ICAST 2015 Coverage - 13 Fishing Reels

ICAST 2015 Coverage

13 Fishing Introduces New Reels, and Yes there is a Lefty!

Date:	7/15/15
Location:	Orlando, FL
Admission:	Buyers & Press Only
Manufacturer:	13 Fishing
Reviewer:	Zander

Introduction: One of our first stops on Day 1 of ICAST was the 13 Fishing booth, a brand that is known for pushing the envelope when it comes to product design and sheer cool factor. The company recently impressed us with the release of the Trick Shop components and we were eager to see what new reel offerings they would unveil this year.

The Concept reels will finally be available in left hand retrieve

Lefties have arrived... finally: The 13 Fishing Concept Series baitcasters have been extremely popular but the biggest gripe from anglers, including our very own Managing Editor - Cal, has been the lack of left handed reel options. Reasoning behind the delay, of course, was the fact projected sales of left handed reels is simply not as strong as that as the right handed market. Anglers who prefer left handed reels are more vocal as a group, but the numbers, according to market research throughout the industry, just don't support the huge buy-in from manufacturers. Well the wait is almost over, and in the next few months lefties will be available. Not only will lefties finally get their very own reels but they will also be the first ones to get the company's new "Beetle Wing" feature which is a spring loaded connected takedown sideplate.

The new left handed reels will be the first ones with the "Beetle Wing" sideplates

Eventually all of the new 13 Fishing reels will be upgraded with this new pop-out attached sideplate design but for now the tables have turned and it is the right hand retrieve anglers that will be the ones doing the waiting.

The Inception reel will introduce a whole new crop of mainstream anglers to the 13 Fishing brand

Wake up, the Inception has begun: Anglers dreaming of owning a 13 Fishing reel but have thus far stayed away due to cost will be pleased to learn that the company will be introducing their most affordable baitcaster yet, meet the Inception.

The Inception features a compact profile and will be available in both 6.6:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios

Featuring a HD aluminum frame and graphite sidplates the new Inception comes loaded with a 15lb Max Drag, 6 way centrifugal braking system and 8 ball bearings. This new reel will be available in both right and left hand retrieve and is even compatible with the majority of the Trick Shop components. The reel will retail for a very aggressive price of $120 dollars and will be available Spring 2016.

A prototype of 13 Fishing's new micro-adjustable supertuned spool which features centrifugal brakes with varying weights for ultimate coonfiguration

Getting more tricked out: If you read our review of 13 Fishing's Trick Shop components you may remember that while we loved the robust offerings we were left wanting more performance altering components. 13 Fishing didn't keep us waiting long and gave us a sneak peek of their new spool, currently codenamed the "Stage 13 Supported Spool." This spool features an advanced centrifugal system with different sized weights, allowing anglers to make even more micro-adjustments on the fly.

Looking for something unique?

Since there are smaller weights anglers can get dialed in exactly for their applications and really tune the reels to match their fishing style. This new spool offers 13 levels of adjustment versus the current stock spool which only has 6. Pricing has not yet been released but the new spool should be available within the coming quarter.

These reels have all been hand painted and are one of one

Exclusive one of a kind reels: For the angler looking for the ultimate in reel expression the company has painted approximately 20 reels with distinct patterns and tricked them out with Trick Shop components. These reels are the equivalent of Chip Foose hot-rods, and these one of a kind reels sport some very diverse patterns.

The reels have been so modified they are actually branded "Trick Shop" versus Concept

Each of these reels is a one of one, meaning it is the only one of these reels, making them the most exclusive 13 Fishing reels out there. So are they going into a locked safe at 13 Fishing HQ? Absolutely not, these reels are going to be sold through a 13 Fishing retailer to some very lucky anglers. How much they will be or when they will be available is still unknown but we can't wait to see when they will become available.

Jim Coble, Owner and President of 13 Fishing, shows us the very exciting new custom reel offerings from 13 Fishing

13 Fishing continues to push the envelope and in so many ways is a breathe of fresh air in an industry that often feels like it is moving at a slow pace. The company is all about fun, and breaks the mold by offering products that anglers are excited to both own and fish. Stay tuned for the next part of our 13 Fishing coverage which goes over what the company is probably best known for, some pretty slick fishing rods.