Editor's Pick
U.S. Reel 230SX
¿¿ $150 ¿¿ 314-962-9500 ¿¿ usreel.com

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This company's spinning reels don't get a lot of media play compared with other brands, but I give them huge points for daring to be different. The spool on their new 230SX and on some older models is much shorter and wider than those on comparable spinning reels. This means several things. The larger diameter produces longer casts. Also, more line is retrieved with each turn of the handle, so twist is reduced. -Because the spool is shallower (from top to bottom), the main shaft moves up and down less while you're reeling, which allows for a smaller reel body. As a result, it's easy to feather the spool's upper lip with the index finger of your casting hand, giving you better control over your cast. Finally, the spool has a removable arbor. The unit holds 138 yards of 10-pound mono when it's in place and 221 yards without it. If you're a bass fisherman, you know line ¿¿capacity is seldom an issue. Over time, using the arbor will save you money on line. No one else to my knowledge does this, and it's a great idea. The 8.9-ounce 230SX has a molded carbon-fiber rotor and side plate.

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