Ardent's SmartCull is exactly
what the name implies... Smartly Designed
(continued)
Durability:
We tested the SmartCull for durability by whipping the balls downward on the
boat deck and when that didn't do anything to the balls we moved on to the boat
dock and finally the concrete. We were able to do some cosmetic damage to the
colored plastic and corners of the dials but the culling balls held together and
continued to rotate and lock perfectly.
The attachment on the ball end
We pulled on the clip and cable using the Ardent
SmartCull like a piece of rope in a tug-of-war and the cables and crimps held in
place securely. We were satisfied that through normal use these balls are very
unlikely to fail. The wires are coated for extra corrosion resistance and the
balls are approved for use with common livewell additives.
Testing the SmartCull with
Stripers
Price & Applications: Culling fish
has never been easier and while designed for tournament situations we find the
Ardent SmartCull is great for weekend warriors as well. If anglers are
practicing for a tournament or simply want to engage in some friendly
competition the Ardent SmartCull makes it easier for both fish and fishermen.
It only takes seconds to dial in
the correct weight, and seconds are precious in tournament situations
The SmartCull retails for $39.99 which comes out
to just over 6.50 per ball. This is a great price for a system that is well
designed, easy to use, and is built to last. Unlike other culling systems the
SmartCull does not have parts like markers or cards that can be lost or need
replacing.
Releasing fish is also made easier
with the SmartCull which helps identify and extract fish from livewells
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide)
Ardent SmartCull Ratings
(?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Built to last the SmartCull balls feel solid and well built from the clip to
the ball itself |
9 |
Performance |
Simple and yet ingenious the SmartCull is both faster and easier to use than
existing culling systems. We noticed some irritation on the lips of stripers
but bass didn't seem affected by being clipped in at all |
8.5 |
Price |
The
Ardent SmartCull is reasonably priced and requires no maintenance with no
parts to lose like other systems |
9 |
Features |
The
SmartCull is feature rich with a well designed marking system with two
locking dials, impact resistant bodies, and corrosion resistant wires |
9.5 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
This is system is well designed and easy to use, the locking mechanism makes
sure the weight you dial in stays accurate. |
9 |
Application |
The
SmartCull can be used for both freshwater and brackish water conditions. The
buoyant ball design makes it easier to handle fish in the livewell as well. |
9 |
Total Score |
9.00 |
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Simply the best culling system we have
used to date |
L
Even though well designed the clip did
cause some irritation to some fish |
J
Uses both color and weight to identify
fish |
|
J
Great for tournament anglers |
|
J
Weighing fish only once reduces stress on
fish |
|
J
Reasonable price |
|
Like all Ardent products the
SmartCull system is proudly made in the USA
Conclusion:
Ardent may be best known for their "Made in the
USA" reels but with quality products like the SmartCull the company is going to
be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to expertly designed
accessories as well. The SmartCull is simply the best culling system we have
come across yet, and is both
easier and faster to use than
traditional systems that require multi-piece
implementations. Designed to give tournament anglers an extra edge this novel
new product proved to be good for any angler looking to quickly identify and
handle fish in the livewell. Reasonably priced and well designed the Ardent
SmartCull system is a worthy recipient of our Editors Choice Award, and a
product we carry with us on all our bass boats at all times.
The Ardent SmartCull is available
now at
Monster Tackle
|