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WON FEATURE: Extremely Accurate: a look at Accurate fishing products and its Extreme line…
BY BRANDON HAYWARD/WON Staff WriterPublished: Sep 28, 2009
WON talks to the Corona-based reel company about its progression that has culminated into it’s newest line, the Extreme Series
CORONA — It started with making side plates back in 1991, and later frames, that would make the Penn reels on the market at the time more extreme, giving them higher tolerances and the ability to withstand more pressure than a standard Penn 500, 3/0 or 4/0 could take straight out of the box. From there, Accurate owners David and Doug Nielsen set out to build complete reels that were like nothing else on the market when they came up with Accurate’s ATD 30 and Boss 270 back in the late ‘90s.
“Doing the sideplates was a real learning experience. They were for star-drag reels, but we figured things out that really helped us out when we started working on our first lever drags,” says Doug Nielsen, who, along with his brother David and father, Jack, have taken Accurate to the next level every step of the way.
The first complete reel that , a two-speed reel that is still one of its most popular. It is built around key design concepts and features that are uniquely Accurate, even 11 years later: twin drags in a lightweight, aluminum lever-drag reel.
Accurate’s Twin Drag is a big part of its design process, but the reels themselves have changed — reacted really — to progressions in trends and demands, especially in the world of long range fishing.
Extreme Philosophy…
“We’re the only hardcore company that has people fishing our product, giving feedback to our engineers, and then, we’re doing the changes that are needed, just a day or two later,” says Ben Secrest, Accurate’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In a nutshell, he is proud of the fact that Accurate reacts to things as they happen. All this is made possible by Accurate’s staff fishing their own product and also drawing on Accurate’s big name Pro Staff and their experiences.
“It goes from ideas, to design, to real products,” says David. “We are able to do everything in just real short order. Other companies are so spread out, but it’s really the three of us (the twins and Secrest), so we are able to react to things sooner.”
Having top long range anglers fishing their product gives Accurate a big edge when it comes to offering reels that are up to the rigors of long range fishing. Top long range anglers like Stas Vellonakis , David Choate and Bob Michener tell Accurate what the “weak links” as David puts them, are, and from there Accurate moves forward immediately.
All the product testing, from the decks of long range boats and exotic locals like Panama and Australia — places where gear gets put through the ringer on big fish — is what makes Accurate reels so unique. Especially it’s new Extreme line-up.
… to the Extreme Series
“The bigger is better deal is done,” says Secrest of the newest trends in long range fishing: Spectra, short topshots and smaller reels. “Guys fishing 50 Wides and 80s is going away. Guys are scaling down, using the rail; long range fishing has become a whole different animal.
“The Extreme series is our answer to that,” he adds. “We’re able to do what we’re doing with the Extremes because of the thought process of the twins, and doing things like smaller reels with bigger gear shafts, 174 stainless steel gears, 6061 Aluminum, more material in the handle, and all that stuff.”
The sizes of Accurate’s reels haven’t changed. For example, the original Boss 270 single speed is the same size as the B2-270 that came out with two speeds a few years ago. Now the Extreme Series 400 is the same size as the original 270. Ditto for the Boss 665 that is now the Extreme Series 600.
While the overall size of the reels hasn’t changed, the way they are built to meet demands has.
“All we’re trying to build is a better gun, with the Extremes we did that,” says Secrest. “Our reels are for guys that want to go to the next level. We do alot of things different than other companies… we never ‘cost’ a reel. What I mean is that we never figure a cost we want to come up with and then build the reels from there. We build the best we can; if people want it then they pay for it.”
The Extreme Series, like all Accurates, are at a higher price point than most reels, but when the Nielsens describe what goes into the reels it becomes clear why they cost more than other reels.
“The 174 stainless steel gears we use comes from aircraft-grade stainless steel. It’s hard to machine, difficult to work with, and costs more money. Nobody else really uses it,” says David.
What many companies use for gears is brass, and Secrest is quick to point out that with brass comes problems: “Most companies build there reels with brass gears. I don’t care how they cut brass gears, fish 20-pounds of drag on a small reel with brass gears and teeth go away. With stainless steel like 174 that just doesn’t happen…”
What really allows anglers to fish insane amounts of drag with the Extreme Series are the shafts. When the shafts on the original Boss reels are compared to the shafts on the Extreme Series, the newest generations looks like entirely different animals. The shafts on the Extreme Series are even more built up and stronger than the last generation of Boss reels (the B2 two speeds that were the first Boss two speeds).
The beefed up gears, shafts and other inner workings came from the fact that anglers were taking their B2 reels and pushing them beyond what they were originally designed for.
“These guys were coming back to us and saying ‘I got a 266 (pound yellowfin) on a 665’ and I got two cows on an 870,” that was great, but they were designed for fishing 20 or 22 pounds of drag. “With the Extreme Series they can get over 30 pounds of drag and do whatever they want with them.”
The reels that have really struck cords with long range anglers have been the biggest Boss two speeds, the BX2-30 and BX2-50. They are reels that were designed with the specific demands of fishing big tuna from long range boats in mind. So here’s the real question: what is the difference between the big Boss reels and the ATD line?
“With an ATD 30 or 50, you can get 50 to 70 pounds of drag. Is it necessary? For most, no, but some (anglers) use it for short periods,” answers Secrest. He says that the BX2-30 and BX2-50 were built for long range angles looking to fill a specific niche.
“With the BX2-30 and 50 it’s designed to handle like 30 pounds of drag. We wanted to offer a cheaper Accurate reel for long range anglers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of an ATD. It’s built to fish cows with 80-pound on a 30 or 100- or 130-pound on the 50,” says Secrest.
The reels have already proven themselves as cow killer. “When a guy (Mark Dorton) got a 288 on the BX2-50, we knew they could handle anything… then I got a call from a guy who said he got five cows on a 30.
“They’re just bigger versions of a Boss. The whole thing is that guys are stoked that they can cast a sardine with them.”
The ability to cast a sardine on a small, lightweight reel cable of kicking out plenty of drag—it’s an extremely accurate take on what long range anglers want. And it’s what Accurate has to offer long range anglers now that the Extreme line-up is available alongside the ATD line.
For more on the interview with Ben Secrest and Doug and David Nielsen, log onto Brandon Hayward’s Blog at wonews.com.
THE BIGGEST YELLOWFIN TO GET CAUGHT ON A BX2-50 from a long range boat is this 288 pounder that Mark Dorton caught on the Excel right after the reels were first released last year.
FROM RAW 6061 T6 ALUMINUM to the pieces that make Accurate’s Extreme Series.
THE ORIGINAL BOSS 270 is at left, and a Boss Extreme is at the right. Note the increased sizes in the shaft and gear box.
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WON talks to the Corona-based reel company about its progression that has culminated into it’s newest line, the Extreme Series
CORONA — It started with making side plates back in 1991, and later frames, that would make the Penn reels on the market at the time more extreme, giving them higher tolerances and the ability to withstand more pressure than a standard Penn 500, 3/0 or 4/0 could take straight out of the box. From there, Accurate owners David and Doug Nielsen set out to build complete reels that were like nothing else on the market when they came up with Accurate’s ATD 30 and Boss 270 back in the late ‘90s. “Doing the sideplates was a real learning experience. They were for star-drag reels, but we figured things out that really helped us out when we started working on our first lever drags,” says Doug Nielsen, who, along with his brother David and father, Jack, have taken Accurate to the next level every step of the way. The first complete reel that , a two-speed reel that is still one of its most popular. It is built around key design concepts and features that are uniquely Accurate, even 11 years later: twin drags in a lightweight, aluminum lever-drag reel. Accurate’s Twin Drag is a big part of its design process, but the reels themselves have changed — reacted really — to progressions in trends and demands, especially in the world of long range fishing. Extreme Philosophy… “We’re the only hardcore company that has people fishing our product, giving feedback to our engineers, and then, we’re doing the changes that are needed, just a day or two later,” says Ben Secrest, Accurate’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In a nutshell, he is proud of the fact that Accurate reacts to things as they happen. All this is made possible by Accurate’s staff fishing their own product and also drawing on Accurate’s big name Pro Staff and their experiences. “It goes from ideas, to design, to real products,” says David. “We are able to do everything in just real short order. Other companies are so spread out, but it’s really the three of us (the twins and Secrest), so we are able to react to things sooner.” Having top long range anglers fishing their product gives Accurate a big edge when it comes to offering reels that are up to the rigors of long range fishing. Top long range anglers like Stas Vellonakis , David Choate and Bob Michener tell Accurate what the “weak links” as David puts them, are, and from there Accurate moves forward immediately. All the product testing, from the decks of long range boats and exotic locals like Panama and Australia — places where gear gets put through the ringer on big fish — is what makes Accurate reels so unique. Especially it’s new Extreme line-up. … to the Extreme Series “The bigger is better deal is done,” says Secrest of the newest trends in long range fishing: Spectra, short topshots and smaller reels. “Guys fishing 50 Wides and 80s is going away. Guys are scaling down, using the rail; long range fishing has become a whole different animal. “The Extreme series is our answer to that,” he adds. “We’re able to do what we’re doing with the Extremes because of the thought process of the twins, and doing things like smaller reels with bigger gear shafts, 174 stainless steel gears, 6061 Aluminum, more material in the handle, and all that stuff.” The sizes of Accurate’s reels haven’t changed. For example, the original Boss 270 single speed is the same size as the B2-270 that came out with two speeds a few years ago. Now the Extreme Series 400 is the same size as the original 270. Ditto for the Boss 665 that is now the Extreme Series 600. While the overall size of the reels hasn’t changed, the way they are built to meet demands has. “All we’re trying to build is a better gun, with the Extremes we did that,” says Secrest. “Our reels are for guys that want to go to the next level. We do alot of things different than other companies… we never ‘cost’ a reel. What I mean is that we never figure a cost we want to come up with and then build the reels from there. We build the best we can; if people want it then they pay for it.” The Extreme Series, like all Accurates, are at a higher price point than most reels, but when the Nielsens describe what goes into the reels it becomes clear why they cost more than other reels. “The 174 stainless steel gears we use comes from aircraft-grade stainless steel. It’s hard to machine, difficult to work with, and costs more money. Nobody else really uses it,” says David. What many companies use for gears is brass, and Secrest is quick to point out that with brass comes problems: “Most companies build there reels with brass gears. I don’t care how they cut brass gears, fish 20-pounds of drag on a small reel with brass gears and teeth go away. With stainless steel like 174 that just doesn’t happen…” What really allows anglers to fish insane amounts of drag with the Extreme Series are the shafts. When the shafts on the original Boss reels are compared to the shafts on the Extreme Series, the newest generations looks like entirely different animals. The shafts on the Extreme Series are even more built up and stronger than the last generation of Boss reels (the B2 two speeds that were the first Boss two speeds). The beefed up gears, shafts and other inner workings came from the fact that anglers were taking their B2 reels and pushing them beyond what they were originally designed for. “These guys were coming back to us and saying ‘I got a 266 (pound yellowfin) on a 665’ and I got two cows on an 870,” that was great, but they were designed for fishing 20 or 22 pounds of drag. “With the Extreme Series they can get over 30 pounds of drag and do whatever they want with them.” The reels that have really struck cords with long range anglers have been the biggest Boss two speeds, the BX2-30 and BX2-50. They are reels that were designed with the specific demands of fishing big tuna from long range boats in mind. So here’s the real question: what is the difference between the big Boss reels and the ATD line? “With an ATD 30 or 50, you can get 50 to 70 pounds of drag. Is it necessary? For most, no, but some (anglers) use it for short periods,” answers Secrest. He says that the BX2-30 and BX2-50 were built for long range angles looking to fill a specific niche. “With the BX2-30 and 50 it’s designed to handle like 30 pounds of drag. We wanted to offer a cheaper Accurate reel for long range anglers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of an ATD. It’s built to fish cows with 80-pound on a 30 or 100- or 130-pound on the 50,” says Secrest. The reels have already proven themselves as cow killer. “When a guy (Mark Dorton) got a 288 on the BX2-50, we knew they could handle anything… then I got a call from a guy who said he got five cows on a 30. “They’re just bigger versions of a Boss. The whole thing is that guys are stoked that they can cast a sardine with them.” The ability to cast a sardine on a small, lightweight reel cable of kicking out plenty of drag—it’s an extremely accurate take on what long range anglers want. And it’s what Accurate has to offer long range anglers now that the Extreme line-up is available alongside the ATD line. For more on the interview with Ben Secrest and Doug and David Nielsen, log onto Brandon Hayward’s Blog at wonews.com. THE BIGGEST YELLOWFIN TO GET CAUGHT ON A BX2-50 from a long range boat is this 288 pounder that Mark Dorton caught on the Excel right after the reels were first released last year. FROM RAW 6061 T6 ALUMINUM to the pieces that make Accurate’s Extreme Series. THE ORIGINAL BOSS 270 is at left, and a Boss Extreme is at the right. Note the increased sizes in the shaft and gear box. |
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