Bass Blazers: The Right Gear for Speedy Retrieves

If you’re looking for a combo to rip lures out of vegetation and trigger a predatory response, you have lots of choices.

Start with a long rod—at least 7 feet—to make lengthy casts and give you leverage when you need to rip the bait loose. It should be a medium-heavy model made of graphite. Fiberglass and composite rods are generally softer and absorb too much energy as they flex (though that same flex is generally desirable once a fish is on the line).

• Read more: What You Need to Know About Gear Ratio

Reel speed is critical when the lure rips free and a bass grabs it. You need speed to catch up to your bait, set the hook and haul in your prize. It’s here that gear ratio and inches per turn (IPT) of the reel handle become important.

The Abu Garcia REVO Rocket ($299.99; abugarcia.com) comes in at a lightning fast 10.1:1 and 41 IPT.

If that’s outside the budget, the Daiwa Tatula CT ($129.99; daiwa.com) is less than half the price but plenty quick at 8.1:1 and 34 1/2 IPT.

Then there’s the KastKing Speed Demon, which won’t break the bank ($49.99; kastking.com), yet can fly at 9.3:1 and 39.1 IPT.