Editors’ Choice: Lew’s Pro-Ti Speed Stick The stout lower third of the blank hammers hooks home no matter the length of line connecting them to the fish below. This ability to direct finesse baits like an artist’s brush leads to more fish in the box when the bite tightens. The Pro-Ti blank tapers perfectly to a lively tip that allows bait manipulation with unmatched meticulousness. Its unique design completely shrouds the reel foot, letting the angler concentrate on working a finesse bait while minimizing that hand-full-of-reel-seat distraction. The Winn Dri-Tac grip, one fashioned after the old Tennessee-style grips, is phenomenal-hands down the best in the spinning market. An incredibly crisp blank, responsive tip and ergonomic grip made the Lew’s Pro-Ti Speed Stick a stand-out. This nearly verbatim transmission of vibration signals is due to the crispness of the blank. The 6-foot-9-inch multi-layered graphite blank utilizes titanium nanotechnology to transfer bait data back to the user with remarkable fidelity. The Lew’s Pro-Ti offers anglers as close to the perfect rod for manipulating finesse baits as we’ve found. See more great spinning reels below SPINNING RODS Editors' Choice: Lew's Pro-Ti Speed Stickįinding a great spinning rod, one with that “just right” feel paired with unparalleled performance, is arguably the holy grail for spinning enthusiasts. Tackle Test 2020 Spinning Reel Scorecard. However, this is inconsequential nit-picking on a reel that performed as well as the EC2.5 while retailing for so little. Bottom Line: The only complaint we had was the machining on the spool skirt could be a touch tighter, as there was a bit of sharpness there.A nine-plus-one bearing system keeps the reel spinning like a top. The EC2.5 has a nimble balance, one typically found on much pricier offerings. (Photo by Scott Bernarde)Īs experienced fishermen know, inexpensive reels rarely balance well. We also liked the oversized bail wire, as it was easy on the hands and performed without a hitch. The EC2.5’s extra-tall drag adjustment knob is an easy grab when hurried by a frenzied battle. The multi-disc drag is micro-indexed, paying out nicely. All performed without incident-an impressive feat. These jarring sets shock-load the drag, center shaft, anti-reverse, pinion and main gears. The Eagle Claw EC2.5 surprised testers with its low price, unyielding performance and lively balance. We expect this trend will continue, and our experiences on Lake Picachos prove there is no shortage of reasons to be impressed by this year’s spinning gear. Offerings for 2020 show that manufacturers have continued to improve on rod and reel designs, lightening them while making them more ergonomically pleasing. Here, we present an in-depth report on how 22 new spinning rods and reels held up during our sessions on the water ( we covered baitcasters in the April issue). From pulling heavy fish out of structure to finessing light bites beneath a blazing sun, we gave the latest spinning tackle a workout. Spending long days on Mexico’s Lake Picachos, the Game & Fish Tackle Test team evaluated a wide variety of spinning gear under demanding conditions. Click here to read about the baitcasting winners in Tackle Test 2020. (Photo by Scott Bernarde) It was my second “eight” of the morning on spinning gear. After a few minutes of rough-and-tumble give-and-take, the guide hoisted the pudgy 8-pounder into the boat. My spinning reel’s drag slipped, paying homage to the fish’s determination. The big female bass countered my punchy hookset with an aggressive dive for deep water. The rod immediately responded, laboring acutely under the weight of a fat fish. Moments later my line ticked then leaned slightly to the right. The bait fluttered down to the brush pile below on a slack line. I flicked an unweighted 4-inch fluke, skipping it several feet past the target, snapping it to attention on a crippled baitfish cadence, and then killing it as it limped adjacent to the stick-up. I laid down my big swimbait and the baitcaster it was tied to, opting instead for a light-lined spinning combo. A nondescript twig, peeking not more than an inch above the waterline. It was the last piece of “structure” between our boat, the resort dock and lunch.
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