5.7 ounce Primmus hand-tuned baitcaster, 5.75 ounce carbon-frame Producer LTE baitcast reel, Perfecta 7 rods.  Full article here.

 

The Producer LTE is interesting, very interesting.  It's also a bit worrying:  8+1 bearings, carbon frame & side plates, multi-disc drag, 5.75 ounces, price tag under $100.  Just sounds too good to be true.  The Johnny Morris Carbonlite hasn't exactly covered itself in glory, and it costs at least $30 more than this reel.  The only other baitcaster in this weight range that doesn't cost an arm and a leg is the $130 H2O Xpress Mystic, which doesn't have a track record.

 

Gotta wonder just how much weight and cost savings you can get without lowering QC too far.

 

Pinnacle is really stepping it up!

Pinnacle is surprising me

The Primmus Xi looks very nice.

My contact with Pinnacle has been minimal compared to the big 4, but they have always been responsive and helpful. Their reels have come a long way and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. I think part of the reason their prices are better is that from what I can see, they don't spend nearly as much on marketing as the bigger names. If Pinnacle or anyone else for that matter maneuvers into a position to compete head-on with the others you'll see more parity in pricing and on the upper end. That's just how business works.

Pinnacle is surprising me

They'd surprise me with some Left Handed reels

They'd surprise me with some Left Handed reels

 

Ouch!  Painful but true....

this is exciting.........hmmmmmm need new combos.

Ouch! Painful but true....

Same here! I'd love to get get my hands on a left handed one! But hopefully as their reputation grows so will their product.

The video: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/pinnacle-2013.html

This is pretty interesting.. I may have to get away from lews for a little while and try some things out!

The video: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/pinnacle-2013.html

 

 

Did anybody catch the free lifetime cleaning/hand tune that comes with the XI version?

Has anyone actually handled one?

 

Looks to offer a tremendous value but I remain skeptical.

 

I'm also super curious about the new ardents.

I have the Optimus Xi HS and it is an amazing reel. Casts effortlessly and the retrieve is extremely smooth and the drag is powerful and smooth. Very impressed with this reel and my Optimus LTE HS reel at this time.

I have the Optimus Xi HS and it is an amazing reel. Casts effortlessly and the retrieve is extremely smooth and the drag is powerful and smooth. Very impressed with this reel and my Optimus LTE HS reel at this time.

Have the new pinnacle reels from icast 2013 already come out in stores?

Have the new pinnacle reels from icast 2013 already come out in stores?

 

The two reels mentioned by Mr Swim Jig are not new; the Optimus XiHS is from 2011 or 2010, and the LTE was released last year.  So far very few reels from ICAST 2013 are hitting retailers.

Have the new pinnacle reels from icast 2013 already come out in stores?

 

Not till later this year.