Pinnacle Extant ELP 10 Fishing Reel
I recently picked up a Pinnacle fishing reel. I have never purchased a Pinnacle reel before but I was hearing some good things about them so I figured I would give one a shot. Wow! what a poorly made reel. After catching about 15 bass the reel started slipping bad. I figured it was maybe a fluke and I took it back to Academy and exchanged it for the same reel. Well after catching a couple bass on the second reel the darn trigger feel completely off! I will not buy a Pinnacle again. I know this is one of the lower end reels and probably not the best bass fishing reel on the market, but for 50 bucks it should of lasted a little bit longer. I thinking I am going to stay with my Pfluegers and Abu Garcia’s.
I have had just the opposite experience. I bought one this spring and loaded it with PowerPro 10lb yellow. I use it at least once a week to catch bass and pickerel in local ponds/lakes near our house. To date it has performed flawlessly. It still looks new, but I do take care of my “stuff”. I have found the reel to be smooth in both casting and retrieve. The drag is perfection. My personnel best 3.5lb bass was on this reel and it yanked the fish out of some thick weeds as the bass nose-dived. I have worked the settings to the point where I just about never get a “bird nest”. I like the reel so much that I just got two more Pinnacles on ebay, both new and at a cost savings. I now have a “worm” rod, a “spinner bait” rod and I gave one to my 9year old for fishing live bait over the side of the boat. We drop shinners down about 10-15 feet and keep the spool “live” until we feel the tug of a fish. . . count to 10 and turn the handle slow until the rod tip starts to bend and set the hook hard. Great for smallies around rock structure. I not going to spend too much for my reels and I find that I am getting the value with Pinnacle. I may get one more for a total of 4. Check them out. . .I think you’ll be happy.
I use 6 rods when I fish. 2 heavy worm rods, 1 med heavy and 3 casting rods from med to med heavy. All 6 are now equipped with Pinnacle reels. 1 Lucille, 2 Solene, 1 Inertia and 2 Sentaras. The only problem I have found is that the Solenes anti reverse tends to get lazy in temps under 45 degrees. That is probably due to the fact that I did not service the reels last fall. I Love these reels and plan to keep using them.
I have to agree with Tgears, I have 3 Pinnacle Solene Reels 1 I have had for 2 yrs the other 2 i have had a year,set on Berkely Lightning rods, with Trilene 12Lb test Hi-Vis Green. all three are set up the same, Have never had any problems out of these reels, Just last year i caught a 7.5 Lb bass out of a small lake using the Solene Reel, on a war eagle Spinner bait. Now on the flip side just the other day I went fishing and was using my Pinnacle Reel, the one i’ve had for 2 yrs and have done some serious bass fishing with. the temperature was around 45 or 50 degrees, and I noticed that the anti reverse was slipping just a little bit. So I called Pinnacle’s warranty and repair center, I talked to a super nice repair tech, and he said all I had to do is take the handle down to the bearing on the shaft and put about 3 drops of Hot Sauce Reel Lube or something similar to that, and should work flawlessly. He also said that is all he would do if I sent it to get repaired. So I guess i’m trying to say I love these reels for the value and price they really can’t be beat.