13 Fishing Concept C Baitcasting Reel Review (With Pros and Cons)

My Hands-On Review of the 13 Fishing Concept C

There are a lot of baitcasting reels on the market today, but one brand in particular is always mentioned among serious anglers and that’s the 13 Fishing’s line of baitcasting reels. They’re known for putting out quality reels at a reasonable price and their 13 Fishing Concept C is no exception!

I had heard a lot of talk about this reel and decided that I had to check it out for myself. Let me just say that I was blown away by the quality!  This reel is super lightweight, yet extremely durable and it can be used for both freshwater and saltwater.

So, if you’re looking for a reel for your next fishing expedition, bass competition, or just looking to upgrade your fishing arsenol, make sure that you check out the Concept C. Now, let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses to this top-flight reel.

Quick Specs: 13 Fishing Concept C

• Weight: 6.2 oz
• Drag: 22 lbs
• Line Capacity: 110yds/12 lbs
• Ball bearings: 9
• OK with saltwater: yes
• Left and right handed models available

What I Like About The 13 Fishing Concept C

Strength to Weight Ratio

Long story short, there’s a lot to like about this reel. When you first open the box you may notice how light this reel is but as you get a closer look, you’ll notice all the little elements that make this reel work. This thing is sure to  outperform your expectations.

The best part about this reel is the body, which is made of aluminum and which holds up very nicely even under intense pressure. This thing is not going to feel very heavy when you pick it up but believe me, the 13 Fishing Concept C is constructed well and is not going to give you any trouble.

Besides the body itself, 13 Fishing has not skimped on any of the details here. This reel has carbon side plates and a double hardened main shaft. Again, this is all well-constructed and built to hold up un the clutch.

All that strength in a package with 22 lbs of drag is nothing at all to sniff at. Unless you’re looking to pull some seriously huge fish out of the water, this reel is going to hold up just fine.

Smooth Action

When I tested this reel I found smooth action from start to finish. I was surprised at how easy it was for me to really whip my bait out there, regardless of how light or heavy the bait setup was. The ball bearings on here are well tooled and everything works exactly as expected out of the box.

One thing to keep in mind is that I was only able to work with this reel on a couple of trips before writing this review, so I don’t have a great idea of if and how this will wear down over time. But I do know from the other 13 reels I’ve had in the past that they use good materials and their manufacturing is usually strong, so I’m not too concerned about that at this point.

Versatility

One of the best parts about this reel is it’s rated for both saltwater and fresh water. If you have the budget to be using only specific reels based on the water you’ll be in, then more power to you. But if you’re like me and you have to find little ways to stretch your budget wherever you can, then a good versatile reel like this is exactly what you need.
Connected side plate

When it comes to good reels, often times it’s the small details that really make the difference, and to me, this is a small detail that goes a long way when it’s done right. The side plate for the concept C doesn’t just pop off when you need to access the spool – instead, it pops up and swings over, remaining attached to the body at all times.

I greatly prefer reels with this feature. There’s nothing to lose, no small parts that might wander under my workbench or off the boat. Everything is just set up to be easy and smooth. I really like my ability to work with this reel on the fly and make changes to it quickly.

Customizability

This reel gives you a ton of options when it comes to adjustment points. The spool tension knob has so many discrete points you can use that you’ll have no problem at all dialing in the exact tension you’re looking for. Regardless of your conditions, this reel is going to give you good options to get your casts perfect each and every time.

What I Didn’t Like

There’s not a whole lot here that I don’t like about the Concept C. I’ll point to a few issues that I think are lacking in the design, but overall I’d say I had a positive experience using this reel so far.

Casing System

While I do really like the beetle wing side panel system, I should also say that the way this case is oriented can make it a bit difficult to work on your line. Nothing crazy, you’ll just have to be very careful that you don’t get any line looped under the spool itself and it’s not always easy to see if you don’t know what to look for.

Also worth knowing: you’ve really got to make sure your panels are put back into place perfectly, otherwise it’s easy to get some water splashed up into your casing which can cause all sorts of problems. Again, this is not difficult to do if you know what you’re looking at, but if it’s done wrong it can be bad for the reel.

Ergonomics

I’ll be honest: I’m not a big fan of the cork knobs on this reel. They’re a bit tacky and squishy, which isn’t necessarily a problem, but they’re also not quite the shape I’d expect them to be. They’re paddle-shaped, roughly, but something about the way it sits against my thumb just doesn’t feel right. They didn’t give me blisters or anything, but these are definitely a minus.

Conclusion

This reel does some serious work even in a lightweight package. If you’re a serious angler who wants to find a reel you can take out on the lake or the ocean, this is exactly the one for you. Pick up a 13 Fishing Concept C and take a look at everything you can do with it – I’m positive you’ll have a good experience.

13 Fishing Concept C