Pflueger Patriarch A++

[jkbirocz]

Just wanna give a heads up that tacklewarehouse still has the smaller series on sale for $149. I got one last week along with a lew's reel and two new rods, and I am just blown away by this thing. I have the centrifugal brake all the way open, the magforce set to no higher than 2, and the spool tension practically off and it casts like a dream. I can actually skip jigs with it I was so surprised. I still have yet to catch a LM on it but I did land a decent striper with it on my old kistler rod. I also have to say this thing is incredibly smooth. The Lew's reel is also great and lighter than a feather, but the Patriarch just feels frictionless. I am in love. I fished for probly 8 hours with it so far and eventhough I haven't caught a LM on it yet, I am just enjoying casting and reeling in with this thing :shock: Here's a pic of the striper I caught with it on sunday night. The drag is super smooth and pretty powerful, its not as powerful as my revo stx, but who really needs 22lbs of drag on a bass sized reel. Also the finish on the reel is gorgeous. As long as this thing holds up I will definately be buying more. I don't think it will be a problem as I have a president spinning reel that has been through three torture filled seasons with no issues.

 

[fender66]

So, other than the drag comparison, (which you did mention)...how does it compare to your STX? I have 3 STXs and still have not found anything better. I do like my Lews though....but even it's not an STX.

 

[jkbirocz]

It's hard to say really, my stx is three years old and definately not as tight as the day I got it. I like that the pflueger has the centrifugal brake as well as the magforce, it seems to let you cast farther with lighter lures. Don't get me wrong I love my stx, it has put up with years of abuse and still works very well. I do, however, think the pflueger is still smoother than the revo when it was new. I have been an abu man for years and have a bunch of the older round reels, but I refuse to only buy one brand. These days there are so many great products out there, fishing equipment is at a level it has never been at before.

I know that doesn't really answer your question, but thats really all I can offer. Both are excellent reels, I have just been impressed with what pflueger has been putting out the last few years and saw that they were on sale and figured it was time to give them a shot, and I am glad I did.

Another thing to add is that I tore my revo completely apart over the winter and polished the side cover and painted the frame, its hard to even tell its a revo anymore. I am gonna change out the bearings and get a few replacement parts to see if I can tighten it up, then maybe I will be able to answer your question better.

 

[fender66]

I have been an abu man for years and have a bunch of the older round reels, but I refuse to only buy one brand. These days there are so many great products out there, fishing equipment is at a level it has never been at before.

Absolutely true. I have three different baitcasters to prove it. Abu, Lews, Quantum. Like them all...but love my STX.