= PRO PICK
RODS
IF THERE ’ S ONE CATEGORY of bass gear that sparks the heartiest debate , it ’ s rods . Understandably so : The rod is the one component of your fishing arsenal that you ’ re in direct physical contact with on every single cast you make . Most anglers have their favorite manufacturers , and most are undeniably picky about actions , power , length and the like . Here are our can ’ t-miss rods for the 2022 season .
G . Loomis NRX +
G . Loomis has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to technique-specific rods , so when they rolled out the NRX + in 2021 , the bass fishing world took notice . Improving on the original NRX lineup – a staple of highend quality on the rod market – the new NRX + series features 16 casting and 12 spinning models that take the technique-specific game to an entirely new level . $ 595 to $ 625 at TW / gloomis . com — The Editors
Favorite Fishing Signature Series
With a stable of pros that can claim multiple Angler of the Year titles , a REDCREST trophy and millions of dollars in tournament winnings , Favorite Fishing went with its strengths in 2021 with their new Signature Series of rods built to fit the likes of Andy Morgan , Dustin Connell , Zack Birge , Mark Daniels Jr ., Jon VanDam and Brian Latimer . For example : Morgan ’ s 7-foot-6 Pro Battle rod – also nicknamed The Goat Flipping Stick – is built on a durable , lightweight 36-ton Japanese Toray blank that ’ s both sensitive enough to feel every bite and strong enough to horse a big largemouth out of the kind of heavy cover that Morgan loves to flip . $ 149 to $ 349 at TW / favoriteusa . com — The Editors
Fitzgerald Composite Series
We put a lot of time and thought into the blank design of the Composite Series to build the ultimate movingbait rod . It ’ s a proprietary mix of S-glass and graphite : glass in the tip section , blending to graphite . That gives you the flex to make a long cast and lets the fish really get ahold of it ; the blend into the graphite from the tip to the butt section gives you the power to fight the fish . $ 189.99 at TW / fitzgeraldrods . com — Trevor Fitzgerald , MLF pro
Duckett Jacob Wheeler Signature Series
The biggest misconception with fishing rods is that you have to have a $ 300 or $ 400 rod to do the job right , and that ’ s just not the case . I fish with my signature series rods every day and they ’ re under $ 150 for both casting and spinning . That ’ s all the proof you need that expensive doesn ’ t always mean better . $ 139 at TW / duckettfishing . com — Jacob Wheeler , MLF pro
Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament
These are the rods that I use every day on the Bass Pro Tour , and I think they ’ re some of the best rods you can buy for the price you ’ re getting them . These rods come in six different sizes from 6-foot-10 all the way to 7-11 so any bait or scenario you find yourself in , there ’ s a Veritas rod you can depend on . $ 169 to $ 185 at TW / abugarcia . com — Bobby Lane , MLF pro
St . Croix Victory Series
St . Croix went all out on the Victory Series of casting and spinning rods , and the results speak for themselves : This series of 24 technique-specific rods ( 16 casting , eight spinning ) starts out with super high-modulus SCIII + graphite blanks coupled with the Wisconsin company ’ s Fortified Resin bonding technology , and then piles on the “ awesome ” with extra-high-quality guides , reel seats and handles . Lots to like here , Victory is definitely worth a look . $ 180 to $ 260 at TW / stcroixrods . com — The Editors
Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Series
I ’ m pretty proud of these rods . They ’ re affordable , they ’ re going to last you a long time , and they have all the actions and components that I like for specific techniques . There are 14 different rods – 12 casting , two spinning – and they ’ re all under $ 100 . It ’ s pretty awesome to put a quality rod in your hands at that price point . $ 89.95 at TW / abugarcia . com — Jordan Lee , MLF pro
66 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2022