blue and chrome spinning aluminum fishing reel Tempo Apex Built with a hybrid aluminum body and carbon Okuma AZORES Blue Saltwater Spinning

(price varies by size) Last year, our former top pick, the first iteration of the Ugly Stik GX2, was outclassed by its newer Ugly Stik siblings (now our top and runner-up picks)

The first blank extends off the handle of the rod, it has the largest diameter

If you run into a school of small perch, save a dozen to be used on the gamefish

If youre curious how modern motors fit into this shift, we covered that change in our article on Electric Trolling Motors: Eco-Friendly Fishing 2026

My good, good lesson, John, my folks never gave me money for things I wanted for pleasure

Advance (push) the hook forward and through the skin in the natural direction of the curve, until the barb exits through a new, small puncture point