I worked in the Pinnacle booth at the Classic expo and was given my choice of rod and reel for my efforts.  Selfishly I chose the newest Optimus Xi.  It's light weight, tipping the scales at a whopping 7.1 oz.  It comes stock with a carbon fiber handle and drag star.  Audible spool tension knob, and dual breaking.  Not to mention Big awesome EVA grips.  (big fan of these)

Now I know what you're thinking..... I was working in the Pinnacle booth this review will be biased, on the contrary!  Around the same time last year I received a Pinnacle Optimus X and have had nothing but problems with it since day one.  After further evaluation, unbeknownst to me there was just too much lube in the magnet area and was keeping them from engaging, needless to say I was not a fan.

Now to the topic at hand, the Xi.

Pros:
It's super smooth, and casts stupid far.  The retrieve is also very smooth and at 7.3:1 gets whatever you are fishing back to you in a hurry.  It's light weight, but not so light that you actually gain wrist fatigue because you rod doesn't balance well.  It's a complete aluminum frame so it's strong as an ox on steroids.

Cons:
It only comes in 7.3:1, so if cranking is what you need a reel for, square bills and traps better be on your agenda.  Price, it is expensive, but like I said I got it for free and was totally selfish when I chose it because it's not a reel I can normally afford.

Summary:
If I had the money, I would for sure put this reel into play with more than a handful of setups.  I could totally see this reel being on any and all of my flipping and pitching rods, as well as my jerkbaits, shallow cranks, and traps.

Pond boss is right on the light weight and good feeling of this reel. Indidnt get to use it today, as he wouldn't let it go, but did mess with it enough that I liked it.

The knobs felt good too. I've got no plans to run out and buy one tomorrow, but so far from the little I played with it, I was impressed. Hopefully next week I will get to use it myself. I'd like to tie on a 1/2oz flip n swim and burn it back and see how it handles.

I believe he was running braid on it too. The distance with the small square bill he was using was very impressive.

Good review.

 

Thanks!

 

 

You can use my reel when you pry it from my cold dead hands.  HaHaHa  Actually not running braid on, had it spooled up with 12lb Vicious fluorocarbon, and a half spool at that.  lol  I can only imagine the added length of the cast when there is enough line on it.  I'm ready to get back on the water this weekend and win some money!