

With a 6.2:1 gear ratio, the LT3000 is fast, inhaling line at 36.8 inches per turn. It keeps the weight down, and the Air Rotor further lightens the build.

This Tatula is clad in all black and features a body made from Zaion, a high-density carbon material. While the Tatula LT3000-CXH reel has a bland appearance that anglers may overlook on shelves, it won our Great Buy award hands-down with its tremendous on-the-water performance. Some of the best rods and reels in the bass game are designed and made by Daiwa. Beneath its unassuming appearance is a high-tech, rugged build. Great Buy: DAIWA TATULA LT3000-CXH Don't let the looks of the Daiwa Tatula LT3000-CXH fool you. Bottom Line: The unconscionably light but highly capable Abu Garcia Zenon will appeal to anglers who want to deploy the most sophisticated gear for fishing finesse baits on wispy lines-and are willing to pay for it.The Zenon carries an impressive 185-yard payload of 6-pound test. The drag starts and stops without any chirping-that abrupt jerk less-sophisticated drags experience when beginning to pay out line or when stopping-which minimizes breakoffs when fishing finesse baits on light lines. This allows you to fish longer with considerably less fatigue.Ī 6.2:1 gear ratio picks up line quickly, an attribute that won’t be lost on those who fish morsel-sized baits deep. The highly skeletonized rotor with its narrow center of gravity spins with reduced inertia, leading to impeccable balance when this reel is spun up quickly. Turning on 11 bearings, the Zenon is icy smooth with a robust drag. However, our Zenon’s transmission proved itself solid. That is, each component was shrunk, and any extra material was eliminated to reduce weight while remaining strong.Īt first blush you’ll notice the diminutive gear box, one seemingly too small to house anything of any significance. Design engineers focused on minimalization when building the Zenon. (Photo by Brian Carlson)īilled as the world’s lightest spinning reel, the 20-series Abu Garcia Zenon, at just 4.9 ounces, is a true marvel of modern reel engineering and impressed testers across the board. Tackle Test 2021: Best Spinning Reels Editor’s Choice: ABU GARCIA ZENON The Abu Garcia Zenon wowed testers with not only its incredible weight of just 4.9 ounces, but also its smooth operation. Click here to read Tackle Test 2021: Baitcast Reels.Click here to read Tackle Test 2021: Baitcast Rods.Tackle Testers filled out scorecards on the water, and results were tabulated and reviewed at the end of each day. The following report details what we learned and highlights some of the best new spinning gear available. Days of testing, followed by weeks of in-depth analysis, provided valuable insight into this year’s lineup of spinning rods and reels. Last winter, the Game & Fish Tackle Test Team hit eight bass waters in Florida to evaluate many of these new offerings in real-world conditions. This gives spin-fishing anglers the ability to paint precise presentations that attract the attention of pressured bass.įans of finesse techniques will be happy to know that rod and reel manufacturers introduced some fantastic spinning gear for 2021, and with a few notable exceptions, affordability seems to be the dominant theme. First and foremost, right-handed anglers can cast and work baits with their dominant hand when using spinning gear, unlike baitcasting combos which are typically held in the left hand. Spinning combos have several subtle mechanical advantages over baitcasting gear. The popularity of Japanese-refined techniques, such as drop-shotting, spy-baiting, Neko-rigging and flick-shaking, has led to a legion of finesse-fishing enthusiasts who rely on spinning gear to catch tight-lipped bass. Spinning rods and reels are by design uniquely qualified to handle light lines and petite bait weights. Bass anglers across the country depend on spinning gear for their finesse-fishing chores.
