Fishing gear, compared

Find the right bass & trout gear without the guesswork.

Honest reviews, side-by-side comparison tables and plain-English buying guides for reels, rods, line, lures and tackle.

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Latest reviews & guides

Review Bass Reels

Pflueger President Review: My Spinning Reel

A few years with the Pflueger President size 30 for drop shotting and finesse: why it is the best spinning reel I have used, and the one downside to watch.

Comparison Bass Reels

Spinning vs Baitcaster for Bass

I fish a baitcaster most of the time and rig spinning gear for finesse. Here is how I choose between them, with the two reels I use side by side.

Guide Bass Lures & Baits

Best Bass Lures for New England Lakes

The lures I trust on clear New Hampshire lakes like Winnisquam and Massabesic: a Senko, a football jig, a drop shot and a small silver paddle tail.

Guide Bass Lures & Baits

How to Drop Shot for Bass

How I rig and fish a drop shot: 3/8 oz weight, nose-hooked worm, leader length from 6 inches to 2 feet, and why I let it sit before I move it.

Guide Bass Lures & Baits

How to Texas Rig a Senko

How I Texas rig a 5-inch Senko on a 3/0 EWG hook, why I usually fish it weightless, when I add a light bullet weight, and when I pick it over a wacky rig.

Guide Bass & Trout Reels

How to Use a Baitcaster and Stop Backlash

How to cast a baitcaster as a beginner: the brake and spool tension setup I tell new anglers to use, why backlash happens, and how to clear one.

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