“Tools of the Trade”

Must have “Tools of the Trade” from Ardent

In my last post I touched on the fact that Ardent has a great line of accessories and the finest Reel Care products available. I want to take the time to go into more detail as these have become invaluable tools for me especially for tournament fishing. Ardent has a good line of accessories including tools, scales, culling systems and weigh bags you can check out on the Ardent website. I want to cover a few of my “must haves” in tools-of-the-trade and Reel Care products that will greatly increase the life and performance of your equipment.

First and foremost is the Ardent SmartCull System which since it debuted has been the #1 culling system on the market. I cannot say enough about this system, I have used almost every other system out there in my 30+ years of competitive fishing and SmartCull trumps them all. Don’t just take my word for it, if you pay attention anytime you watch FLW, BASS, College or other tournament events, you will constantly see the Ardent SmartCull system in use. The SmartCull Professional Culling System is a first-of-its-kind, two-stage system that allows you to cull by color and weight. A series of six highly buoyant, impact-resistant balls eliminates the need for markers, charts or computers. The easy-to-read numbers record up to 15 pounds, 15 ounces, and setting weight on each ball is quick and simple. (See also Tech Tip-Livewell/Fish Care) This greatly reduces the time spent calling up the weights on the digital culling scales or written weights on a card, fishing around in the livewell for the corresponding color/number and culling out the fish. The dialed in weight numbers float face up and can easily be seen by just opening the livewell. Of note, because I cannot live without this efficient system, I bought 2 spares which I ended up giving as Christmas presents because my 6+ year old original system is still working flawlessly. SmartCull, makes it easy to keep the best, and getting rid of the rest and tag em’ and bag em’ for the scales.

And speaking of baggin’ em’, Ardent now offers a Weigh-in bag and like all Ardent products this is a top-of-the-line bag (with zipper closure). This bag is made with a soft yet tough, pliable material that will not crack when folding or rolling for storage like some of those other bags. The Ardent Tournament Weigh-in-Bag is a great tool for the tournament fisherman concerned about getting the catch to the scales and back in the water without harming the fish. This big bag is tough and durable, big enough to hold your limit and the water needed to keep them fresh. It is black in color which is preferred to keep the fish calm and has a handy rule on the front. But the real secret is getting that limit of fish to cull and be able to use that nice bag.

For me a great advantage to ensuring a good limit of fish is to keep your equipment in top condition. If you frequent any tackle stores you have probably noticed Ardent Reel Care products on the shelves as they are very popular and for good reason. Regular preventative maintenance, cleaning and lubrication of you reels is one of the most important things you can do to optimize reel performance. Reels used only a few times a season, annual service and lubrication is recommended. Reels that are fished on a regular basis, especially the rigors of competitive fishing should be lubed monthly to ensure your reels stay in top fish fighting shape. Cleaning and Lubrication products specifically designed for reels should be used. 3 in 1 oils and/or gun cleaning/lube products just don’t cut it.

Ardent’s Reel Care line-up starts with their 100% synthetic oil and grease. Reel Butter lubricants have been confirmed best on the market through an independent laboratory study by Texas Oil Tech, Houston, Texas (independent ASTM and ISO 9001-certified and ANSI-RAB QME accredited). Other reel lubricants contain an intense dye to give the illusion of a long-lasting protection by staining reel components but actually break down and wear off quickly. Test results proved that Ardent Reel Butter grease remains for much longer than the competitions through use of a black light and UV tracers in the product. Testing further confirmed Ardent Reel Butter oil is the only true high performance reel lubricating oil sold today. Use Ardent Reel Butter Reel Oil for monthly lubrication of the bearings and main shaft, and Ardent Reel Butter Reel Grease for lubrication of the main gears and pinion. This will ensure your reels stay in top fish fighting shape. Remember, a little bit goes a long way. Over lubrication can cause poor performance as well, so a light coating is recommended. Regular cleaning is important also and Ardent provides several options for that as well.

Serious fishermen cannot live without the Ardent Professional Parts Cleaner. Ardent takes Reel Care to the next level with the use of a wire basket and soak tank of Reel Kleen® Cleaner. Just drop your parts in the wire basket, lower them into the parts tub and then remove them without a mess. The kit also includes a brush, cleaning cloth and an 8 oz. bottle of Reel Kleen® Cleaner, enough for 5-6 cleanings.

Ardent also has 3 other convenient Reel Kleen® Reel Cleaning Kits containing everything required for easy, regular cleaning of any make or model fishing reel. All contained in a convenient durable plastic case that even stores great in the boat. For this week’s Tech Tip I’ll drop some good advice about what products to choose.

Ardent also makes Saltwater Reel Care cleaning and lubrication kits which I highly recommend for your freshwater equipment. As a pro-staffer with Ardent I was chosen to test their Reel Guard® Corrosion Inhibitor as I lived on the Laguna Madre of Padre Island, Texas. I used spinning and bait casting reels with aluminum and magnesium cases, one each with and one each without the use of Reel Guard Corrosion Inhibitor. I am still using the test reels with the corrosion inhibitor to this day and the test subjects without were gone within a year (the Laguna Madre is hyper saline, 10Xs saltier than the Gulf).  Ardent began to see reels (competitors as well) come back with corrosion issues from fresh water use. With a little research the Ardent team found fishermen draping their salt impregnated baits over the reels in storage, caused the aluminum and magnesium frame reels to corrode. The Ardent Saltwater line of reel care products (including greases and oils) have built in corrosion inhibitors that will help protect the reels in use and while being stored (inside and out). So my recommendation is to try Ardent’s high-performance cleaning and lubricating products in the Saltwater formulas along with Reel Supreme and Corrosion Inhibitor, for the ultimate in reel protection and performance.

The proper tools are key to increasing your catch rate. Good preventative maintenance, cleaning and care of those tools will ensure top performance and countless years of use.

George Kunkle

Ardent Reels Re-Look

(Introduction to Ardent’s newest line-up)

Ardent got its start in 2003 as a “Made in the USA” leading designer and manufacturer of freshwater fishing reels, Reel Care products and accessories. Made by fishermen for fishermen, the design of every Ardent reel and Ardent accessory has always been a result of input from professional anglers and other members of Team Ardent. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Ardent is proud to be an American owned and operated company. The company was founded on the principle of creating high performance fishing reels that can endure the test of time. A daunting task for a US manufacturer to compete with a myriad of foreign designed and built reels on the market today that was not without its growing pains.

Close tolerance specifications and new reel engineering innovations that had their share of initial flaws and the higher cost often associated with U.S. products, resulted in some less than enthusiastic users of some of the first few models. Fishermen had also gotten used to the “use and throw away” reels produced overseas and were not willing to accept regular preventative maintenance and care. But Ardent had many triumphs including; Best in show at ICAST, “Drag Tracking Technology” that allows the level wind eyelet to track in parallel with the line location on the spool as line is being pulled from the reel in drag mode reducing the chance of line breakage by eliminating the sharp angles caused by the level wind eyelet being out of sync with the line location. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6YkFb-GsJyQ?autoplay=1 , a line of specially designed Flip-N-Pitch reels (F-500/F-700, absolute beasts of flippin’ reels) and the development and marketing of the best reel care products available today.

In the interest of full disclosure I will tell you I have been a Pro-staffer with Ardent since their inception and still have, use regularly, even the initial Ardent prototype reels. I do however perform regular monthly maintenance, cleaning/lubrication and can attest to the high quality USA made parts as I have not replaced any gears, bearings or major components on any of these reels. To this day I will put even the oldest of my Ardent Reels against any made today, especially in casting distance. In 2008 Alton Jones won the Bassmaster Classic using exclusively Ardent Reels as well. But fishermen can be unforgiving and some of the initial problems cause several to look elsewhere.

In the last few year’s Ardent made some changes that warrant a second look from anyone looking for a high quality reel at an affordable price. No doubt due to a little “can’t beat ‘em join ’em” coupled with the opportunity to infuse some of their developed technology lead Ardent to have their reels produced overseas like the rest of the industry. First out of the chute is the Apex line that includes; the Apex Elite with superior on the water performance, Ardent’s extremely light weight high strength aluminum frame, 12+1 ball bearings that produce top-level smoothness and casting distance. Apex also has a deep V 6061 T6 machined aluminum spool, a carbon fiber swept back handle with EVA grips, externally adjustable 270 degree Mag brake system and is available in 6.5:1 gear ratio in both left and right hand retrieve. Apex Pro comes in a 7.3:1 gear ratio in right hand retrieve.

I have used both versions of the Apex for over a year now and highly recommend you give them a look (next article will go into detail of field testing). At less than $150 (Elite)/$130 (Pro) these reels have outperformed even reels of twice the price. Of course many fishermen will like the fact the performance I experienced to date includes no maintenance, lubrication or cleaning so far. The smaller size and “more modern” look will appeal to many others as well. The drag system is also far superior to some of Ardent’s previous offerings and at that price point I plan to replace all my active reels. All Ardent’s reels are still backed by the longest warranty in the industry with 3 years of coverage right out of the box. But wait there’s more!

In May Ardent introduced the Apex Grand which has all the specifications of the Elite plus a dual braking system with 6 pin internally adjustable centrifugal and an externally adjustable 270 degree Magnetic brake system. Grand boasts a High Strength Aluminum frame, 6061 T6 machined aluminum spool, an extra-long carbon fiber swept handle with EVA grip knobs and on handle swept back forged aluminum star drag weighing in at a mere 5.9 ozs. The Grand comes in a 7.3:1 gear ratio in right hand retrieve and is almost half the price of the competitor’s same/similar models. The pearl white finish will attract the attention of those who use the new “white” rods but goes just fine with my beautiful blue St. Croix Legend Tournaments.

Ardent’s “Drag Tracking Technology” system is included on the new Ardent Magnum Reel which is a larger version (in appearance) to the Apex. This reel is great for Carolina Rigs, Swimbait set ups and other applications requiring larger line and/or more line capacity. Magnum has a cast aluminum frame, 10+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings, 6.5:1 Gear Ratio, .95 mm Extra Long Carbon Fiber Handle, 17.6 pound drag system (industry average for baitcasters is usually only about 12lbs.), 270 degree magnetic brake system, and is capable of holding up to 260 yards of 10 lb. mono. This reel is Saltwater Tested and Approved and also comes out of the box with a 3-Year Warranty at a MSRP of $149.99.

For those who prefer or make use of spinning equipment Ardent offers 3 models and has a 4^th in development. The Bolt is a light but tough, excellent spinning reel for all applications and the 6.0:1 HIGH SPEED retrieve will increase your productivity on the water. One of the features I personally like is the 6061-T6 double anodized spool that is equipped with a BRAID BAND to allow you to tie braid to the spool without line slippage. The Ardent Finesse is an excellent choice for the angler looking for a light, reliable and smooth spinning reel. It also has a 6061-T6 double anodized spool with the BRAID BAND. The Ardent Wire Spinning Reel is my favorite and is a most innovative spinning reel. The Wire is designed around a high strength stainless steel double wire frame that give this reel the stability required in a high quality spinning reel. The reel features a 9+1 ball bearing system for smooth operation. The reel not only looks great, it performs like no other.

Since the company originated in 2003, Ardent has been committed to offering the highest quality reel with expert craftsmanship only a fisherman can appreciate. You owe it to yourself to give Ardent reels another look for the tools you need to bring your fishing to the next level and experience better performance and durability. Try Ardent Reel Care products and accessories as well (more on those offerings next week). Choose Ardent, Rule the Water.

George Kunkle