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.
Fishing gear, compared
Honest reviews, side-by-side comparison tables and plain-English buying guides for reels, rods, line, lures and tackle.
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Gear picks organized by the fish you chase.
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass gear: baitcasters, spinning setups, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and the electronics that help you find them.
Explore bass gear →Gear for rivers, streams, lakes and ponds: light spinning outfits, fly rods and reels, leaders and tippet, small lures, waders and wading essentials.
Explore trout gear →Everything fishing
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Review Bass Reels
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
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
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 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 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 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.
What you'll find here
In-depth reviews of individual reels, rods, line, lures and tackle: who each is for, what it does well, and where it falls short.
Ranked roundups with comparison tables, so you can see the top picks for a given budget, species or technique at a glance.
Direct matchups between two or three popular products, with a clear winner for each type of angler.
Plain-English how-tos and buyer’s guides for bass and trout anglers, from picking your first reel to rigging and technique.
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