TESTED: AVET JX 4.1

Boutique lever drag

AVET Reels produces a range of boutique sport and gamefishing reels out of a specialist factory in California. Designed to high levels of performance with construction from superior materials, Avets are known for their massive carbon fibre drags and tough-as-nails stainless steel gearing systems. Fisho has been using the single speed lever drag Avet JX 4.1 for some months. We initially loaded it with 50lb braid and caught a stack of smallish kings, which were no challenge at all. An almost two-hour battle with 55kg yellowfin tuna, however, saw the reel perform admirably under significant pressure. The beauty of this type of reel is that it can be used for a multitude of purposes. Designed primarily for deep jigging, the JX 4.1 is also suited to trolling, bottom bashing, live baiting and cubing. In our view, the Avet would easily become a favourite multi-purpose mini game reel on any offshore boat.

Although it’s compact in size, you can crank the lever drag up and put serious pressure on big fish, up to 10 kilos at sunset, in fact. We found the JX 4.1 is a lot more user friendly and easy to fish with than traditional lever drag game reels – it’s significantly lighter and smaller than, say, a 30W, but is just as effective at stopping tuna or kingies. It doesn’t have the line capacity of a big reel so it isn’t suited for, say, marlin fishing or deliberately chasing XOS yellowfin, but is more than suitable for species such as kings, mackerel, school tuna, jewies and heavy-duty reefies. Avet uses machined anodised 6061-T6 aluminium to form the one piece frame and spool with all components, gears and bearings made from stainless steel for added corrosion resistance.  We can recommend the Avet JX 4.1 as a serious reel. A five-year warranty, and easily obtainable parts and service, make it even more attractive.

More at www.makotackle.com.au

By Jim Harnwell