OHUB Review: Abu Garcia SX Spinning Combo

I’ve spent years testing fishing gear throughout all value factors, however not too long ago discovered myself on a mission: discover a really stable entry-level spinning combo that wouldn’t break the financial institution however might nonetheless carry out when it counts. After researching quite a few choices and studying numerous evaluations, I landed on the Abu Garcia SX Spinning Combo. 

What It’s Made For

As somebody who’s spent years testing fishing gear, I can inform you this entry-level spinning combo is completely designed for freshwater fishing, significantly bass fishing in ponds, lakes, and even rivers. With its 6-12lb line score and 1/4-5/8oz lure score, I discovered it to be a great selection for anglers like me who need a versatile, budget-friendly choice that may deal with numerous strategies whereas concentrating on these elusive bass that conceal in our native waters.

First Impressions

Once I first unboxed this combo, I used to be instantly struck by its modern, matching flat black end that offers it a cohesive, purposeful look fairly than showing as mismatched parts slapped collectively. I keep in mind considering, “This doesn’t appear to be an $80 rod and reel.” The light-weight nature of the two-piece composite development caught my consideration instantly.  I might inform this was thoughtfully designed regardless of the inexpensive value level. After years of testing gear throughout all value ranges, my preliminary skepticism shortly started to fade.

I hit the swamps with the 6′,6″ Max SX rod

Casting & Line Administration

Casting efficiency exceeds expectations at this value level. The road unloaded effortlessly off the reel – throughout preliminary testing, casts truly overshot targets because of the clean casting motion. The QuadCam engagement mechanism considerably improves line pickup on the retrieve with zero hesitation: simply clean, constant cranking that retains the angler linked to each motion of the bait. The 8 chrome steel guides enable the road to circulate easily on each casts and retrieves, with no indicators of wear and tear after a number of fishing journeys.

Score: 8/10

Sensitivity & Suggestions

The moderate-fast motion offers good sensitivity, permitting anglers to really feel strikes and keep reference to their lures. Whereas not particularly talked about as a finesse rod, the combo affords sufficient suggestions to successfully work lures just like the Berkley Drip Minnow and really feel the bait’s motion all through the retrieve. This degree of sensitivity is spectacular on the $80 value level.

Score: 7/10

The combo was light-weight – excellent for my backwoods trek to the swamp

Energy, Drag & Preventing Efficiency

That is the place I used to be most impressed – the combo overachieved when combating fish. Once I lastly linked with a stable bass, I bought to expertise firsthand how the oil felt, entrance drag supplied clean, constant strain with out these jerky begins and stops which have value me fish prior to now. What impressed me most was how simply I might alter it on the fly. I reached up with my left hand and made a fast flip of the knob because the fish made highly effective runs towards close by construction.

The rod gave me that excellent stability between energy and adaptability I’m at all times on the lookout for. I by no means felt underpowered, even when dragging that bass onto the financial institution. The moderate-fast motion supplied sufficient spine for my stable hooksets whereas nonetheless permitting these shock-absorbing bends when the fish made sudden surges. Even utilizing lighter 8-pound check line, I had full confidence within the combo’s skill to manage and land bass successfully.

Score: 8/10

Versatility

This can be a genuinely versatile setup that performs properly throughout totally different strategies. With a 6-12lb line score and 1/4-5/8oz lure score, it might probably deal with quite a lot of displays from working finesse baits to dealing with decent-sized bass. It comes pre-spooled with premium monofilament however would seemingly carry out properly with different line varieties. Moderately than being a specialty software, this combo features as a superb all-around workhorse that will serve properly as a major rod for newbies or a dependable backup for extra skilled anglers.

Score: 8/10

Worth & Worth Level

At round $80, this combo considerably outperforms its value level. Initially skeptical about what efficiency could possibly be anticipated at this value, testing revealed that this setup performs properly above what its price ticket suggests. With efficiency metrics (5.8:1 gear ratio, 29″ per flip restoration fee) that match combos costing twice as a lot, it represents distinctive worth. For anybody seeking to develop their arsenal with out breaking the financial institution, this combo deserves severe consideration as one of the vital spectacular budget-friendly setups in latest reminiscence.

Score: 10/10

The rod had sufficient spine to drag this 2-pound bass onto the shore

Discipline Notes

I spent a number of weeks with this combo deep within the swamps of Southeast Louisiana, loading it with 8-pound monofilament in utilizing it in swampy circumstances. I’ll always remember my first forged at a faculty of rain minnows being chased by bass – I truly overshot my goal and landed on the shoreline, that’s how clean the casting motion was!

The combo dealt with our notoriously abrasive Louisiana swamp water with none complaints, and I inspected the guides after every journey – no indicators of wear and tear by any means. Throughout one significantly memorable outing, I linked with a stable 2-pound bass. Since I used to be utilizing lighter 8-pound check, I needed to rely closely on the drag system, making fast changes because the fish made highly effective runs towards submerged construction. The combo carried out flawlessly, permitting me to ultimately drag that bass onto the financial institution regardless of its willpower to flee.

The light-weight design proved to be a blessing throughout my backwoods treks, after I needed to hike by thick swamp vegetation to succeed in my favourite hidden fishing spots. After a full day of casting, my arms weren’t fatigued in any respect – one thing I can’t say about many different combos I’ve examined through the years.

The Verdict

• Greatest For: Entry-level anglers on the lookout for their first high quality combo, financial institution anglers who want dependable efficiency with out breaking the financial institution, and skilled anglers like myself looking for a stable backup rod.
• Keep away from If: You’re particularly concentrating on trophy-sized fish or want specialised efficiency for tournament-level competitors.
• Total Score: 8.5/10

After totally testing this combo in a few of Louisiana’s hardest fishing circumstances,  the Abu Garcia SX Spinning Combo has earned a everlasting place in my gear assortment. I’ve examined gear throughout all value ranges, and I can truthfully say this is among the most spectacular budget-friendly setups I’ve utilized in latest reminiscence. It’s not simply “good for the value” . It’s genuinely good, interval. When associates ask me for a suggestion that gained’t break the financial institution however will nonetheless carry out when it counts, this combo is now on the prime of my record.

Try  AbuGarcia.com for extra particulars and dimension choices.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning out of doors journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Unbiased Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com