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Get
Noticed With the Cheeky Mojo 425 Fly Reel
| Date: |
4/5/15 |
| Tackle type: |
Fly Reel |
| Manufacturer: |
Cheeky |
| Reviewer: |
Wolbugger |
Total Score: 7.75 -
GOOD
Introduction:
Many of you fly anglers out there have probably seen or heard of a company
called Cheeky Fly Fishing. Their products are easily distinguished by striking
designs and colors which really sets them apart from all other fly reels on the
market. I actually fished with the Cheeky team several years back when they
visited me in Florida for a brief morning of fishing and product input. Those
early prototypes were a bit rough around the edges, but they have since been
transformed into nicely polished reels that are steadily gaining popularity. The
guys at Cheeky recently sent me a Mojo 425 demo reel, and while I only had a
very limited time with it, it was a treat handling and fishing one of their
finished products.
|
Cheeky Mojo 425 Fly Reel
Specifications |
| Floating
Line/Backing (dacron) Capacity |
#7/275 yards
#8/250 yards
#9/225 yards
#10/200 yards |
|
Spool Diameter |
4.25
inches |
| Spool Width |
1.1
inches |
| Weight |
7.5
ounces |
| Colors Available |
Blue/yellow combo or silver |
| Material |
6061 machined aluminum |
|
Drag |
Sealed EVO synthetic drag |
|
Origin |
China |
|
MSRP (Reel) |
$380.00 |
|
MSRP (Spool) |
$145.00 |
The Mojo 425 boasts some very unique cosmetics
Quality/Construction:
The Cheeky Mojo 425 is fully machined out of 6061 aluminum. Its open design
looks very cool along with the unique color scheme. The colors actually have
more of a machined finish to them rather than exhibiting a high gloss shine.
Aside from a few tiny battle scars left behind by previous testers, the reel
looks clean inside and out. With that said, upon closer inspection I did notice
a couple of corners on the reel frame that were a bit on the sharp side. Reel
tolerances were fine, and no odd sloppiness or wobbles were apparent in any of
the structure.
|
Quality
Ratings for Cheeky Mojo 425 |
|
Finish(1–5) |
Construction Tolerances
(1–5) |
Handle Tolerance (1–5) |
Knob Tolerance (1–5) |
Overall Machining Quality
(1–5) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating (=Tot/Poss
*10) |
|
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
22 |
25 |
8.8 |
The spool features generous porting for maximum weight reduction
Performance:
The Cheeky Mojo 425 found its home on a Redington Vapen Red rod as well as a G.
Loomis Pro 4X. It came spooled up with 20-pound backing which I connected to a
RIO Mainstream Saltwater fly line. Beach snook were the quarry of choice as they
are readily available and even the little guys will make some nice runs that
test a drag's smoothness.
Cheeky calls the frame yellow; I call it gold!
Retrieve:
FAST is one word to describe the rate at which this reel retrieves line. Thanks
to the large arbor, generous spool diameter, and narrow spool width, it's able
to pick up line very quickly. This is an awesome attribute for any fly reel
because it helps you easily keep up with a fish that's charging you head-on. The
mellow retrieve sound may be a disappointment for some anglers who prefer their
reels to exhibit a sharper clicking sound, but I was satisfied with it.
To remove the spool, just undo the middle cap with your fingers and it comes off
easily.
Drag:
No reel is truly perfect, right? Unfortunately, the drag is where the Mojo 425
falters a bit. First, let me say that it's very smooth and has no noticeable
startup inertia, however its power is much weaker than anticipated. The sealed
system is comprised of stacked discs made of stainless steel and a synthetic
material called PTFE. We weren't able to hook it up to our drag machine in
California for a precise measurement, so I will refrain from making an estimate.
I will say that the Mojo 425 drag is quite weak at its highest setting, however
it's still perfectly adequate for most fishing situations you'll encounter with
this size reel. You must also remember that fly reels benefit from the fact that
you can easily and comfortably apply palm or finger pressure to the spool rim
for added stopping power. Unless I am fishing for big tarpon or other species
that absolutely require a stout drag setting, I tend to fish a lighter setting
and apply extra pressure with my hand.
|
Performance Ratings for Cheeky Mojo 425 |
|
Retrieve (1–5) |
Drag Power
(1–5) |
Drag Smoothness (1–5) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating (=Tot/Pos*10) |
|
5 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
7.33 |
The narrow spool facilitates quick line retrieves
Features:
This reel has a collection of features that come together to create a
well-rounded offering. The most noteworthy items include the sealed synthetic
drag system, right/left retrieve capability (a quick task utilizing a flat-head
screwdriver), a mellow in/out clicker, and a neoprene reel pouch.
|
Features Ratings for Cheeky Mojo 425 |
|
Sealed Drag (1–2) |
Right/Left Retrieve (1–2) |
Backing Capacity (1–5) |
Ease of Spool On/Off (1–5) |
Reel Cover (1–2) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating (=Tot/Pos*10) |
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
8.75 |
The corners at the top of the frame could be softened a tad.
Next Section: Eye catching design
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