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Mako Reels in the media
Customer Testimonials Hi Jack, Thank you so much for getting this reel out to me.. just in time. The reel is more of a work of art than a piece of fishing equipment and I can't tell you how impressed I am with the craftsmanship and superior quality of the reel. In my opinion, this reel beats anything else out there by far and is worth every penny! Today I got a chance to see what the reel is made of on our local albacore. I was lucky enough to run into a school of 30 pound tuna to really test out the drag of the reel which preformed ultra smooth and perfectly. But most impressive was the reel's ability to chase down fish with its massive size. Albacore are notorious for doubling up on you and the second you loose tension on the line, the fish are gone. I used to loose fish every time they would do this to me. Not today! I managed to keep up with the fish and maintain tension on several back and forths across the bow. Managed 3 albacore from 15 to ~30#s which wore my back and arms out. Attached is a pic of the big fish of the day which was tamed by the Mako. Thanks again and fantastic product! -Ali Moayedi Novato, CA Ali M Dear Jack, I have been very happy with my Mako reels. The drag works amazingly well compared to my earlier Abxx, Nauxxxxx, Loxx and other reels. And the water tightness is really something that works fine for me while wading in shallow sandy saltwater. That split of a second to 100% tightening drag almost got me in trouble: That 125 cm GT in the pictures had done already a 200-250 m run when I turned the break to full force in one move. Then the pull changed from gently rolling reel to my rod handle - and barely could I hold my rod in my rod hand. I was lucky not to see my gear vanishing after wildly running GT and not to talk about my biggest GT so far... I can tell that it was a good lesson how well your drag works, and next time I'll be prepared better for that amazing braking power of my reel. Thanks for building these reels that I really can rely on, no matter what kind of fish I have on the other end of the line. Best Regards, Jari Arffman Finland Jari A Hello Jack, Just thought I would drop you a quick line. I was up with Gavin last week. The weather was awful. Winds of 30-35 knots, a big swell (which kept growing during the week) and rain. It made fishing hard and positioning the boat even harder I suspect. We caught fish up to 9kg. My first fish on the new reel was a 9kg Longtail. ...... on the larger reel it just feels “bigger” if that makes sense, like it would stop anything. The biggest difference however is the larger arbour you can really get line in very quickly and this is a real improvement. The reel feels really solid under pressure, no wobbles at all. It is a fantastic fishing reel that gives you as much control as is possible given the fish you are chasing. Your reels are simply the best I own. The feeling I have when a good fish is hooked is total control. This is different to other salt water reels I have used. I will lose a fish if I stuff up but I know the reel will never let me down, the drag will never catch, shudder, fade etc. Thanks again for the reel and all the best, Andrew McKenzie NSW, Australia Andrew M Hi Jack Just back from the US and picked up the new Mako reel. Fantastic, thank you. Beautifully made and exquisitely machined. I can't think of a better reel out there - and I own a few. Managed to land a couple of Tarpon in Key West on the Mako. An 80lber to the boat in under 10 mins (according to my guide) the Mako just blitzed 'em. I couldn't be happier. And once again, top marks for the superb customer service, it's been a real pleasure. Many thanks Jack, Cheers Carl McNeil www.onthefly.co.nz Carl M Dear Jack, I had the opportunity to fish the Mako 9600 for the first time recently using it to punish sailfish in Guatemala, but before discussing performance a basic critique is in order. When I got the reel I dropped you an email about its stunning appearance mentioning that it was such a work of art that it should be framed and hung on the wall. After fishing it I must say it would be a shame to hang it on the wall and not experience its remarkable level of performance. The Mako is at the pinnacle of reel engineering and the machinist’s art. Removing the spool, just a few turns of the center knob, revealed the totally sealed drag system balanced in the center of a beautifully machined frame that is surprisingly light yet rock solid strong. I love the way the spool seats onto the drag hub eliminating the need for a center shaft. It reminds me of a design feature used in high-end European racing motorcycles incorporate an open swing arm instead of the old school enclosed axle design. It is a significant advancement and very cool. The palm-sized drag adjustment knob is a vast improvement for making micro-adjustments when necessary, like when a hot sailfish is at boat side and decides to charge under the boat! The design and machining of the spool is elegant and another example of form with the ultimate goal of superior performance. The tolerances needed to match the center hub of the spool to the drag hub on the frame are critical for a uniform fit and you’ve nailed it. The two halves come together so perfectly that they become one without the slightest hint of play. As a life long fishing tackle addict I appreciate what went in to the design and execution of this reel and I am betting that anyone who aspires to fish with the finest will, too.In Guatemala, fishing with the captains from Casa Vieja, I put the Mako to the sailfish test fishing with 16 and 20-pound tippets and my initial impression is an unrepressed WOW! The drag system is unwavering and buttery smooth regardless of the pressure setting, how long or how many sailfish it challenged. It was no contest. The Mako won every time. I can’t wait to try it on something that pulls harder and longer and toward that end hope to take on a bluefin tuna or two with it in the coming weeks. The Mako fly reel is sure to take its rightful place at the very top of the heap of the greatest fly reels ever made and at the current price it’s actually quite a bargain. I might not be able to afford a Ferrari, but I now know what it’s like to fish with one. Regards, Gary Caputi NJ, USA Gary C Submit Your Own |
