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Jesse's Hunting > Fishing Articles > Articles > Reaching the "Summit" with Pfleuger
Reaching the "Summit" with Pfleuger
Brad Swadley - JHO ProStaff
- Dallas, TX
June 07, 2007
Let me start off by saying, when it comes to black bass fishing reels I am a diehard Shimano Calcutta fan.
But just like computers, reels seem to change every year. Fortunately, they all seem to get better. So after learning that Shimano no longer sells the Calcutta as I know it, the “chrome” version, I decided to see what new reels were available. I was looking for something that was of medium size, smooth casting, and could match up to the Calcuttas I had used for the past 10 years.
Enter the new Pflueger Summit. My buddy picked one up at Bass Pro Shops and just raved about how it worked. He said that if I knew what was good for me, we would go test it out. As luck would have it, I had just sold my Skeeter ZX202c bass boat the weekend before, so there would be no lake trips for me. Instead we planned a Sunday morning fishing trip to one of his club’s fishing ponds that was supposed to hold “lots of fish”.
Before we get into the fishing report, let me give you the overall specifications from the Pflueger website on the Summit: 9 double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings, one-way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing, titanium line guide, Ultimate Brake SystemTM which combines centrifugal and magnetic brakes for a limitless range of cast control, aircraft grade aluminum main gear and brass pinion gear, lightweight aluminum frame with aluminum handle side plate, smooth multi-disc main gear applied drag system with audible star adjustment and dual soft touch knobs. It will hold 100 yards of 12 pound test line and has a 7.1:1 ratio. It weighs in at 7.8 ounces.
Nice casting reel
The author found the Pflueger Summit to be a pleasure to case and retrieve. Putting a few fish in the boat made it even better. |
We took the reel out and I was quite amazed at how well it performed. We caught approximately 30 fish weighing anywhere from two to three pounds in approximately three hours. The reel was very smooth, and I had very little trouble with it.
I was throwing a 6 inch Senko all day with a wide gap hook. I adjusted both the magnetic brake and the spool brake to find the sweet spot for me. I found that I was quickly chunking the lure exactly where I wanted and pretty close to what I was aiming at. The reel has a small profile so I could grip it quite well which also helps me to control my aim. But even with my big thumb, there was still plenty of room to control the spool.
It was a little windy that day (25 mph gusts) and the only nest I created on the spool had to do with throwing into the wind with the Senko I had tied on. I picked up my Calcutta for a few minutes while my buddy worked on getting the nest out. I was surprised how much heavier the Calcutta felt and it didn’t seem to be near as smooth on the cast as the Summit. We worked hard to get the Summit going again. I threw it for about another hour with no problems.
I was very impressed with the little reel. I do believe, based on my experience, the Summit is a step above my old Calcutta reels. Price-wise, the Summit is a little on the expensive side. They run about $160 at most sporting good stores. For the price, it is a great freshwater reel that is a pleasure to throw and retrieve. I highly recommend that if you are looking for a new reel for some black bass, smallmouth bass or sandie fishing, you give the Pflueger Summit reel a try. I know that you will be glad you did!
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