Has anyone heard of this company or reel? "Svivlo Draken ONE Baitcasting reel". Supposedly it never backlashes and it's braking mechanism (CastGuard) is totally different than centrifugal, magnetic and DC. I just happened to come across these 2 videos. I wonder how far it can cast.

First I’ve ever heard of it. I would be interested to see a comparison by an angler casting this against a comparable Shimano and Daiwa to see what the difference is in casting distance.

Heard of it, but haven't seen one in the wild. Get it, review it, and educate us.

Very interesting. I still believe the best cast control is my thumb.

This guy likes it. I have to say I'm curious now.

Fishing On SI

Svivlo Draken ONE Baitcaster Review: Is This Really a Bac...

I tested the Svivlo Draken ONE baitcast reel for 2 full days to see if its CastGuard braking system really delivers on the promise of backlash-free fishing.

This is very interesting. I am curious to know what happens when you attempt to place a lure in a specific spot using your thumb to stop the spool, whether that is with a regular cast or pitching a lure.

5 minutes ago, senile1 said:

This is very interesting. I am curious to know what happens when you attempt to place a lure in a specific spot using your thumb to stop the spool, whether that is with a regular cast or pitching a lure.

Those are two great questions.

I did a little search and found this in Svivlo's FAQs.

Link: https://svivlo.com/faq/?srsltid=AfmBOoqJHQR3k6KZEAXecrIn4C-GPXIKvuZ5gZYNA4u1lQG_eVKDPzbU.

Quote:

Do I need to use my thumb?

Only when releasing the spool and to place the fishing lure in a specific location. When the bait lands in the water, CastGuard will slow down the rotation of the spool. If you place the bait in a tree immediately after casting, the spool will only rotate a few revolutions before stopping.

IAW the manufacturer:

"Draken ONE is designed to behave predictably as conditions change, reducing interruptions caused by lure weight, wind, or casting tempo. Instead of constant manual tuning, the reel maintains a steady casting rhythm once fishing begins."

IME this is the same deal with every quality casting reel I have ever used.

Regardless of the components and/or design.

When I use an improper casting technique, the reel performs as expected.

I make a bad cast, often resulting in a spool overrun / backlash.

When I use proper casting technique, the reel performs as expected.

I make a good cast.

IMO, these types of marketing claims are directed at inexperienced/novice anglers

who do not yet understand casting dynamics and/or are not willing to take the time to learn them.

Effective casting with a baitcasting reel is its own specific, somewhat athletic movement.

It's not like throwing a baseball or a football; it's not like swinging a golf club or a tennis racket.

There are very few similarities to launching a frisbee or shooting a basketball.

Until I was able to combine the proper strength, coordination & timing of my hand, arm, thumb, & shoulder, along with the required slight torso rotation, I struggled.

Having a better bat, ball, racket, or 9 iron was not going to help me.

Practice did.

The final word.

The truth is every casting reel will overrun.

Every caster at some point backlashes.

As ability, experience, and familiarity with the equipment increase,

casting results proportionately improve.

Any other claims are flat-out BS.

Buy a quality product and learn to use it.

A-Jay

@A-Jay, like you I find these claims suspect. Big claims require solid, real-world and empirical evidence. I would never consider one of these reels without that evidence. I am willing to give them a chance to address my thoughtful uncertainty by presenting their evidence.

Yes, not only have I heard of it, I've tried it. And.....ya, it's very difficult to backlash it.

I was at the casting pool at ICAST last summer, and was skipping swimbaits with it without using ANY thumb at all (completely lifted off the reel). I also made bomb casts, again without touching the spool.

Most casts didn't backlash. No seriously. It didn't backlash. I literally had to pound the lure in a skip, or throw really hard to make it backlash a little. Enough to pull out line a bit to clear it, but nothing major.

The drawback? The system restricts the spool such that casting distance is affected somewhat. Plus it takes a bit more effort to pitch or cast the same distance you would with other reels. It's like casting with the brakes on a bit too much. It's not a huge difference, but it is noticable.

And yes, you can thumb it just like you do any other reel.

Other than that, I was impressed. It was remarkable how it wouldn't backlash skipping baits without touching the spool. I just shook my head with a grin.

I eliminated backlash a long, long time ago.

1. Why would anyone who knows how to use baitcasters care about a so called backlashless reel when you know how to use a normal baitcaster?

2. No reel will be able to cast at max distances if it cannot backlash. It's simply not a thing that can be achieved.

3. Just listen to this reel while he is casting in the youtube video. It sounds like a Temu $30 noname reel.

This is a technology, if sold to Daiwa or Shimano, i see them refining it, and come out with something that could possible, MAYBE be worth it. When installed on a Temu reel... no thanks.

@Glenn have you used an SV boost Daiwa spool to compare the two? What you’re describing is an SV boost on high so I’m curious.

No. Daiwa doesn't let media folks like me try their gear. Full disclosure: Shimano/G-Loomis keeps saying they will, but it seems they're always short on stock. Abu/Okuma/St.Croix/Seviin provide select gear sometimes.

I'm saying that not pan anyone - just letting y'all know I don't get to try every product on the market. Maybe if I had more Youtube/Instagram subs. LOL

I'm pretty sure this was Svivlo's 3rd year at ICAST. And after a lot of scoffing and people calling BS, they invited the media to "kick the tires", so to speak, and see for themselves their claims are true.

@Glenn, thanks for that info. I kind of thought if it worked there might be some restrictions on casting distance. Still, pretty cool that someone is seeking to progress toward a reel that doesn't backlash and can provide adequate casting distance. Personally, I find it fun to dial in a baitcaster so it doesn't backlash much and I enjoy the reels I have. But this is still something that will appeal to many in the fishing world.

South Bend ABL worked in 1913 - the line goes under the spring-loaded bail. Line slack and bail drop moves a wool pad against the spool. The knob on the face plate adjusts stand-off on the wool pad. Perfectly thumbless reel that even stops itself.

The Brits copied ABL mechanism on a centrepin reel, Allcocks Easicast, 1930 - the brake shoe w/ stand-off adjustment engages the spool rim. More than a simple Wallis cast, Easicast will overhead cast like a surf reel.

The first centrifugal brake, 1915, was made by Redifor, and quickly bought by Pflueger. Two tear-drop metal pawls on the spool rub the reel frame - worked way too well, and cost serious distance.

The bench tournament reels of the '20s, Meek, Talbot, Jack Welch Heddon, are fast by today's standards. They, too, had a brake that functions like a modern mag brake - daily fill the oil reservoir on the spindle ends. Oil-whirl works so hard as a casting brake, you hear the spool purring through the cast.

Still, it would be interesting to see inside if they use any new braking mechanism. Just don't expect some physics-defying performance.

20 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Heard of it, but haven't seen one in the wild. Get it, review it, and educate us.

I have enough Shimano's and Diawa's plus I just bought some DC reels, I don't need another. I just thought this was another sales pitch and was curious. I could be wrong but somehow I think the casting distance is compromised since you can't adjust the braking mechanism. I commented on one of his videos as to how far it can cast a 1/2 oz lure . Yes there many variables effecting distance but his answer avoided any average number and he stated...

"With our reels, you stop thinking about distance — when the lure flies and the spool settles at splashdown without you stepping in, you’re already thinking about where the next cast should land"

I do think about distance. None of his videos show distance. If you've ever watched "The Reel Test" on YouTube, he tests all brands of reels and always does a distance comparison.

Reply

1 hour ago, Tarpon Hunter said:

I could be wrong but somehow I think the casting distance is compromised since you can't adjust the braking mechanism.

That video shows the technology better.

4 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Still, it would be interesting to see inside if they use any new braking mechanism. Just don't expect some physics-defying performance.

In reading up on their braking mechanism, they state is operates on the principle of Euler force. You have to be a rocket scientist to understand it. "If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with ***."

https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/euler-force.html

Didn't see their "With our reels, you stop thinking about distance — when the lure flies and the spool settles at splashdown without you stepping in, you’re already thinking about where the next cast should land". As i expected, a backlashless reel is incapable of casting far, so if you're sacrificing distance for control, something that is there for your thumb, that's the kind of design that i could ONLY see working for people that are getting into baitcasters, or your gf/wife.

1 hour ago, Micro Module Police said:

As i expected, a backlashless reel is incapable of casting far, so if you're sacrificing distance for control, something that is there for your thumb, that's the kind of design that i could ONLY see working for people that are getting into baitcasters, or your gf/wife.

There is certainly an audience that will trade distance for control. The question is how much overlap is there between that audience and the one willing to spend $250 on a fishing reel.