There are some premium and super-premium brands in the world of saltwater fishing. Some of the best of them you probably already know; Van Staal, Penn, Daiwa, Shimano, Okuma.
Another heavy hitter is Accurate. Accurate reels come with a pretty big sticker price but they have the construction, features, and deliver the value and performance to merit it. What else could you expect of a tackle company that was literally born from the aerospace industry?
Here’s what you should know about Accurate reels - and why they actually are worth the money.
Precision Machining, Materials, and Tolerance
Accurate reels are predominantly made from anodized 6061-T6 aluminum and high-grade stainless steel.
This grade of aluminum, commonly used in the aerospace industry, is infamous for its strength-to-weight ratio as well as its resistance to corrosion. It also offers intense resistance to pressure and can stand up to the worst weather imaginable.
Select components, such as the gears and bearings, are made from stainless steel. Many reels, even saltwater reels, have gears of brass, but the truth is that a high-grade stainless steel is not only much harder and stronger than brass, but more resistant to shear stresses and corrosion - making them perfect for uncompromising saltwater use.
The whole reel is designed and machined with the help of CAD, or computer-aided design systems, that uphold a quantitatively, measurably superior standard of quality, fit, and finish.
Durability, Specifically with Respect for Saltwater Use
In addition to the fact that Accurate reels are made of anodized 6061-T6 aluminum and corrosion-resistant stainless steel alloys, they are completed with advanced coatings that resist wearing, weather, abrasions and scratches, as well as rust and corrosion.
Accurate reels also feature fully sealed anti-reverse bearings; no salt, water, dirt, dust or other debris can make ingress into the bearing mechanism, affording the highest possible level of protection against wear and corrosion.
Advanced shielding also protects the reel’s internals, which, together with sealed bearings all but completely protects the inside of the reel against corrosion, wear, and other environmental damage.
To make certain of performance and protection, all Accurate reels undergo extensive, rigorous quality control and assurance testing, to ensure each reel meets the company’s standards for durability, corrosion-resistance, and overall performance.
Bearings and Gears
The immediate, one-way, anti-reverse bearing of an Accurate reel utterly eliminates any play in the reel, ensuring instant hookups with no dead-time. Though they are not the only reels with continuous anti-reverse, these are among the most responsive reels on the market. As stated, the stainless steel bearings are shielded to protect against wear and corrosion. High-precision machining also ensures that the gears are perfectly aligned, minimizing wear, upholding a high degree of robustness, and most importantly, resulting in an exceptionally smooth-cranking reel.
These reels are also outfitted with high-quality, precision-machined ball bearings that reduce friction and result in much smoother operation, providing a high degree of stability even under heavy loads. A high-bearing count also contributes to extremely smooth, stable reel operation, even under adverse conditions when fighting true trophies.
The stainless steel gears of Accurate reels are heat-treated for strength, wear, and fatigue resistance, offering the best strength and durability in the market, as well as a robust design that can handle intense cranking and the pressure the biggest fish in the ocean can put on them.
In addition, multiple gear ratios are available, offering anglers their choice between cranking leverage and retrieval speed, to better suit their pursuit of their target species.
Advanced Spool Design, Cutting-Edge Drag System
Accurate reels also boast an advanced spool design that lightens weight without compromising strength, enabling faster pickup with less fatigue while also enabling more accurate casting. Most importantly, the proprietary design increases line capacity. This allows for extensive line deployment, particularly critical in scenarios where fish are holding deep, or where powerful fish will pay out a lot of line by running the drag out.
The drag systems of Accurate reels are also notable; an entire article could be dedicated to them. In most baitcasting and conventional reels, the drag system only occupies one side of the reel body. In an Accurate reel, a proprietary TwinDrag system is utilized; this unique, groundbreaking system distributes drag pressure evenly on both sides of the reel. The drag system is exceptionally smooth and resistant to lurching.
Not only does this significantly increase the raw power of the drag, but it also reduces the chance of failure and extends the lifespan of the drag system by minimizing wear on the drag washers. It also helps prevent the drag system from overheating during particularly intense runs, protecting the reel’s internals.
These reels also offer high max drag capacity so you can put serious pressure on the biggest, strongest gamefish. Also notably, the TwinDrag system is also finely tunable and micro-adjustable, enabling fishermen to set precise drag pressure to suit the target species and conditions.
Fisherman-Friendliness
Accurate reels are also famous for their fisherman-friendly ergonomics. They’re made with power handles that offer anglers greater leverage with lesser fatigue, especially important when battling serious ocean beasts. You can crank an Accurate reel harder and for longer without getting as tired as you would otherwise.
Also, the (relatively) lightweight design of many Accurate reels yields itself well to long, drawn out fights.
Another benefit to fishermen is that Accurate reels are relatively easy to maintain, and since they’re made with such high-quality components, are less prone to wear and corrosion in the first place.
Here for a New Reel? Make It an Accurate Reel
There is a reason Accurate reels are famous the world over, and it’s not just for their price. These are among the highest-performance reels in the world and have the features, functionality, and proven track record to merit their reputation.
If you’re in the market for a new, high-end saltwater reel, whether for jigging, trolling, or chunking, it would be hard to do better than an Accurate. For more information, or if you need a personalized recommendation, get in touch with us directly and we’d be happy to help.