Guide point I am talking about. Most brands include their top line technology in these medium level reels, and you can expect to get some longevity from them with minimal maintenance. The standouts for me from the 2018 offerings are the Rapala R-Type reels. These reels are great quality for the price; they’re designed to deal with bigger fish and not break the bank. Shimano’s Stradic reels continue to impress as well, and the Stradic FK is no exception. I have Stradics that are over 10 years old and still going, and the latest version seems to be even more robust and angler friendly. Finally, I feel that I have to include the Daiwa TD Sol III LT reels, even though they’re a fraction over this price bracket. LT means Light Tough, and they certainly are. It’s amazing that a reel that feels light as a feather can be so strong. Additionally, like all the Daiwa reels at
SAMAKI ZING GEN II
this level and above, it’s packed with features.
BAITCAST REELS
••••••••••••••••••••• Baitcast reels have never been everybody’s cup of tea. Bird nests due to uneducated thumbs have deterred many anglers from using them, but that all changed this year with the introduction of the Shimano Curado DC reel. The DC stands for Digital Control, and without getting too technical, you basically cannot get a bird nest while casting. There is a plenty of other tech in the reel as well. This would be a very special gift for any larger lure casting enthusiast.
RODS
••••••••••••••••••••• Most rods these days are made to preform a specific task within a type of fishing. There is a reason that many anglers have a nest of rods in the house: each has its own task and is
a must-have. Spin rods I will focus on graphite based rods, as they form a big part of the market these days. Yes, composite rods still have their place, as they can cope with knocks and abuse far better than a graphite rod. However, the power to weight ratio of graphite just can’t be beaten when you’re fishing for extended periods. When it comes to spin rods, there is fantastic value for money and a broad range of fishing options available. It is ABSOLUTELY amazing how much bang for your buck you can get. Here are a few examples: • Samaki Zing Gen II – this series of rods has 18 models ranging from 5’4” to 9’0”. They look fantastic, have quality components and are very well priced. • Okuma Helios rods – the ideal match for the Helios spin reels, which I mentioned earlier. Helios rods are built using Toray CT40 blanks with Fuji components, and
would be a great present for that special angler in your life. • Daiwa TD Hyper rods – these rods showcase what ‘light and tough’ is all about. I tested the 701LXS earlier in the year and I am still amazed at the technology Daiwa has put into a $130 rod. • Okuma Pressure Point rods – tailored more towards the heavier end of town. This new range of rods focuses on anglers looking to cast poppers, stickbaits and larger plastics for big bluewater beasties. Highly affordable rods for this type of fishing. • Rapala Maxwell rods – these caught my eye at this year’s Australian Tackle Trade Show. This solid range of rods looks fantastic, and any angler would be happy to unwrap one on Christmas Day. Baitcast rods Most of the above ranges also have baitcast options, which are well worth looking at, but there are also a couple of others that I would like to mention.
• Dobyns Sierra rods are a new series available in 2018. They complement the Fury, Champion Extreme and Champion XP ranges already available. If you are looking at baitcast rods, you need to check these out. • Bone rods – A range made up of 21 options, with the majority of them being baitcast. There are several series within the range, including the Voyage series of travel rods. They are some of the best travel rods I have seen. • Live Fibre Venom – these rods are now well established amongst Murray cod and barramundi anglers. Speak to any angler casting big swimbaits and lures for these species, and they will know and recommend these rods. Bluewater rods The Australian-made Wilson Live Fibre Game Series is one of the best new game rod ranges for 2018 – and the RLF46FRD model took out the Game Fishing category at the this year’s AFTA Tackle Trade Show.
It’s fully rollered, features premium components, and comes with an interchangeable bent butt. Another new release worth checking out is the Shimano Tiagra Ultra series. These rods feature braid-friendly guides, and selected models have interchangeable butts. Jigging rods Jigging, in particular micro-jigging, has really taken off in Australia. Rapala Australia with their Storm Gomoku range set the standard, and they are now raising the bar even higher with the new 2018 release of the Gomoku Gen 2. The Belize, Azzura and Vanuatu rods come in light, medium and heavy sizes, with overhead and spin options.
LURES
••••••••••••••••••••• The lure styles and brands that anglers’ use are often just personal preference, or simply what people have read about in To page 48
ANO SHIM A TIAGR ULTRA
OKU M HELI A OS
E IBR F E LIV AME G F RL
GOMOKU GEN 2
OKUMA PRESSURE POINT
DECEMBER 2018
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