Has anyone got to see one yet. I currently use Shimano Castiacs for pitching and I also have an Ardent F-500. I like both reels, but would like something lighter. I am anxious to hear some reviews on the new Ardent. It looks great on paper.

I have a bunch of the ardent apex elite. I fish a bunch, they get used a lot. They start off great, smooth, etc. The batch I have is 2-3 years old I bought 7-8 of them. They are quickly falling apart, grinding, loose feeling The lews I bought at same time are still holding up like new and the revo sx I have that are way older have held up good. I can't speak to any specific flipping model they are making. I know I probably won't buy ardent in future and will just stick with lews.

I got one of the new Ardent flippin reels Friday and fished the afternoon with it very smooth and the drag is also very smooth. I can flip a lure farther with it than any other I have tried and it can be great for casting although that isn't what it is made for. I hade several of the Ardent Edge reels I have had since they came out and they are as smooth as the day I got them. The first Ardents that cams out there was come problems with but I never had better customer service from and company. It is just too bad they are not still made in this country.

Thanks for the feedback guys.