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Spotlight

Fishing reel gear ratio chart: understanding the best ratios for your fishing success

Rods & Reels

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12/06/2025

Fishing reel gear ratio chart: understanding the best ratios for your fishing success

Catfish pole setup: the ultimate guide for anglers

Rods & Reels

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12/06/2025

Catfish pole setup: the ultimate guide for anglers

Top Choices for Rod and Reel to Catch Peacock Bass

Rods & Reels

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03/07/2025

Top Choices for Rod and Reel to Catch Peacock Bass

Fishing today: the evolution of recreational fishing products

Rods & Reels

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12/06/2025

Fishing today: the evolution of recreational fishing products

Our latest product comparisons

Comparison

Comparison of the 6 best baitcasting reels (2026)

Ambassadeur C4 Round Multiplier Round Fishing Reel 6600 - Left Hand

Abu Garcia

Ambassadeur C4 6600 Left-Hand Round Multiplier Reel

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.6/10

+ Smooth and strong Carbon Matrix drag that handles bigger fish without jerking

+ 6-pin centrifugal brake is easy to set and gives consistent casting with medium-heavy lures

Abu Garcia

Ambassadeur C3 5500 Left-Hand Round Reel

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.5/10

Penn

Fathom II Star Drag Multiplier Saltwater Reel — Right Hand (Black/Gold, 12)

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.5/10

See full comparison →

Comparison

Comparison of the 9 best fly combos (June 2026)

Orvis

Encounter Fly Rod Outfit

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.6/10

+ Forgiving 9' 5-weight rod that’s actually easy for beginners to cast

+ Ready-to-fish kit with rod, reel, backing, line, leader, and a practical combo case

VENTURES FLY CO

122 Premium Fly Fishing Flies Assortment

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.6/10

8Fans 9ft 5/6wt Fly Rod & Aluminum Reel Combo

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 8.6/10

See full comparison →

Our latest product reviews

HARDY Marquis LWT Fly Fishing Reel - Right/Left Reel Handle...

A classic clicker for people who like things simple and mechanical

9.0/10 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Value for money ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Design ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Materials ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Durability ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Read full review

MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Premier Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo...

A budget-friendly starter kit that actually feels decent on the water

8.4/10 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Value for money ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Design ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Materials ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Packaging ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Read full review

Last posts

Abu Garcia Venerate Casting EVA Review: a light, no-nonsense baitcaster for pike and perch

Product Test

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05/06/2026

Abu Garcia Venerate Casting EVA Review: a light, no-nonsense baitcaster for pike and perch

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Overall, the Abu Garcia Venerate Casting EVA 2.13m / 15–40g is a solid, no-nonsense baitcasting rod for general predator fishing. It’s light, comfortable, and handles the typical range of pike, perch, and zander lures you’d throw on canals, small rivers, and lakes. The 24T carbon blank has enough ba...

by Noah Harrison

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Seven Review: a heavy but trustworthy workhorse for boat and trolling

Product Test

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05/06/2026

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Seven Review: a heavy but trustworthy workhorse for boat and trolling

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Seven is basically a heavy, dependable workhorse for trolling and boat fishing. It’s not light, not particularly smooth, and definitely not designed for long-distance casting. But if you want a reel that holds a lot of line, has enough torque to deal with strong fish, and...

How to Set Up a Spinning Rod Without the Tangles: Spool to First Cast

Learn how to set up a spinning rod and reel to avoid wind knots and tangles. Get balanced rod, reel, and line recommendations, correct spooling technique, drag settings, and on-the-water fixes for common spinning reel problems.

Berkley Flex Trout Spinning Rod Review: a very soft light rod that’s fun but a bit whippy

Product Test

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29/05/2026

Berkley Flex Trout Spinning Rod Review: a very soft light rod that’s fun but a bit whippy

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Berkley Flex Trout Spinning Rod in 2.4 m / 2–12 g is a very soft, light trout rod that’s genuinely fun to use if you like parabolic actions. It’s light in the hand, easy to fish all day, and the solid tip plus progressive blank give good bite visibility and keep pressure on fish without tearing...

HAWKRIDGE COLORADO 9’6” #7 Review: a no-nonsense stillwater combo that actually feels decent on the water

★★★★★ ★★★★★

After using the HAWKRIDGE COLORADO 9’6” #7 combo on several stillwater trips, my takeaway is pretty simple: the rod is the star, the reel is fine, and the full kit is good value if you’re in the right target group. The blank has a fast, punchy action that suits reservoir fishing, with enough backbon...

Goture Telescopic Fishing Rod Combo Review: a handy grab-and-go kit for casual anglers

★★★★★ ★★★★★

After using the Goture telescopic fishing rod and reel combo as a casual, keep-in-the-car setup, my overall take is pretty straightforward: it’s a practical starter/travel kit with some compromises. The big advantage is that you get everything you need in one go – two rods, two reels with line, bag,...

Abu Garcia Beast X Casting Rod Review: a chunky lure stick for big pike and zander

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Abu Garcia Beast X Casting Rod in 2.59 m / 60–230 g is basically a straightforward, no-nonsense big lure rod. It’s built for pike and zander with serious lures, not for light jigging or finesse work. In use, it casts heavy baits well, feels reasonably light for what it is, and has enough backbon...

Greys Tital Fly Fishing Reel Review: a tough large-arbor workhorse for trout and light salt

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Greys Tital Fly Fishing Reel in 7/8 is a solid mid-range reel that focuses on function over flash. The big positives for me are the bar-stock aluminium build, the sealed carbon disc drag, and the large arbor design. On the water, the drag is smooth, the retrieval speed is decent, and the reel fe...

Shimano Vanquish 2026: Field Notes After Six Outings on Moving Water

Hands-on Shimano Vanquish 2026 review for European river anglers: real-world weight, balance, drag, line lay, durability, and buying advice, plus key specs and data.

Plano Airliner Telescoping Rod Case Review: a tough travel tube that just gets the job done

Product Test

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15/05/2026

Plano Airliner Telescoping Rod Case Review: a tough travel tube that just gets the job done

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Overall, the Plano Airliner Telescoping Rod Case is a practical, no-frills hard tube that focuses on one thing: keeping your rods from snapping when they get tossed around. It’s not light, it’s not stylish, and it doesn’t come with padding or straps, but the polypropylene shell and telescoping desig...

The Freshwater Angler's Guide to a First Saltwater Trip

Practical guide to saltwater fishing gear for weekend anglers, covering inshore rods, reels, surf setups, tides, maintenance, and smart buying without wasting money.

Five Spinning Reels Under 100 Dollars That Survived Six Months of Weekend Abuse

Rods & Reels

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08/05/2026

Five Spinning Reels Under 100 Dollars That Survived Six Months of Weekend Abuse

Hands-on review of the best spinning reels under 100 euros, including Shimano Sedona, Daiwa Exceler, Regal, Legalis and Penn Pursuit. See real test dates, model SKUs, key specs and maintenance tips for bass and light saltwater fishing.

Your First Real Rod: What to Buy Without Wasting Money

Rods & Reels

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07/05/2026

Your First Real Rod: What to Buy Without Wasting Money

Learn how to choose the best fishing rod for beginners, from ideal length, power, and action to whether you should buy a spinning combo or separate rod and reel, plus three budget friendly starter setups.

Shimano and G. Loomis Rethink Their Freshwater Lineup for 2026

In-depth look at Shimano fishing rods 2026 and matching reels, including Compre Lite, Vanquish, Stella and G. Loomis Asquith and IMX Pro Inshore. Real-world tests, lure ratings, line classes and buying advice for finesse spinning, jigging and fly fishing.

The 5 best trolling reels (June 2026)

Expert guide to choosing the best trolling reels, comparing drag systems, brands, counters, and value for great lakes and saltwater trolling anglers.

Rigged & Ready X5 Review: a compact travel rod that does (almost) everything

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Rigged & Ready X5 is a classic jack-of-all-trades travel rod. It packs down very small, covers spinning, float, light feeder and basic fly, and comes with two reels and a case. On the water, it’s genuinely enjoyable for spinning and general coarse fishing, decent for occasional float and ledger...

Redington Fly Fishing Field Kit Review: a straightforward trout combo that actually feels decent out of the tube

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Overall, the Redington Fly Fishing Field Kit for trout is a pretty solid all-in-one setup for someone who wants to fish more and tinker less. The rod and RIO Gold line are the strong points: casting is predictable, the action is friendly for most anglers, and it handles typical trout situations – dr...

PENN Warfare II Level Wind 2000 Review: a no-nonsense left-hand reel for saltwater predators

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The PENN Warfare II Level Wind 2000 (left-hand) is a solid, no-nonsense saltwater reel for anglers who want to get into wreck fishing, bottom fishing, or light trolling without dropping a huge amount of cash. It’s not fancy, but the important parts are there: a smooth enough HT-100 carbon drag, a pr...

Penn Squall II Level Wind 20RH Review: a solid workhorse reel for big fish, with a few quirks

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Overall, the Penn Squall II Level Wind 20RH is a solid, no-nonsense reel for boat, kayak and heavy shore fishing if you want a level wind and don’t want to blow your budget. The drag is strong and reasonably smooth, the 6.2:1 ratio makes it quick enough for normal wreck and bottom work, and the alum...

Rigged & Ready X Series X Ultimate Review: one rod to throw in the car and forget about (in a good way… mostly)

★★★★★ ★★★★★

The Rigged & Ready X Series X Ultimate is a practical travel rod kit that actually fishes, not just a gimmick. It packs a lot into a short case: multiple lengths, several tips, spinning, baitcast and fly options. For someone who wants one rod to live in the car, rucksack or suitcase and cover perch,...

by Angel Delgado