The Outdoor Gear We Recommend
We may have a little bit of a hoarding problem. Good gear need not be expensive, but it has to improve the experience in some way. Whether it’s the right rod, a certain bait, or the world’s best rainsuit, we’ll give unfiltered opinions on what we use and why we use it.
No tackle shop on earth provides more specialized gear for bass than Tackle Warehouse. If you want it, they've got it in stock — whether it's a proven winner or the newest items on the market — and their service is exceptional.
Rapala: A Brand You Know, Travel Rods You Probably Don’t
I’m just about certain that the first largemouth bass I ever caught on an artificial lure came on the Original Rapala Floating Minnow, probably a size 5 or 7. I still throw a lot of their products, like the DT Series, and of course the Shad Rap, but until I saw them in a Brazilian tackle shop I had no idea that Rapala made rods, too.
An All Travel Rod Trip to Lake of the Woods
For the first time since we went to Africa in 2016, Hanna and I fished an entire trip with nothing but travel rods. We brought two stubby rod tubes to Lake of the Woods last week, and used the multi-piece rods inside of them to conquer seven or eight different species of fish – everything from yellow perch to muskies. Smallmouths were our primary focus and we caught a near 25 pound limit on our third full day.
Solutions for When You’re Forced to Check a Travel Rod Tube
After the security staff at the Mazatlan airport forced me to check my travel rod tube when flying home to the US, I was forced to reexamine how I’d travel with multi-piece rods in the future. Here are some ideas, with their pros and cons.
Abu-Garcia: A Brand You Know, Travel Rods You Probably Don’t
Within their US market, they only offer a limited number of travel options – specifically the Ike Signature Series Travel Casting and Spinning rods. While that selection may initially seem limited, the four-piece rods come with two different tip sections to provide two different actions. At $149.95, that’s a remarkably good deal. If you go to Abu-Garcia’s Japanese page, however, there are a wealth of multi-piece options.
