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Jul 04, 2023

Tackle Test 2023: The Best New Spinning Rods & Reels

Tackle Test 2023: A variety of bait types, lure weights and lines were used during testing to evaluate gear across a range of applications. (Photo by Brad Richardson) The Game & Fish Tackle Test team

Tackle Test 2023: A variety of bait types, lure weights and lines were used during testing to evaluate gear across a range of applications. (Photo by Brad Richardson)

The Game & Fish Tackle Test team put these new spinning rods and reels up against Florida largemouth bass at Bienville Outdoors (Read Tackle Test baitcasting reviews here). Here's how each rod and reel performed.

For years Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) has been quietly making fantastic fly rods for legions of fans. The new Resolve line of bass rods—both casting and spinning—is going to increase TFO’s fan base in the bass world very soon.

When you first handle the Resolve spinning rod, you will immediately notice how visually unremarkable it is. However, your first cast will find you ignoring the Resolve’s clever disguise. The blank is laid up using Toray carbon fiber, arguably the best in the rod-building business. The 7-foot-1-inch rod is complemented with Seaguide’s SS316 stainless-steel, single-foot guides with silicon nitride inserts. The tangle-free guide design slicks up line flow while minimizing wind knots.

What makes this 4.1-ounce rod such a great performer isn’t immediately obvious. The rod is rated medium-light with what we would call an extra-fast tip. Most of that crispness is in the top 10 inches. It is in this abbreviated section of the blank where all the juice gets squeezed. Rated for baits down to 1/8 ounce (and up to 1/2 ounce), the Resolve loads fluently with light lures. When throwing baits at the high end of the range, the tip section flattens, loading the blank deeper and efficiently managing the heavier offerings. On the cast, energy is transferred with no perceivable chatter or unwanted vibration—just a sensation of fluidity.

The reel seat is a Seaguide Soft Touch, with the blank exposed on both the bottom and the sides. AAA-grade cork is incorporated into the foregrip and lower split-grip portion. An aft-mounted lure keeper lets users get on the blank with their rod hand’s index finger for monitoring finesse baits without interference.

We felt the foregrip would be a skosh more ergonomic with a gentle taper to the blank, but that didn’t keep us from appreciating the rod’s performance. The Resolve carries a full lifetime warranty against defects. ($279.95; tforods.com)

13 Fishing burst onto the bass scene several years ago with a funny name and some sensational, forward-thinking rod and reel offerings. The most notable rods on its roster have been higher-end models, until now. This year, 13 Fishing introduces its Meta lineup, a collaboration between the company and pro angler Gerald Swindle.

The Meta line is billed as a performance rod series that is incredibly rugged. Our 7-foot-1-inch Meta spinning rod had a medium power with an extra-fast taper. Finding a budget-priced spinning rod that floats in hand is tough. Low-end models are invariably built with less-than-desirable components and possess actions better suited to supporting barbed wire. Despite its price, the Meta is as nicely balanced a spinning rod as you’ll find.

The Japanese PVG 36-ton blank is radially wrapped, which ensures a rugged construct. At that tonnage, the blank offers reasonable sensitivity without brittleness. There is ample flexure near the tip with good backbone at the butt section. The Meta is rated for 6- to 12-pound-test lines and 3/16- to 5/8-ounce lures, and we found it especially qualified for light-lining applications, such as drop-shotting, shaky-heading or Ned-rigging. With its lively tip, this 13 Fishing spinner is limber enough to make it difficult for fish to spit baits.

The Evolve custom reel seat and split EVA grip are brawny and capable of withstanding abuse. An open-ended hook keeper, mounted near the butt, is convenient for stowing baits without having to unhook them (think Texas-rigged worms). Stainless steel, all-black, single-footed guides are lashed neatly with generous wraps and finished with a liberal slathering of resin.

Although we’d love to see some blank exposure on the reel seat (especially on a rod that’s rated for light lines), the Meta is still a very nice package. A 5-year warranty rounds out this well-priced and wonderfully balanced spinner. ($149.99; 13fishing.com)

The first time you pick up and turn the striking, fire-engine-red Revo Rocket, you will be shocked. The spool arbor spins so fast you can hear and feel the air whirling around it. Gobbling up an insane 42 inches of line per turn, the second-generation Rocket spinner has a blistering 7.6:1 gear ratio. For most anglers, the obvious question is, “Do I really need all that speed?” Our answer is a resounding “yes.”

With this much speed, you can blaze baits through dead water, and send another cast out quickly to schooling fish. This adds more casts per outing, more time in productive water and potentially more fish in the tournament bag. The Rocket is also the perfect tool for sniping deep bass located on forward-facing sonar. Send a bait down to the onscreen blip; if the bass doesn’t react, scorch it back to the boat and fire off a new presentation to another candidate fish.

The all-machined-aluminum chassis is incredibly stout, as is the entire build. The lack of molded, polymer parts is noticeable, translating to a nearly bulletproof reel. The styling on the new Rocket is taken from Abu’s high-end Zenon spinning reel, the two being almost mirror images of each other, with minor cosmetic differences.

The build includes a 10-bearing complex, machined handle and paddle-style grip. We appreciated the new grip, which replaces previous laser-cut EVA knobs. At 7.3 ounces, the Rocket has some heft, but that’s the tradeoff for the build.

The drag is controlled by an oversized knob that is easily located during the fight. On the downside, this speed demon does not have a reverse lever, which may be a detraction for those who like to tame frisky fish with back reeling. ($199.95; abugarcia.com)

The Custom Lite is billed as the lightest premium spinning reel from Lew’s to date. We found it to be light in not only weight, but also price. The reel’s lack of mass is due, in part, to the carbon frame and rotor.

The onboard set of 11 stainless-steel bearings (10+1) manages turning chores precisely. Also noticeable is how well the reel balances when spun up—no small feat for a reel weighing 6.6 ounces.

The carbon-disc drag system and titanium-coated line roller pay line out smoothly and assist in keeping big fish fastened on skinny lines and light-gauge wire hooks. A reversible CNC-machined handle with an ergonomically contoured, laser-cut EVA knob (which is serviceable, though we’d love to see Lew’s famous paddle grip added to the Custom Lite) helps apply cranking power. A 6.2:1 gear box retrieves a respectable 32 inches per turn. A rubberized, textured insert on the spool makes spooling line a cinch. This feature helps you get braid on the spool very tightly for slip-free performance.

We feel the Custom Lite is a niche reel designed for anglers who opt for the lightest combos possible. When matched with a lightweight spinning rod, the pairing is a veritable finessing tool. Today in the faddy world of bass fishing, the name of the game is “finesse” when the bite or conditions turn tough. The Custom Lite excels at managing morsel-size baits like Ned rigs, drop shots, tubes, weightless stick-style worms and shaky heads when combing waters for tight-lipped fish. With a large payload of 160 yards of 8-pound-test line, the reel is at home fishing deep structure on long lines. ($159.99; lews.com)

The methodology used in our evaluation.

The Game & Fish Tackle Test utilizes a comprehensive scoring system to evaluate each rod and reel. Scores are tallied after each day on the water. Once the numbers are crunched (and after some heated debates), winners in each category are crowned. Evaluation categories include Design, Ergonomics, Fishability, Construction, Aesthetics and Price/Value. All testers score each piece of gear from 60 to 100 in each category. The Editor’s Choice award is bestowed upon the rods and reels with the best overall scores in each category, while the Great Buy award goes to those products that represent the greatest value.