Bass fishing reel review - 13 Fishing Concept-A Casting Reel review

Product Review

What a Concept! 13 Fishing's Concept-A Reel is a Bulldog

Date:	3/23/14
Tackle Type:	Reels
Manufacturer:	13 Fishing
Reviewer:	Wolbugger

Total Score: 8.00 - GREAT

Introduction: 13 Fishing made quite a splash in the bass fishing industry with the launch of their Omen and Envy rods at ICAST just a couple years ago. Not only are these sticks refined, but they are priced within reach of many anglers' budgets. When we received word last year about a new family of casting reels being developed, it immediately piqued our interest. Even though we had the rare chance to play with a couple of the prototypes at the 2013 ICAST show, nothing beats experiencing the finished product. With that said, we were quietly able to acquire a couple of Concept-A reels for testing and a full lab breakdown well before their scheduled release to the general public.

13 Fishing Concept-A Casting Reel Specifications
Line Capacity (lbs/yds)	12/100
Frame/Side plates	Aluminum/Airfoil Carbon
Gear Ratio	7.3:1 (5.3:1, 6.6:1, 8.1:1 also available)
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	14–29
Weight	6.8 ounces
Spool Weight	17 grams
Bearings	3 stainless + 3 anti-corrosion +1
Bearings per knob	1
Levelwind bearings	0
Tested Max Drag	19.3 pounds
Origin	Korea
MSRP	$169.99

All of the new Concept reels from 13 Fishing are the company's own proprietary designs.

Quality/Construction: The quality of workmanship displayed by our Concept-A reel is impressive. Featuring a matte-black finish, the body is extremely smooth and all of the tolerances and seams are tight. The machined aluminum parts are also very clean, with no rough patches or irregularities visible upon close inspection. Thanks to the “Dead-Stop” anti reverse, there's also no play in the handle. Overall, this reel's construction and cosmetics should satisfy anglers with high expectations.

The Concept A features a very clean design.

Quality Ratings for 13 Fishing Concept-A Reel

Finish (1-5)

Construction Tolerances(1-5)

Handle Tolerance(1-5)

Knob Tolerance(1-5)

Total

Possible

Rating

(=Tot/Poss * 10)

9.5

Cal spools up the Concept A for field tests

Performance: I was able to put the Concept-A reel through about two months of testing. While bass were the main focus, this saltwater-friendly reel also nabbed a few small snook along the way.

The Concept A is the most affordable reel in the 13 Fishing Concept lineup

Retrieve: I wouldn't go so far as to say the reel has an ultra-smooth feel, but it's certainly very satisfying to turn the handle. When fished alongside the Concept-C reel (the next model up and 60 dollars pricier), I could distinguish just a hint more refinement in the retrieve of the C model. Nevertheless, the Concept-A model feels great and never left me disappointed.

The drive gear, “Bulldog” drag stack, cork handle knob, and spool.

Next Section: Retesting the Concept A drag