PRODUCT
REVIEW
ABU GARCIA WINCH CASTING ROD
Abu Garcia ’ s newest techniquespecific rod lineup is designed primarily with crankbait fishing in mind , but the Winch series also includes a bladed jig model that works equally well with several other reaction baits , including large topwaters and even lipless baits .
First Impression
It ’ s obvious that plenty of forethought went into the design of this rod to enhance sensitivity , versatility , power , balance and comfort , while maintaining the time-tested quality for which the Abu Garcia brand is famous . Light in the hand ( at just 5.5 ounces ), the 7-foot , 5-inch graphite composite stick is built with a fast tip that gives way to a parabolic-yetpowerful action farther down the blank . It ’ s saddled with 11 stainless guides ( counting the tip ) and durable Zirconium inserts to cradle the line , a Fuji reel seat and split grips fashioned from premium cork and EVA foam . It also features a handsome charcoal finish with white pinstriping and flashy red accents .
In Action
I played around with the rod for the better part of two months last fall , and the verdict is in : This rod is everything it ’ s cracked up to be – and more .
In addition to bladed jigs and magnum topwaters like the Berkley Cane Walker and Choppo or Heddon Super Spook , I used it to toss swim jigs , 5- and 6-inch paddle tail swimbaits and 1 / 2- to 3 / 4-ounce spinnerbaits . Though some may prefer a shorter rod for casting reaction baits tight to targets , this is a good quality rod you can use to cover plenty of territory with a wide range of lures in situations where precision and accuracy aren ’ t major factors . Here are some key observations : Fast Tip / Length : The fast tip isn ’ t “ crankbait soft ,” but it still has plenty of flex to help deliver long casts , work big surface plugs effectively and “ feed ” the bait to the fish . Matched with a smooth baitcaster and 30- to 40-pound-test braid , you can sail a Cane Walker or Choppo a country mile with this rod .
Power : The medium-heavy power provides sufficient backbone for good hooksets with single-hook reaction
By Matt Williams
PHOTOS BY PHOENIX MOORE
baits on long casts with no-stretch fluorocarbon or braided lines , while the 7- foot , 5-inch length improves casting and adds leverage for battling large fish around grass and other heavy cover .
Sensitivity : The rod ’ s lightweight graphite composite construction lends to all-day fishing comfort while magnifying sensitivity so you can maintain good contact with moving baits and detect subtle strikes .
Final Thoughts
If you ’ re looking for one rod to effectively cover multiple techniques , this one is worth a look . Moderately priced at $ 149.95 , the Winch delivers many of the same qualities you might expect to find in a custom rod with a higher price tag .
Performance Advice
Reel Choices : For optimum performance , every specialty rod should be mounted with a quality reel suited for the task . I love the Revo family , but I elected to check out Abu Garcia ’ s allnew Zata LP baitcaster for this instead . The reel ’ s 7.1:1 gear ratio is well-suited for a variety of applications , casts
66 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021