Bass Pro Shops Bionic Plus Low-profile Baitcast Reel Review
Tackle Exam 2021: Best New Baitcasting Reels Reviewed
Game & Fish's annual fishing gear reviews put 13 new baitcasters to the test.
Our Tackle Test team spent several days fishing multiple lakes around central Florida in an endeavor to evaluate the tackle under various weather and scenarios. (Photo by Brian Carlson)
May 11, 2021
Modern bass fishing has go a game of strength dominated past power techniques and power gear. Today, the best bass anglers in the business grind through water quickly in search of hungry fish willing to bite.
Whether dredging an oversized crankbait to a ledge 30 anxiety below, rolling a big-bladed, 1-ounce spinnerbait through thick vegetation, billowy a swim jig off dock pilings or snapping a jerkbait on a frantic cadence, baitcasting gear is called on for the heavy lifting.
In 2020, the global pandemic crippled the international supply concatenation and complicated getting new gear designed, manufactured, tested and delivered. In spite of these challenges, fishing tackle manufacturers accept somehow managed to provide anglers in 2021 with some of the all-time new baitcasting gear we've seen in decades, much of it designed for power fishing.
In late December the Game & Fish Tackle Test Team took to the water with the latest and greatest new rods and reels, fishing a various lineup of bass venues across Florida (eight in all) nether a broad diversity of conditions. Afterward days of exhaustive testing, here'southward how the field shook out.
- Click hither to read Tackle Examination 2021: Baitcast Rods
- Click hither to read Tackle Test 2020: Baitcast Rods & Reels
Tackle Test 2021: Baitcasting Reels
Editor's Choice: LEW'South HYPERMAG SPEED SPOOL
Lew Childre rocked the bass angling earth in 1973 with the introduction of the outset low-profile baitcasting reel. His revolutionary blueprint was built by a little-known Japanese bike parts house chosen Shimano. Today, Lew'due south manufactures some of the best depression-contour baitcasting reels in the business.
Built on Lew'south super-low-profile chassis, the extremely compact HyperMag tucks neatly into the manus. This is particularly important for those who palm their reel while snapping jerkbaits or twitching topwaters. By being able to palm the reel, the rod's fulcrum (balance signal) is moved forward, thereby lightening the tip.
The HyperMag is lightweight due in office to a one-piece magnesium frame, which offers a rigid base. An oversized 95 mm reflexed carbon-fiber handle with Winn Dri-Tac knobs provides powerful, comfy cranking power while further reducing weight.
The HyperMag turns with no perceivable friction due to the quality of the main gear machining and eleven double-shielded stainless bearings. A dual-casting-control organisation allows users to dial upwards that but-right tension for throwing nigh whatever lure weight with niggling fear of backlashing.
The four-pin, externally adaptable, 27-position centrifugal braking organisation and indexed friction control are marvelous. Attending to particular is evident in the edge work on the reel; there are no sharp or distracting surfaces.
The drag (20-pound max) is every bit shine as whatever we tested, with audible indexing on the star. Attention to improving the user'south experience is demonstrated in the flip-out hook keeper and the nifty line poundage indicator. ($299; lews.com)
- Lesser Line: A fantastic loftier-end baitcaster designed and built with all-time-of-the-all-time components and all the bells and whistles.
Cracking Buy: ABU GARCIA'S ZATA
Finding a great baitcasting reel isn't as hard equally it once was. Most manufacturers brand several that are smooth, dependable and visually appealing—and you'll pay handsomely for these. What can be challenging is finding a polish and undecayed baitcasting reel at a friendly price. That'southward where the Zata comes in.
Clad in unassuming olive drab light-green, the Zata is a depression-contour, graphite-frame baitcaster that showcases Abu Garcia's 80-twelvemonth Swedish full-blooded for quality and precision. This reel does everything well, performing without hiccups or unforced errors. It's rated for 110 yards of 12-pound-test line and has a retrieve ratio of 7.ane:1.
What'due south apparent when first treatment the Zata is the intentional lack of frills and silly distractions. This is a simple reel, and its engineers invested in its internal performance, not inconsequential bling. The drivetrain, with its 10 bearings plus a roller begetting, is slippery shine due in part to solid brass gearing. A convenient lube port makes it piece of cake to keep things turning slickly.
The Zata offers both friction and magnetic casting controls. Nosotros loved the indexing on the friction control, which allows for micro adjustments to get the reel perfectly dialed in. The carbon disc elevate is outstanding and applies equal pressure across a broad range of settings. ($174; abugarcia.com)
- Bottom Line: The Zata offers anglers a rock-solid baitcasting reel with bulky internal components designed for tough fishing weather condition and functioning over the long booty.
HOW Nosotros TEST
The Game & Fish Tackle Test utilized a comprehensive scoring system to evaluate each rod and reel across numerous criteria. Scores were tallied after each twenty-four hour period on the water. Once all the numbers were crunched (and after some heated contend), winners in each category were crowned. The Editor'south Choice accolade is bestowed upon the product in each category with the best overall score, while the Great Purchase goes to the products that represent the greatest value.
The test reels were paired with multiple test rods for an all-embracing evaluation using various rod actions. Reels were fished with both braided line (Berkley x9) and fluorocarbon (Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon).
TACKLE TEST SCORECARD
HOW THEY'RE SCORED
Products are scored from lx to 100 in 10 categories. Those scores are then averaged for a maximum potential overall score of 100.
- CONTROLS: The efficiency and ease of performance of mechanical features.
- Immovability: Products receive a median score of 80 unless they fail during testing.
- APPLICABILITY: The caste to which a product is representative of its intended purpose.
- ERGONOMICS: The efficiency and comfort of the product's man-to-machine interfaces.
- FISHABILITY: How well the product performs under real-world conditions.
- BUILD MATERIALS: The overall quality of the materials and components used in the product.
- Structure: The overall fit-and-finish and build quality.
- AESTHETICS: The degree to which the product is appealing to the centre.
- INNOVATION: The degree to which the production goes in a higher place and beyond the "norm" and offers innovative design and/or mechanical features. Products receive a median score of 80 unless they are outstanding or deficient in this category.
- VALUE: The perceived value of the production with regard to its toll.
OTHER REELS TESTED
Here'south a quick expect at the other baitcast reels reviewed by the Tackle Exam team.
13 Fishing Concept C2
The Concept is congenital from carbon fiber, resulting in a wispy, five.8-ounce overall weight and excellent corrosion resistance. Our eight.three:1 examination model gobbled upwardly line on the retrieve and casted exceptionally smoothly. The Concept is a fleck longer than most modernistic baitcasters, making it a good fit for anglers with big hands. ($230; 13fishing.com)
Academy Sports Hd Ethos
This shop-brand reel delivers quality at a peachy price. The Ethos features 10 bearings, a carbon-fiber drag (xx pounds) and dual casting controls. A one-slice aluminum frame and oversized handle with large knobs add together comfort to excellent performance. ($79; academy.com)
Bass Pro Shops Farthermost EMX
The Extreme line has been a BPS mainstay for years, and this one is as smooth equally its predecessors and packed with features. A jumpsuit frame solidifies the reel while a newly designed internal transfer braking system lets anglers dial up the perfect cast. The seven-bearing Extreme holds 120 yards of 12-pound-examination monofilament or fluorocarbon and 150 yards of xxx-pound-test complect. ($119; basspro.com)
Daiwa Tatula Elite 100XS
The Tatula Elite was designed and engineered to make long casts. The A7075 machined-aluminum spool is factory set to reduce rotational friction, and Daiwa'due south patented T-Wing line management organization assists in attaining maximum casting distances. ($239; daiwa.com)
Daiwa Tatula SV
The SV's advanced casting system combines an ultra-lightweight spool that interacts with the brake arrangement'south magnetic field on the cast. The improved casting control results in smoother and longer casts, especially in tough conditions like windy days or when skipping baits under docks. The SV is low-profile and very easy to palm. ($199; daiwa.com)
Fitzgerald VLD10
Trevor Fitzgerald is all-time known for designing and building great rods, but his new VLD10 is a formidable baitcasting reel. It features an all-metal frame and 20 pounds of fish-stopping drag. The no-frills blueprint, with its six-way centrifugal braking arrangement adjusts hands. Eleven ball bearings keep tolerances tight at a very reasonable retail cost. ($179; fitzgeraldrods.com)
Lew'south KVD LFS
Lew'due south developed the KVD LFS in conjunction with Bass Pro Tour angler Kevin VanDam. Machined solid-brass gears are at the middle of the reel, promising years of trouble-free service. Nine stainless steel double-shielded bearings—including a pinion begetting—continue the KVD LFS turning true. Twenty pounds of elevate requite you the power to pull any size fish from the slop. A bait keeper and lube port round out this Lew'due south offering. ($139; lews.com)
Okuma Serrano SRN100-A
The SRN100-A is an economically priced reel with a half dozen.5:1 gear ratio. The reel retrieves 26.8 inches per turn and has a maximum elevate pressure of 11 pounds. A soft golf-grip material on the handle knobs cushion the crank for all-day comfort. Seven bearings are ample for keeping the reel turning smoothly. The Serrano, at its very reasonable retail price, is dandy for those inbound the baitcasting market. ($89; okumafishing.com)
Penn Squall Low Profile
Penn is known for its outstanding big-game saltwater gear. The Squall is the company'southward first foray into the depression-profile casting reel market, and while it'south designed for saltwater, information technology'll practise just fine in freshwater. The Squall is a fantastic choice for those who fish for bass and sometimes accept their game to brackish venues. ($179; pennfishing.com)
Quantum Invade INV100S
The Invade'south dual bandage controls and 6.1:1 gear ratio, along with its very outgoing toll tag, make it an splendid choice for baitcasting neophytes. The depression retrieve ratio (picking up 26 inches per plow) will accommodate techniques that don't crave too much cranking speed, like creeping soft plastics or grinding crankbaits through the depths. ($twoscore; quantumfishing.com)
Shimano SLX MGL lxx
For 2021, Shimano adds the MGL seventy to its popular line of SLX baitcasting reels. The MGL seventy is particularly compact, plumbing equipment nicely into the palm and making it a adept pick for cadence lures similar twitch baits and jerkbaits. The proven SVS Infinity Braking System is a nice characteristic on a upkeep-priced reel carrying the prestigious Shimano moniker. ($149; fish.shimano.com)
THE TACKLE Exam Squad
- Dr. Todd A. Kuhn is Game & Fish's South region editor. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering science and has 18 U.S. patents for outdoor gear. He'south been fishing for more than 50 years.
- Capt. Jamie Harris, a angling tackle gearhead in the truest sense, has been line-fishing for more than than 40 years and guiding for twenty years. He is considered a master of Florida's St. John'southward River and Mosquito Lagoon.
- Ken Duke is a regular contributor to Game & Fish and is the managing editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer. He has authored several books on bass angling, and his piece of work has appeared in more than fifty publications.
- Lee Sisson is a living legend in the bass fishing world. Working with Bagley Bait Company in the 1970s and '80s, he created the start deep-diving crankbaits. Sisson qualified for and fished a season on the Bassmaster Elite Series at the age of 62.
Source: https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/tackle-test-2021-best-new-baitcasting-reels-reviewed/392346
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