This rod is for any angler looking to tackle BIG catches from land. I have to admit that I have NEVER been a fan of telescopic fishing rods. I’ve not met a telescopic fishing rod that I’ve been happy to use, let alone buy. It’s quite the contrary with multi-piece travel fishing rods, however. Wherever you’re traveling by train, plane, automobile, bicycle or walking, this spinning rod is incredibly easy to carry and has the power and sensitivity to land a decent catch on lures or baits. Performance-wise, it certainly holds its own when compared to other more expensive fishing rods.
I beat up these rods and reels, from the mouth of the Hudson River in New York to the Cook Strait of New Zealand. Shakespeare has been producing rods, reels, and combos targeted toward shakespeare fishing reel beginning anglers for over 100 years. Their affordable prices and functional, durable rods make them a popular choice for those just hitting the water, including young anglers.
The Sigma range caters across the disciplines with rods for pike, feeder, match, coarse, bass, fly and more. The Quantum Cabo PTSE, which I picked up only after reading a rave review by Alan Hawk, was delightful to cast. It’s featherlight, and I paired it with two higher-end rods, which made for the lightest spinning-rod-and-reel combos I’d ever held; as a result, I didn’t grow tired casting into a stiff breeze from a rivermouth jetty for several hours.
The one exception to the company’s strategy of strengthening established businesses during this period was the creation of a ski division in 1970, facilitated by a distribution and sales arrangement with Yugoslavia-based Elan Ski Company. Operated through the Shakespeare Sporting Goods Division, the ski segment manufactured skis, bindings, poles, and a line of ski apparel. Although William Shakespeare, Jr., had some training in mechanics and craftsmanship, he spent his days peddling patent medicines in and around Kalamazoo. When not hawking elixirs, Shakespeare often grabbed his fishing rod and reel and bait-casted on the banks of the Kalamazoo River or at one of his home state’s myriad lakes. Like his angler friends, Shakespeare was frustrated by the inherent inadequacy of multiplier reels, and in 1895 he fell back on his mechanical background and attempted to come up with a solution.
Daiwa no longer states on its website that the BG has a machined aluminum gear, but the company avoids mentioning what material the gear is made of. Nevertheless, although machined aluminum makes for a higher-quality, more durable gear, cast zinc still gets the job done and is the industry standard in reels under $300. In my 20-plus years of fishing, I’ve come to learn that when you’re shopping for fishing rods—as for any tool—paying a little attention to a few key features can be telling before you even pick up one.
There are well over 100 years of history in the stalwart company, from swimbait heads to baitcaster die-hards they have rods to match every angler. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The drag or “thrust” disc has a rubber seal mounted to it, and according to expert spinning-reel reviewer Alan Hawk, it’s constructed of the same polymer that makes up the thrust discs of the Penn Slammer III (which usually costs about $300).
I was a big fan of St. Croix’s Triumph spinning rod as an all-around inshore stick—it’s featherlight, well-balanced, and a pleasure to cast all day long. I found that the tip was just sensitive enough to pass for a bait-fishing rod (though I’d still primarily designate it as a lightweight artificial/jigging rod). shakespeare fishing I’ve left it soaked in salt and sand, and even in a bit of marsh mud for two weeks, and I’ve seen no rust stains or any other signs of degradation. While these materials are not necessarily stronger than stainless steel or lined aluminum oxide, they are higher-performance materials, and a lot more expensive.
Every angler needs a general-purpose fishing rod in their arsenal. Whether it’s your go-to every session rod or part of an arsenal, your GP should be performance-driven. We’ll look at fishing rods the average angler and weekend dangler will likely seek to cover their general fishing applications.
It also cemented the company’s reputation as a maker of high-quality fishing rods and, equally important, it demonstrated the immeasurable potential of fiberglass. Having scored its first success with fiberglass, the company looked for other applications for fiberglass rod technology and made its move by entering the golf business. In 1946, Shakespeare began manufacturing golf clubs with fiberglass shafts, which led to the introduction of the WonderShaft and marked the beginning of the company’s involvement in manufacturing golfing equipment. Shimano introduced another $100-range line of spinning reels, called the Nasci.
And there’s no doubting that Shakespeare fishing rods get you out on the water with quality and performance for less. Since 1977, freshwater fishermen have been thrilled by using the Ugly Stik rod and this has made Shakespeare, the number one choice for fishermen throughout North America. Regardless of what freshwater species is being targeted, ten times out of ten, there will be an Ugly Stik Freshwater rod model, which will fit that fishing need. A good example of this is any type of trout fishing in North America and Canada, can be handled with the 6’6” Ugly Stik CAL 1102 Model.