If you’re willing to spend $100 or a bit more, you’ll get all the makings of a reel that’s built to last. That means a semisealed drag—for keeping out water, dirt, and corrosive salt spray—as well as an all-metal body. It will also be repairable should anything go wrong, whereas with cheaper gear, the cost of a repair can often exceed the worth of the reel. The rest, including the grip material and the number of pieces the rod itself breaks down into, is up to you. I will suggest that, if you can accommodate it, a one-piece rod will almost always outperform a two- or three-piece rod.
I spent several days fishing freshwater rivers for trout and smaller salmon, and a couple of days fishing private ponds and lakes for largemouth bass. I beat up these rods and reels, from the mouth of the Hudson River in New York to the Cook Strait of New Zealand. The next most important specification you’ll want to consider is the material that makes up the guides—the loops that lead, or guide, the shakespeare fishing rods line from the reel to the tip (the skinny end) of the fishing rod. Compared with a baitcasting or fly-fishing setup, a spinning setup is more comfortable to use and is usually easier to repair; it also requires less finesse to cast. Think of it as the “automatic transmission” version of a fishing rod and reel. If you’re starting from nothing, a spinning outfit offers the highest chance of success.
We are currently testing this new model and will update with our results. Regardless of what rod or reel you get, salt is the enemy—even with gear specifically designed for use in the ocean. At the end of the day, be sure to give everything a solid rinse with freshwater and loosen the drags (to relieve straining pressure), whether your rig costs $20 or $2,000.
A one-piece rod offers better stiffness and more control—fewer pieces make for fewer problems with durability and performance, although portability suffers. The Shakespeare E-Z Cast, featuring this new and exciting ABS technology, is offered as a reel and in a combo. Shakespeare is also launching a pink version of the E-Z Cast low profile reel under the umbrella of female specific products that help support the American Breast Cancer Foundation. The E-Z Cast incorporates a revolutionary Anti-Backlash System (ABS) that prevents backlash when casting and allows the angler to send baits flying without reel mishap.
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The Elite is usually only about $10 more than the GX2 at any given length, which isn’t a lot of money, so you might be wondering why it isn’t our top pick. First off, as a stiffer rod, the Elite isn’t as well-suited to bait fishing for smaller catches. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s what you know you want, but it’s worth noting if you’re a first-timer trying to start small. Second, while the GX2 is the direct successor to the classic Ugly Stik, which had four decades of acclaim behind it, the Elite series is a newer line. While that extra 35% of graphite sounds appealing on paper, it’s still too early to tell whether that might decrease the long-term durability.
He spent a lot of time on the road and has been a contributing writer for a well-known travel guide website. He is now happy to share his travel experience and professional knowledge of travel gear and shakespeare fishing rods fitness here. For nearly 90 years Shakespeare operated as an independent company, developing a diversified presence in sporting goods and industrial products through its expertise in using fiberglass.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). This rod is a dependable workhorse, especially when casting heavier lures, but it may be too stiff for bait and bottom fishing. This is a genuine OEM sourced replacement gear designed for use with reels. It is made out of metal and it is sold individually.Replacing this gear you would need a screwdriver to remove the side plate. The Autocrat was also the most expensive reel Shakespeare ever produced.
If you’re fishing from shore in thick brush or in a narrow stream, consider a shorter rod, down to 5 feet or even 4 feet 6 inches, for tiny creeks and brooks. Both men’s and women’s models are filled with 100 yards of quality Stren 10-pound test shakespeare fishing rods monofilament line. The combos feature a two-piece 6’0” medium action rod with hook keeper, stainless steel guides, and EVA grips. To best understand the size of a spinning reel or casting reel, refer to the line capacity rating for the reel.