Tackle Test: New Innovations in Spinning and Casting Gear

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MATERIAL MATTERS

• Making sense of the high-tech ingredients used in modern rod building

A close inspection of many of the rods in the 2025 Tackle Test reveals assorted branding stamped along the blanks and reel seats highlighting different technologies built into the rods. We did the research on some of the notable examples.

• Megabass Orochi X10 Organic Fiber: Though it could be mistaken for a health food supplement, X10 Organic Fiber represents a unique rod material in the exotic, powerful Megabass Orochi series. According to the brand, X10 fibers, composed of cellulose microfibrils that provide structure to plant cell walls, are lighter than carbon and the organic material “tames excess vibration for a quicker blank recovery rate.”
• Okuma X-series Toray blank and UXR: The lighter-than-air feel of the Okuma X-Series is largely derived from the 46-ton Toray carbon blank. (Toray is a leading manufacturer of elite carbon-fiber materials out of Japan.) The “46-ton” rating correlates to the stiffness of the blank material, and the result is an amazingly lightweight feel combined with wonderful sensitivity. Okuma’s UXR technology is a multi-directional overlay of fibers to give the blank added strength under stress.
• Abu Garcia Veritas Powerlux 100: The manufacturing process of the Veritas evenly distributes Powerlux 100 resin between the carbon fibers of the rod blank to prevent cracks, provide excellent break strength and increase resistance to impact damage.
• Daiwa Kage SVF Nanoplus: SVF stands for “Super High Volume Fiber,” describing the amount of fiber content within the blank. Daiwa’s “Nanoplus” resin material is enriched with a nanoalloy compound for uniformly melding the many individual carbon fibers. The result is a very lightweight and highly sensitive carbon blank.
• G. Loomis GLX CI4+ Reel Seat: CI4+ is a proprietary material of G. Loomis’ sister brand Shimano that is reinforced with carbon to be extremely lightweight but also rigid enough to resist flexing in the reel seat during a hookset. The design of the CI4+ provides better surface contact with the reel, improving sensitivity.

FOCUS ON ERGONOMICS

• Manufacturers are taking great strides in making tackle that is more comfortable to use than ever.

Though subjective, the sensation derived from the interaction between man and machine weighs heavily in the decision to buy a product or pass on it. Reviewing the dozens of rods and reels tested, it’s evident manufacturers are finding new and creative ways to enhance the ergonomics of their products. Here are some examples that stood out.

• Abu Garcia IKE Power: One of the factors that impressed Tackle Test evaluators about the new Ike Power casting rod was the comfortable feel of the indents in the rod’s handle. The contours in the EVA foam seem to grip your fingers in return, making the rod a pleasure to fish for extended periods.
• Bates OG: While low-profile baitcasters have dominated reel design over the past few decades, Bates designed the OG with a tip of the cap to the old-school round casters. This reel isn’t just a novelty, though. Bates put considerable thought into reducing the profile of the 100-size reel. It’s surprisingly easy to palm, not top-heavy and weighs only 5.3 ounces.
• St. Croix Phyzyx: St. Croix designed the Phyzyx rod series with the “Trigon” grip, which has a unique, triangular shape similar to that of a golf putter. The Phyzyx also features a handy “trigger” on the butt cap. When making a two-handed cast, the forefinger wraps the trigger, enhancing the feeling of power and control throughout the cast.
• Shimano Poison Adrena: A slight bulge on top of the Poison Adrena’s carbon grip fills the palm nicely for added surface contact between rod and hand. The flattened sides of the grip are pleasing to hold and keep the bulge from becoming intrusive. The carbon monocoque handle is hollow and lightweight and readily transmits subtle bites.
• SPRO Jason Christie Elite: The round, oversized cranking knobs of this reel are a departure from the flattened paddles found on most baitcasters. The raised texture gives a satisfying sense of comfort along with a sense of control during the retrieve.
• 13 Fishing Oath: The skeletonized handle of the Oath Series allows multiple access points to the rod blank, while a subtle bump in the foregrip adds a touch of comfort during the retrieve. When it comes to ergonomics, small details matter.

Click for More Tackle Test

• Read reviews of all Tackle Test rods and reels
• Tackle Test Baitcast Winners
• Tackle Test Spinning Winners

THE GEAR WE USED

The Tackle Test would be nothing more than a beauty contest without line, hooks and baits.

Putting line on 16 reels is an expensive undertaking, yet Seaguar graciously provided its premium fluorocarbon and braided lines for our task.

The popular InvizX fluoro in 12-, 15- and 17-pound-test weights was spooled on the baitcasting reels and performed wonderfully. The softness of InvizX resists coiling, even in the heavier test weights, yet has plenty of abrasion resistance.

Spinning reels were spooled with Smackdown braided line, a smooth, 8-strand braid in 15-pound test to which we attached a fluorocarbon leader. As an added treat, Seaguar included a couple spools of its JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) PEX8 braided line, which has an amazingly thin diameter that slices easily through the water column, but is also incredibly strong and sensitive.

Legendary hook maker Mustad provided an assortment of premium Alpha Point hooks, which have an elongated point that maintains its precision tip and sharpness without bending. The hooks are made from an incredibly strong, but fine, high-carbon alloy wire and refuse to flex on hooksets.

We paired the hooks with a new series of soft plastics from Mustad’s sister company, LiveTarget. The ICT Stick Worms, Finesse Worms and Straight Tail Worms come in various lengths and are ideal for wacky or Texas rigging around shallow cover. They proved to be quite durable, even after multiple catches, but also soft enough to have the proper “wiggle” on the descent.

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