The reels we’ll recommend have a well-earned reputation for durability, making the most of your money. And while we’re not beholden to any manufacturers--we tell the truth, good or bad, about every product--three names are worth remembering: Daiwa, Shimano, and Lews. The capacities we list, for example, 12/120, are measured in mono diameter equivalents and feet. Weight and “Palmability” And as a finesse rod for largemouth applications like weightless senkos and drop shotting, it’s very hard to beat. That said, this is a great rod for larger freshwater species like bass, walleye, and small pike and muskie. Durable and strong, you’ll have plenty of control in a fight. You’ll also find plenty of high-quality guides on this rod, a testament to its willingness to fight.

And when tapered just right, bass anglers who like crankbaits--and who doesn’t?--find that they provide just enough cushion to keep those treble hooks where they belong. The outfit includes a 2 piece rod completed with a fixed spool reel. The reel features Daiwa’s Digigear technology which has been designed to provide an ultra smooth retrieve.For instance, when fishing crankbaits, you may want your drag at a modest 3 to 4 pounds. You’re looking for smooth performance--just a touch of give to prevent you from ripping treble hooks free, especially if you’re not using a glass rod. A rod’s action describes where along its length it will begin to bend under load. Fast action rods are stiff for most of their length, bending near the tip. By contrast, slow action rods begin to give closer to the handle and reel seat, curving over a much greater percentage of their length. Extra-fast and fast Fly fishing rods typically have pretty rudimentary guides. That’s because fly line isn’t at all like conventional line, and it’s just not subject to the same stresses. Fast isn’t always better than slow, but it does offer a bit more versatility. It’s easier to slow your retrieve than to speed it up, and with a little practice, you can ease your natural cadence to match the needs of slower presentations. This is more about assessing the quality of the drag than testing that maximum: I’m never going to set the drag that high!

Capacity and speed are nothing to write home about, but at this price, this combo is still a bargain

Some spinning reels have dials positioned elsewhere, but these rely on a more complicated mechanism and tend not to work as well or last as long. A reel’s gear ratio describes the relationship between the crank and the spool: how many turns of the spool does one revolution of the crank create? For instance, a gear ratio of 5.2:1 means that one turn of the crank spins the spool 5.2 times.

Offering solid brass gears spinning at a ratio of 6.4:1, there’s power to spare as well as confidence-inspiring torque. The word on the water is that this reel is AG’s Silver Max dressed up with different decals, but we can’t be sure. If it is--and we think that’s pretty likely--expect it to swallow about 26 inches of line per crank. Guides are attached to your rod via feet, and they’re secured with adhesives and some form of wrapping. Extra-fast and fast rods--of whatever power--preserve stiffness through most of the length of the rod. This provides better sensitivity at the tip, improves hookset, and allows anglers to impart better action to most lures. Moderate fast When composed of fiberglass, they can be very, very tough, making them a popular choice offshore, as well as for anglers chasing freshwater species like pike, lake trout, and steelhead. Heavy rods are typically built for line above 12 pounds, though lure size varies with the specific application.EVA foam is a synthetic material that provides a soft grip. A bit colder to the touch than cork, it’s generally more inexpensive and durable. Spinning Reels Drag But others don’t agree. Essentially, they argue that they bought high-dollar superlines to use them to their capacity, and when fishing heavy cover, they’ll set the drag to the maximum. At that point, they’re relying on the line, knot, and rod as a solid connection, and the idea is to drag bass from the nasty stuff. Finally, I like to spool-up some medium-weight line for that reel, set the drag to roughly a third of that, and then see how smoothly it allows me to take line. What I want to feel is a constant, smooth release--no jerking, catching, or slipping. Gear ratio