For the past two months, I’ve been giving a workout to Pinnacle’s lightest reel in their lineup of high-speed, low-profile reels, the Pinnacle Producer LTE. Weighing in at just 5.75 ounces, this reel falls into the featherweight category. Weight is shed by utilizing carbon fiber components for the frame and side plates and mostly aluminum internal components. The X-Bone carbon frame forms a sturdy foundation that keeps its inner workings in perfect alignment despite the light weight.
I slapped the reel onto a sweet rod, the Pinnacle Perfecta DHC7 - 761CAMHFS 7' 6'' medium heavy rod with a moderate fast tip. It’s a lightweight rod built with high-quality components. I love the Fuji Titanium-SIC Tangle-Free K-Guides, which enable effortless casting.
This is an excellent flipping/pitching rod with a thick butt topped with a medium-action, sensitive tip. However, I’ve been using it as a froggin’ rod, and boy, let me tell you, it’s a perfect match! The rod and reel combo enables me to cast a light frog long distances and still have strong hooksets. The reel's gear ratio is a good combination of power and speed, which helps keeps the fish above all the slop while winching him in. Of course, the 50-pound Seaguar Kanzen braided line plays a significant role too!
Along with a traditional mechanical cast control, this reel features an adjustable magnetic cast control system on the palm cover for precision cast control. I could easily fine-tune the reel to my personal preferences as I switched lures and casting techniques. Turn the cast control knob on the reel handle side to the desired setting, and then fine-tune with the magnetic control to compensate for wind and lure weight.
While it wouldn’t be fair to compare this reel to more expensive reels, such as the Pinnacle Primmus Xi HS, it’s a feature-packed reel for just $89.99. Key features include nine stainless steel ball bearings (8BB+1RB), X-Bone carbon frame construction with carbon side covers, a multi-stack drag system, an audible star drag, and a 6.2:1 gear ratio. The reel holds 120 yards of 12-pound test line.
On the water, I found the reel to be smooth and responsive. Most new reels can take an hour or two of fishing before you have the cast controls fully dialed in. But I had this reel set perfectly within a few casts. And I didn’t find the need to mess with the controls much as I switched between lures and techniques.
One thing that took getting used to was the reel's sound during casting and retrieving. It’s a little louder than more expensive reels in my collection, but it didn’t reduce performance. I believe the thinner walls of the lightweight materials don’t muffle the gears as well, a tradeoff between weight and noise. The drag performed exceptionally well while fighting big fish. It’s plenty strong, smooth, and responsive.
I could tell Pinnacle spent considerable time and effort perfecting the creature comforts of the reel. The curved aluminum handle and the low profile design of the reel gave it an ergonomic, comfortable feel in the palm of my hand. I like the fact that the EVA foam grips don’t feel bulky. It’s just a more comfortable fit for me.
The Pinnacle Producer LTE is for anyone looking to add a super lightweight baitcaster to their arsenal at an affordable price in a sea of choices. The $89.99 price tag is hard to ignore! The reel is available in right-hand retrieves and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
