Very interesting. First go, interesting. As someone who owns Avet LD reels but Saltiga star drags, I have no need for it but I am happy to see Avet expand as an American company.
It's simply hard to move off my Saltiga to one of these or even the newest Saltiga. The original is just the perfect made star drag to me. I don't know how many 100lb plus tuna I've landed with it over the 16 years I've owned it but dozens. I've replaced the drag washers twice out of caution and I've put some super high end bearings in it but that was just to upgrade the original bearings are great. I am very particular with servicing my reels, I enjoy doing it, and if you maintain them regularly I don't see how it fails.
@@marksmith4452 yes I've fished a friends new Saltiga and it is fabulous as well. Call it superstition but my original Saltiga just gets bit. I've got it in a couple sizes and they just seem to catch fish. The only other reel of mine that seems to just get bit as well is my Makaira10. That darned reel also is a fish catching machine. Haven't fished the Aver star but given the price point it shouldn't compete with the Saltiga. I do like my JX Raptor and MXL Raptor for jigging though. Also solid reels.
@@JeffSmith-eq3kc We share similar tastes in fishing gear Jeff, JX 2 speed, MK 10's... Daiwa made a major error when they disco'd the original Saltiga star drags, but they also showed some good sense by bringing 'em back to us. Same factory making their star drag Saltiga and lever drags now, that's why their LD's improved so much.
i was kinda confused on the accurate reels because they claim to have twin drag on the star drag reels and that just baffle my mind on how is this possible and after seeing this video i think i see why they call it twin drag, because the put a drag washer on both sides of the main gear but to be honest i really dont see how doing that will improve the drag, since pressure is apply to the gears and the gears slow the drum, is not the same like in the lever gear reels whit drag washers on both sides of the drum i think thats the real twin drag and more effective than the star drag reels but even so they look really cool i just love my lever drag have both avets raptors and acurate's and they both awesome reels time will tell how this avets star drag reels will do, thank you for your awesome videos cheers....
Mark - I know this video has been out for a while and so have the reels. Any update on (1) quality … are they holding up and (2) are people seeing the 20# drag with a break-in period as was suggested in the video? Excellent video as always. I appreciate your honest assessments.
Holding up, I've heard no negatives. As to 20# of drag, that's a max figure which would correspond to running 60# line. It may be there after use, but I'm doubtful and don't believe break in wear will increase the numbers. I certainly can be proven wrong. In my mind, the star drags will be appreciated by some, the reel fits their application. But, for a jig tosser, expecting a reel to mount on a 9' jig stick, the JX would have been preferred over the MX platform. Thru the summer, Avet focused on what folks were ordering and they neglected the star drags entirely. They still have not produced the full line with MC - MXJ's... I love my Avet reels, fish 'em a lot, my JX's are always with me. But, I'm not as keen on Avet's star drag reels as I am for some other star drags. Daiwa Saltiga stars, Okuma Tesoro stars, these are top tier pieces in my book. Subjective certainly, and the machining is very nice on the Avet star reels. I just expected greater drag straight out of the box and a different model reel. Our local needs don't necessarily match the needs other guys will have in other waters. For us here on the left coast, we really wanted a great 40-50# reel for use on a 9 foot surface iron rod - that was a goal most of us here had and that goal was not met by an MX series piece.
Need recommendation. I'm looking for a left handed level drag/drag wind reel that can handle 60lb plus mono for pulling up 60 - 90 lb Amberjack from 200 - 300 ft of water. I have to compete with the damn sharks. I can't real fast enough with a right handed reel . any info will help. BTW im in the Florida. Thanks
Let me get this right... Looking for a lefty, leverdrag, LEVELWIND reel to handle 60# mono and potentially 60 to 90 lb amberjacks.... I don't see it in the cards. First off, levelwinds have a bit of an issue as line test, drag loads increase: the tooth gear driving the leveling mechanism. There's a reason you don't see levelwinds on big 30 series reels. Several great lefty non-levelwind reels that would be more than capable of dealing with the hard pulling AJ's, but nothing with a levelwind that could deal with this type of stress over time. Penn Fathom II Star drag models have some with levelwind feature. Reality says, you'll either need to switch to righty OR give up the levelwind, and at those tests and types of fish - hard pullers - I'll suggest giving up on the levelwind feature is my recommendation, lead pipe promise that's the best course for you. It's a real drag when that line leveling system fails...and it will. Back a few years ago I learned that lesson while fishing the bike makers reels, had to replace the line level tooth gear about every month. Crappy steel, could not deal with even light line trolling let alone a fish over 40 lbs. There's a reason why you don't see too many big levelwinds... Having said all that, Penn Fathom 60 LW - but no lefty, no leverdrag, that's as close as it comes.
One more thing, no dog equals no buy for me. For those of us who fish in the cold from time to time on the East coast, having the clutch and bearing on AR's slip is a common occurrence. I know it sounds crazy, but I'd fish my vintage Penn reels in the cold over a reel with no dog. Great stuff! Hope you've been well! I've been away a while fishing but as cold sets in here, buying new stuff becomes my hobby!
@@marksmith4452 out there you don't have to! But yes the cold and AR bearings don't get along so mechanical is a must at least as a backup. Its the reason I don't bring a single spinning reel offshore this time of year. Its surprising Accurate did that given a mechanical dog can't cost them more than a few pennies.
@@quinnhunsinger1603 We like our dogs for sure, but many manufacturers simply run a one way bearing and we know there's a bit of finality to those at some point. But, with the major upgrade in bearing Accurate went with we have seen no issues...and we did before. There's a reason their Dauntless series reels are their best effort.
They will at some point, it's been a SLOW roll-out. Avet still has not produced the MC versions as of 1/7/21. Once they've done the full range of righties they'll come back for the lefty versions, that's typically the routine.
Thanks, he's a bit older and getting a heck of a lot taller now. TIme moves along... He towers over his mom and is catching up with me - though about half my weight! Mike is learning, working here when he has a day off from school. Sergey is my other son, he is running the website and is most responsible for shop operation now as this old guy scales back. It took me nearly 20 years to evolve CharkBait into a family business. (don't tell anyone but that's our competitive edge - family business means screw CA Workman's Comp and Minimum Wage. Toss a few french fries to Mike, a cheeseburger or two to Sergey and a new pair of shoes to wife Nadiya and our bottom line is assured).
Not trying to in my estimation. Different animal, the Tesoro from Okuma may be a more appropriate comparison. In that regard, I think the Tesoro offers more in terms of the reel itself, weight, drag, casting performance and of course warranty at 3 times the coverage.
I'm a big fan of avet reels. I own 8 of them from sxj to hx5/2 Raptor for a number of reasons. (1) is because they are solid built reels. (2) they are affordable for a quality reel,(3) they are made in the USA,(4)they have a great support team and (5) they have been there for us Lefty fishermen from the beginning when everyone else failed. That's a big one for me. I will be buying an Avet Lefty star drag next because they Never forget about us lefties plus see 1-4.
@@bjodaddyo Very well said BD, USA made, designed for our needs, family owned business. If it were not for Avet pushing the envelope almost 20 years ago, we fishermen would be working with inferior gear. Avet pushed other manufacturers to offer better gear at better prices. They, like us, faced competitor based restraint of open free market, collusion, a fair amount of lies projected via shimano sponsored radio program (Let's Talk Sponsors, I mean Hookup...). I could go on. Bottom line, the folks at Avet can be hard to work at times, but they are trying to offer us fishermen more for our money, configured for what we do, with cosmetics that others can't accomplish. Truly custom reels for a commercial price. They have built a very solid, innovative company. I'm quite proud to have been their largest dealer since the beginning, status that we still retain to this day.
You mean can't compete with the Saltiga I hope. Ok, First, check the price. Second, the Trinidad isn't close to the Saltiga. Not close. The Trinidad, which I fished heavily before I dropped all Shimano products (for good reason), simply doesn't have the machining or MATERIAL of the Saltiga. Let's be honest here, the Saltiga is the best star drag reel ever made. The old Saltiga is the second best star drag reel ever made.
Great overview...Man, you know your stuff! I learn something from each one of your videos!
Very interesting. First go, interesting. As someone who owns Avet LD reels but Saltiga star drags, I have no need for it but I am happy to see Avet expand as an American company.
A very honest appraisal as always - Thanks Chark
Love that intro
Great video, thanks
I love Avet reels. Have lots of them. 1/2 bought from Charkbait.
Thank you!
It's simply hard to move off my Saltiga to one of these or even the newest Saltiga. The original is just the perfect made star drag to me. I don't know how many 100lb plus tuna I've landed with it over the 16 years I've owned it but dozens. I've replaced the drag washers twice out of caution and I've put some super high end bearings in it but that was just to upgrade the original bearings are great. I am very particular with servicing my reels, I enjoy doing it, and if you maintain them regularly I don't see how it fails.
Agreed Avet’s star drags are not in same league. However I do like Daiwa’s new saltiga stars a great deal.
@@marksmith4452 yes I've fished a friends new Saltiga and it is fabulous as well. Call it superstition but my original Saltiga just gets bit. I've got it in a couple sizes and they just seem to catch fish. The only other reel of mine that seems to just get bit as well is my Makaira10. That darned reel also is a fish catching machine. Haven't fished the Aver star but given the price point it shouldn't compete with the Saltiga. I do like my JX Raptor and MXL Raptor for jigging though. Also solid reels.
@@JeffSmith-eq3kc We share similar tastes in fishing gear Jeff, JX 2 speed, MK 10's... Daiwa made a major error when they disco'd the original Saltiga star drags, but they also showed some good sense by bringing 'em back to us. Same factory making their star drag Saltiga and lever drags now, that's why their LD's improved so much.
Just ordered my lx g2 mc from you guys
i was kinda confused on the accurate reels because they claim to have twin drag on the star drag reels and that just baffle my mind on how is this possible and after seeing this video i think i see why they call it twin drag, because the put a drag washer on both sides of the main gear but to be honest i really dont see how doing that will improve the drag, since pressure is apply to the gears and the gears slow the drum, is not the same like in the lever gear reels whit drag washers on both sides of the drum i think thats the real twin drag and more effective than the star drag reels but even so they look really cool i just love my lever drag have both avets raptors and acurate's and they both awesome reels time will tell how this avets star drag reels will do, thank you for your awesome videos cheers....
Well said.
Need a JX stardrag - would be great for surface iron.
Mark - I know this video has been out for a while and so have the reels. Any update on (1) quality … are they holding up and (2) are people seeing the 20# drag with a break-in period as was suggested in the video?
Excellent video as always. I appreciate your honest assessments.
Holding up, I've heard no negatives. As to 20# of drag, that's a max figure which would correspond to running 60# line. It may be there after use, but I'm doubtful and don't believe break in wear will increase the numbers. I certainly can be proven wrong. In my mind, the star drags will be appreciated by some, the reel fits their application. But, for a jig tosser, expecting a reel to mount on a 9' jig stick, the JX would have been preferred over the MX platform. Thru the summer, Avet focused on what folks were ordering and they neglected the star drags entirely. They still have not produced the full line with MC - MXJ's... I love my Avet reels, fish 'em a lot, my JX's are always with me. But, I'm not as keen on Avet's star drag reels as I am for some other star drags. Daiwa Saltiga stars, Okuma Tesoro stars, these are top tier pieces in my book. Subjective certainly, and the machining is very nice on the Avet star reels. I just expected greater drag straight out of the box and a different model reel. Our local needs don't necessarily match the needs other guys will have in other waters. For us here on the left coast, we really wanted a great 40-50# reel for use on a 9 foot surface iron rod - that was a goal most of us here had and that goal was not met by an MX series piece.
@@CharkBaitUSA Mark - Thanks for for the very quick and thorough answer. Love your videos, always incredibly informative.
Need recommendation. I'm looking for a left handed level drag/drag wind reel that can handle 60lb plus mono for pulling up 60 - 90 lb Amberjack from 200 - 300 ft of water. I have to compete with the damn sharks. I can't real fast enough with a right handed reel . any info will help. BTW im in the Florida. Thanks
Let me get this right... Looking for a lefty, leverdrag, LEVELWIND reel to handle 60# mono and potentially 60 to 90 lb amberjacks.... I don't see it in the cards. First off, levelwinds have a bit of an issue as line test, drag loads increase: the tooth gear driving the leveling mechanism. There's a reason you don't see levelwinds on big 30 series reels. Several great lefty non-levelwind reels that would be more than capable of dealing with the hard pulling AJ's, but nothing with a levelwind that could deal with this type of stress over time. Penn Fathom II Star drag models have some with levelwind feature. Reality says, you'll either need to switch to righty OR give up the levelwind, and at those tests and types of fish - hard pullers - I'll suggest giving up on the levelwind feature is my recommendation, lead pipe promise that's the best course for you. It's a real drag when that line leveling system fails...and it will. Back a few years ago I learned that lesson while fishing the bike makers reels, had to replace the line level tooth gear about every month. Crappy steel, could not deal with even light line trolling let alone a fish over 40 lbs. There's a reason why you don't see too many big levelwinds... Having said all that, Penn Fathom 60 LW - but no lefty, no leverdrag, that's as close as it comes.
One more thing, no dog equals no buy for me. For those of us who fish in the cold from time to time on the East coast, having the clutch and bearing on AR's slip is a common occurrence. I know it sounds crazy, but I'd fish my vintage Penn reels in the cold over a reel with no dog. Great stuff! Hope you've been well! I've been away a while fishing but as cold sets in here, buying new stuff becomes my hobby!
Thanks Quinn, I had not considered the cold weather aspect and that makes a heck of a lot of sense. Great Stuff Indeed!
@@marksmith4452 out there you don't have to! But yes the cold and AR bearings don't get along so mechanical is a must at least as a backup. Its the reason I don't bring a single spinning reel offshore this time of year. Its surprising Accurate did that given a mechanical dog can't cost them more than a few pennies.
@@quinnhunsinger1603 We like our dogs for sure, but many manufacturers simply run a one way bearing and we know there's a bit of finality to those at some point. But, with the major upgrade in bearing Accurate went with we have seen no issues...and we did before. There's a reason their Dauntless series reels are their best effort.
Do you think this real will be good for rock fishing in deep water?
More than good.
@@CharkBaitUSA Thank you
Do they have lefties in these too ??
They will at some point, it's been a SLOW roll-out. Avet still has not produced the MC versions as of 1/7/21. Once they've done the full range of righties they'll come back for the lefty versions, that's typically the routine.
@@CharkBaitUSA Thank you Sir.
Yooow ... YOW ... yooooow 🤣
Is that your son ? Looks just like you
Thanks, he's a bit older and getting a heck of a lot taller now. TIme moves along... He towers over his mom and is catching up with me - though about half my weight! Mike is learning, working here when he has a day off from school. Sergey is my other son, he is running the website and is most responsible for shop operation now as this old guy scales back. It took me nearly 20 years to evolve CharkBait into a family business. (don't tell anyone but that's our competitive edge - family business means screw CA Workman's Comp and Minimum Wage. Toss a few french fries to Mike, a cheeseburger or two to Sergey and a new pair of shoes to wife Nadiya and our bottom line is assured).
Another new star drag that can’t compete with a Trinidad
Not trying to in my estimation. Different animal, the Tesoro from Okuma may be a more appropriate comparison. In that regard, I think the Tesoro offers more in terms of the reel itself, weight, drag, casting performance and of course warranty at 3 times the coverage.
The Torium is a great poor man's option as well.
I'm a big fan of avet reels. I own 8 of them from sxj to hx5/2 Raptor for a number of reasons. (1) is because they are solid built reels. (2) they are affordable for a quality reel,(3) they are made in the USA,(4)they have a great support team and (5) they have been there for us Lefty fishermen from the beginning when everyone else failed. That's a big one for me. I will be buying an Avet Lefty star drag next because they Never forget about us lefties plus see 1-4.
@@bjodaddyo Very well said BD, USA made, designed for our needs, family owned business. If it were not for Avet pushing the envelope almost 20 years ago, we fishermen would be working with inferior gear. Avet pushed other manufacturers to offer better gear at better prices. They, like us, faced competitor based restraint of open free market, collusion, a fair amount of lies projected via shimano sponsored radio program (Let's Talk Sponsors, I mean Hookup...). I could go on. Bottom line, the folks at Avet can be hard to work at times, but they are trying to offer us fishermen more for our money, configured for what we do, with cosmetics that others can't accomplish. Truly custom reels for a commercial price. They have built a very solid, innovative company. I'm quite proud to have been their largest dealer since the beginning, status that we still retain to this day.
You mean can't compete with the Saltiga I hope. Ok, First, check the price. Second, the Trinidad isn't close to the Saltiga. Not close. The Trinidad, which I fished heavily before I dropped all Shimano products (for good reason), simply doesn't have the machining or MATERIAL of the Saltiga. Let's be honest here, the Saltiga is the best star drag reel ever made. The old Saltiga is the second best star drag reel ever made.