel has been around for 3 years it still has issue.
2: They sent out a reel that does not work... "Ouch"
3: It's U.S. Made with high end import pricing. "Double Ouch"

If they were a high end exclusively made in U.S.A. company like Truth Reels,
with pre market testing & digestible pricing.
Perhaps we would be more receptive.

For a future customer,
As of now it's kind of insulting to the IRT customer paying out $650 cash.

As for IRT,
It's also likely insulting to IRT to have sent out a $650 25lb drag reel for a website forum test.
The person handles it like they paid cash out of pocket for it only using it with 15lb drag.
Basically playing Show & Tell instead of using it

If I were IRT I'd be disappointed, I'd expect to see it put through torture so I could say
Yes that is our $650 product how did you like it ?
it's not a prototype or a test, It's simply put, Show & Tell !

I don't think IRT was expecting the white glove treatment testing

 

Ksong
I'd like to inform you your not Trying the IRT 7000
You are actuall Trying the IRT 8000
What do I know Anyways

 

I can see who tubetrax and amberjack are.
Both are old Anthony. you are doing great job again as a spoiler.

 

IRT 400 reel/prototype Black Hole Challenger Bank UL in action for nice fluke in Block Island, RI.

 

I had 20 - 25 lb striped bass with IRT400 and prototype Black Hole Challenger Bank 671 UL (ultra light) rod which is for 1/2 oz - 2 oz bucktailing for flukie.
All were caught on jigs.

 

 

nice striper released using IRT 400 reel and 3.5 oz light Black Hole Challenger 671UL rod today.

 

Ksong

What happened to your Penn Slammer lll, Qauntum Cabo, IRT. Fishing trip last fall,

I know the Slammer lll is a joke, but how did the Cabo & IRT compare ?

You said you'd give us feedback.
Just curious, haven't heard much about IRT lately,
Most likely due to the "Extremely High Domestic Price" !

I emailed IRT August 2016 asking them to send a reel to Alan Hawk for review
Maybe they don't want him exposing any issues ?

PS.
Those Black Hole Rod Blanks are awesome.
Good find Ksong

 

I am surprised you said Penn Slammer III is a joke.
I am extremely happy with the performance with my Penn Slammer III 7500. I got tuna, wahoo, yellowtail and big drum with the reel. I have use for a whole year and I did not open the reel. But still it works great.

For IRT reels, I fought big tuna and GT with big IRT 700 reels but it is not enough time to assess the reel. Meanwhile, I have used small IRT 300, 400 and 500 for yellowtail, fluke, sriper, snook and drum. So far so good. It become my favorite inshore reels now.

 

Ksong - it's been a while but how are those IRT's holding up? As well as the Penn Slammer 3's?

 

I was surprised that the spool was totally dragged washer FREE, though it was kind of odd dumping the whole drag heat and pressure to a single washer place on the spool metal stopper. Normally for fishing we use finding lures I don't think it is difficult to make a spinning reel with 40 lb max drag. I am going to spool it with 40# Jerry Brown hollow which breaks at 60#. Powerful yellowtail in 20 - 50 lb will be a good test for the reel.

 

it's been long time since I posted IRT reel. They put me as their field tester. That is fine as I have been testing the reels.
IRT reels are the only spinning reels i use for years now.
I can say the reels are very durable.
They introduced DD (double drag) reels. It gives more drag and drag is much smoother.
They also introduced small 200 series reels which is my favorite to catch small fish.
Mike Basnite, IRT field tester, caught big tarpon in 150 - 200 lb range using big IRT 700 - 800 DD reels.
So far so good.