Ardent XS 1000

Does anyone have Ardent XS 1000 Baitcaster and care to share an evaluation of performance?

[QUOTE=Bonefish;328145]Does anyone have Ardent XS 1000 Baitcaster and care to share an evaluation of performance?[/QUOTE]

I don't have one of these but I have looked at the Ardents at Backwaters and you can slide a playing card between the side plate and reel frame. Not a tight fit. I would think this would let dirt and water get to the braking system and bearing. I wasn't impressed. I do hear they cast good.

rustedhook

I have played with them some - they are pretty good reels, but I think you can find a much better reel in the same price range. They have really weak drags, and seem to be alot of plastic. However, I know some people that swear by them. I would rather have a curado.

I have one. It is okay. It will cast pretty far but no farther than a Chronarch I own several of those and have yet to see the advantage everyone told me I would have with the Ardent. Like Col said it has a weak drag and it does not have the torque to crank a DD-22. Works good for traps, that is all I use it for.

Tackletour.com just posted a review on this reel today and results were poor.

Here is the link.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewardentxs1000.html

That was a great review of the Ardent XS1000 baitcasting reel. I have been using Ardent reels for the past three years starting with their first series of XS reels in 2006. They have come a long way and will continue to improve them. They are not mass produced reels. They do however have American quality that only americans can produce. What the review did not mention (I did not see it) was that Ardent has a 3 year warranty. Any problems just send it back and it will be repaired or replaced. Ardent reels are totally made in the USA company and that should say alot for American pride and quality. I love my reels and will continue to use them. If any of you get the opportunity, don't just pick one up, ask to have it put on a rod and cast it, I believe you will see the positive difference.

Alton Jones seems to like his.

[QUOTE=rustedhook;328154]I don't have one of these but I have looked at the Ardents at Backwaters and you can slide a playing card between the side plate and reel frame. Not a tight fit. I would think this would let dirt and water get to the braking system and bearing. I wasn't impressed. I do hear they cast good.

rustedhook[/QUOTE]

The one that has the play in the side plate is the xs 600 which is the cheaper version, not the XS 1000. The 1000 seemed a little more stout then the 600. I have last years version and not had any problems with it.