Pflueger’s
“Supreme” Baitcast Offering
|
Date: |
4/17/08 |
|
Tackle type: |
Reels |
|
Manufacturer: |
Pflueger |
|
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 7.00 - GOOD
Introduction:
It has been much too long
since we last reviewed a Pflueger product, three years in fact. Since looking at
the President baitcaster in 2005 the company has released a number of new
offerings including the Supreme, which picks up where the President left off. We
explore the Supreme to see just how the reel manufacturer has come in terms of
performance and whether or not the Supreme is as good of a value as the
President was.
|
Pflueger
Supreme
Specifications |
|
Line Capacity (lb/yds) |
12/130 |
|
Gear Ratio |
6.3:1 |
|
Weight |
8.5 oz. |
|
Bearings |
10BB + 1RB |
|
Additional Features |
Double anodized aluminum spool, titanium line guide, ultimate dual brake system,
cold forged aluminum handle, aircraft aluminum main gear, brass pinion gear, soft touch thumb bar |
|
MSRP |
$179.95 |
Impressions: Pflueger
has long been known for offering products that represent an incredibly good
value. Three years ago we looked at the Pflueger President, a reel had all the
features and performance required of a flagship reel at the time, it is designed
with quality materials, delivered excellent fishability across the spectrum, and
managed to do all this while remaining surprisingly affordable. The President
won over a lot of anglers that were looking for an alternative to Shimano and
Daiwa.
The Pflueger Supreme is the
natural successor to the President
Since that time Pflueger
has expanded both the company’s own lineup as well as their OEM reel designs.
The Supreme has 10 double shielded stainless steel bearings and a one way clutch
instant anti reverse bearing. We wanted to review the Supreme before we looked
at the company’s newest reels, the Patriarch which also has 10 bearings, the
Summit with 9 bearings, and the Asaro with 7 bearings.
The Supreme features a combination
magnetic and centrifugal braking system, one that is externally adjustable
The new generation of
Pflueger reels look more aggressive than the Supreme, with more pointed and low
profile frames. The Supreme on the other hand looks like the natural evolution
of the President. The reel bears a similar profile and size with slightly more
angular edges and some porting.
The Supreme offers wide access to
the spool
Real World Tests:
To test the Pflueger Supreme we fished the reel for over two complete seasons
targeting largemouth, spotted bass, and stripers in the California Delta, Lake
Mc Clure, and Lake Berryessa. We loaded the reel with 12lb Maxima, and mounted
the reel on various rods depending on the species we were targeting. We also
used the reel for the complete range of baits, whether it was finesse plastics
or mid sized swimbaits, whatever the application called for we employed the
Supreme for the job.
The thumb bar has a soft touch pad
that is both comfortable and grippy
Casting:
The Pflueger President was a great caster, and made use of a six pin centrifugal
braking system that was very similar to the VBS system employed by Shimano.
During casts this system forces the engaged weights forward, gently slowing the
forward motion of the spool. The Supreme employs a dual cast control system that
Pfluger calls the “Ultimate Brake System” that
combines centrifugal and
magnetic brakes for a limitless range of cast control.
The Supreme features audible click
adjustable drag
Next
Section: Cast and Retrieve Supreme style
