I am used to fishing much higher priced items and have swimbaits that cost more than this whole combo does, but the biggest thing I took away from my use of it was how much all of our fishing tackle has improved over the years. My first ever baitcasting rod and reel was about the same price (in mid 90's dollars) and was nowhere near the quality of this one.
The model I have is a 7ft Medium and has works well for a variety of plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and would also make a decent jerkbait rod. For someone just getting into bass fishing, or even an experienced angler looking for another good quality combo without spending a fortune, this would be a great option.
The reel features a graphite frame, aluminum spool and 5 bearings. It doesn't have as many features as some of the higher end reels, but works well and looks nice. The rod features a full cork grip and nice graphite blank. Overall it is surprising to see how good this is when you look at the price tag.
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