The new Abu Garcia Ike Combos are designed to make baitcasting and spinning gear easier.
Fishing is a great pastime for anyone to pick up, but it does come with something of a learning curve. This is especially true for anglers picking up a baitcasting or spinning reel for the first time. It takes some practice to get proficient with this kind of tackle. Legendary fishing rod and reel maker Abu Garcia has recognized this, and their new Ike combos are designed with these fishermen and women in mind.
We got a sneak peek at these new rod and reel combos during a video conference held as part of the ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) going online this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Abu Garcia appears to have some winners with this equipment that has been designed specifically with younger anglers in mind. Perhaps those who are ready to make the jump from kid's equipment to something a little more advanced. Here is the low down on each of these new rod & reel combos.
Gen Ike EZ Cast
Abu Garcia worked with professional bass angler Mike Iaconelli for inspiration in designing this new gear. The Ike Dude platform features small but noticeable equipment improvements to help anglers learn the basics. Most notable here is the Gen Ike EZ Cast which the company has described as "training wheels for learning how to cast a baitcast reel." It features an anti-backlash system that controls the spool. This will help to avoid messy and time-consuming bird's nests of line. This system can eventually be turned off once the angler gains more experience using the gear.
The reel features three ball bearings and has a 6.2:1 gear ratio. The reel is already pre-spooled with 10-pound line which should be perfect for most bass fishing applications. It is attached to a six-foot medium action rod with high density EVA handles. This combo's other features include an aluminum reel handle and soft-touch knobs. This combo comes at a great price point of just $49.99 suggested retail price too. It would make a great birthday gift for a young angler looking to get serious about fishing.
Gen Ike Low Profile Combo
In addition to the Easy Cast, Abu Garcia has also come up with two combos that are a slight step up for youth anglers who have already mastered the basics of baitcasting and spinning. These combos feature quality components but are still available at an affordable price point. The Gen Ike Low Profile combo is a 6.5-foot medium action graphite body rod. The reel features four stainless steel ball bearings and one roller bearing. It has a machined aluminum spool. The gear ratio is 6.4:1.
This combo also features a recessed reel foot, a Power Disk and MaxDrag system and high-density EVA handles. Abu Garcia pre-spools this reel with 10-pound Berkley Trilene line so your young angler can start working jigs and crankbaits straight out of the box. This combo has an MSRP of $69.99.
Gen Ike Spinning Combo
This medium action spinning rod combo features Abu Garcia's "Rocket Line Management" system that is also being built into some of the company's higher-end products. This system helps control the way line comes off and is wound back onto the reel, helping to eliminate twists and knots that can frustrate people who have never used spinning gear before, especially if you are using Fluorocarbon lines. The reel here features four bearings, three ball and one roller. The gear ratio is 5.1:1. The spool is made of machined aluminum. It is spooled with 8-pound test Berkley Triline line so you can get out on the water faster.
The rod length here is 6.5 feet and it features a Texas rig hook keeper. For young anglers learning the intricacies of finesse fishing techniques, this would be a great option. With a suggested retail price of $49.95, it is also quite affordable when comparing with other combos on the market.
Most of these combos are set to hit the market in August.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
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