Pinnacle's Newest Bass Rods & Reels

I stumbled upon Pinnacle products a few years ago. They were not as well-known as some other brands, but offered good features at a lower price than most competitors.

This year Pinnacle is making a full frontal assault on the bass-gear market with a line of high-end, tournament-grade tackle that they are still selling at an attractive price.

Among baitcasting reels, the top of the line is the Optimus XLT ($129-$199). One look and you know it isn't a step-down -- it shoulders its way into the ranks of premium reels.

Under the hood are an "X-Bone" metal frame, 11 shielded, stainless steel ball bearings and a super-fast 7.3:1 gear ratio. The 7.7-ounce reel also offers dual cast control and even incorporates a flipping switch.

Pinnacle's new, leading edge rods are called the Perfecta DHC5's ($159-$189). These rods are available in spinning or casting models, in lengths from 6 feet, 6 inches, to 7 feet, 11 inches. They come in actions for everything from finesse fishing with shaky heads to punching mats or lobbing swimbaits.

The Perfectas are built using double helical blank construction. They have Fuji reel seats, Fuji Alconite guides, machined aluminum winding checks and slit grips with super AAA-grade cork handles.