I am looking to purchase a new fishing reel. Has anybody out there used any of the Ardent reels and how are the bait casters and spinning reels?

Bachy,

I can tell you that the Ardent reels are some of the best I have ever felt but I need to admit that I am not the fishing expert and there are a lot of folks more qualified than me on this forum who can give you input.  One person I would recommend talking to from a bass fishing perspective is Redbug.  He’s a serious tournament fisherman and I believe he has used Ardent’s.  You can go to the Forum Member List (see link below) and you will find him.  Send him a Personal Message and I will bet he has some good info for one.

http://www.unionsportsmen.org/index.php/forums/member/memberlist/

One last thing, Ardent is the ONLY company that produces freshwater MADE IN THE USA reels which puts them at the top of my list.

Good luck,

Mike
USA

Thanks Mike,
  I have seen Ardent reels in Cabela’s but most of their stuff is made in China.

Bachy,

Wondering if you were seeing a different reel.  I do know that they are in Cabela’s but 100% of their line of reels is Made In The USA.  I know this because I met their CEO when they were launching and he’s the kind of guy that would rather shut the doors on their operation than take their manufacturing overseas.  We were so impressed with Ardent that we ran a feature story in one of our journals about their commitment to US manufacturing.  I did check the Cabela’s site and both of the reels they carry actually have the Made In The USA stamp on them.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0053564122971a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=ardent&sort=all&Go;.y=7&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form23&Go;.x=22

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0074843125025a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=ardent&sort=all&Go;.y=7&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form23&Go;.x=22

Don’t want to appear defensive but I am certain that they don’t make any products overseas and when you do find the only group out there that is trying to keep it here in the States you tend to pull for them.  Aside from that, they make an awesome reel.
Hopefully some other folks will chime in and let you know what they think.

Thanks,

Mike
USA

I’m sorry,
  I meant that alot of stuff sold in Cabela’s stores are made in china. I’m trying to find items that are made in the USA and even better yet,  Union made.  I am also into waterfowl hunting and am thinking of carving my own decoys because I am tired of the cheap junk that keeps falling apart that is made overseas.
  For years I’ve been fishing with Shimano reels and I wasn’t aware of Ardent until I joined this organization

Bachy - there are several USA made decoys, one company that our outfitter Big Chino is raving about is called ‘Real Geese’ http://www.webfootdecoys.com/.

I think it’s GREAT that you are interested in making your own decoys though! My father collects them and it’s a beautiful craft that is definitely not common anymore! Good luck!

Thanks Julia,
  Never knew that about Real Geese. I have a dozen of their dekes. I also just found out that G&H;decoys are all made in the U.S.
I live about 15 minutes from Cabela’s and about 45 minutes from a BASS PRO, so I got spoiled from the convenience. I guess if more people, who are interested in Made In USA products, did more research they would be surprised what they find. You won’t find a foreign non-union made car in my driveway or a tool in toolbox not made in the USA.

My ears were ringing so I checked in…
I have several ardent reels I love them they are a quality reel that is made here in the USA.
I have one of the flippin reels that is in my hand about 75% of the time i spend fishing
it has no problem pulling the bass out of grass matts. you can’t go wrong choosing the Ardent reels..
When you joined this group you have found a place that will make every effort to help you find what you want
and be assured that it WILL be made here in the USA the staff has been doing a great job
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANKS

Thanks everybody for your help. I am definitely going to buy an Ardent for my next reel. My next dilemma is that I need to match it with a great baitcasting rod.  What I am looking for is good rod for finesse fishing and good cranking rod.

Mike was working on trying to get American rod smiths back on board as a site sponsor. Not sure how it is going But they have a fantastic product I have 3 of them They are also made here in the USA.
I would give them a look.

Redbug,

Sorry the American Rodsmiths thing hasn’t come through yet but I do believe it is going to happen sometime soon.  They have some good folks there and they are trying to put this together.  Also trying to work with Kistler, Falcon and St. Croix to see if we can develop a partnership and promise to get this up and out as quickly as possible. 

Thanks for your continued support of the USA and for your patience.

Mike
USA