Disclosure: I earn a commission if you use my code. Lone Star Adventures has affiliate deals with Beyond Braid.
Fishing Gear
Reels, rods, line, baits, kayaks and electronics for Texas lakes, ponds and the Gulf bays.
Baitcasting Reels
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Garcia Rods & Reels (Brand Overview) | Max SX MagnetiQ reel $79.99; Revo X VoltiQ $199.95; Zenon CX spinning reel $599.95 (abugarcia.com list prices) | Swedish reel maker since 1941; Revo, Max and Zenon families |
| Abu Garcia Max SX MagnetiQ Low Profile Reel | $79.99 list (abugarcia.com); seen on sale around $62 to $64 at retailers | 6.5:1, 15 lb drag, 7.51 oz, MiQ magnetic brakes |
| Shimano SLX A Baitcasting Reel | $114.99 list | 6.3/7.2/8.2:1, 12 lb drag, 6.9 oz, HAGANE body |
Abu Garcia Rods & Reels (Brand Overview)
Brandon fishes a few Abu Garcia rods and reels. This page is a brand overview built from Abu Garcia's own history and current lineup, so you know what the names mean before you shop.
Read the review →Abu Garcia Max SX MagnetiQ Low Profile Reel
A budget low-profile baitcaster built around Abu Garcia's MiQ magnetic cast control, which is meant to take some of the backlash pain out of learning a baitcaster.
Read the review →Shimano SLX A Baitcasting Reel
One of the most popular value baitcasters. A compact 150-size reel with a metal HAGANE body and Shimano's SVS centrifugal brakes.
Read the review →Spinning Reels
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| PENN Battle IV Spinning Reel | $144.95 to $174.95 list depending on size (pennfishing.com) | Full metal body, HT-100 drag, 3000: 6.2:1 / 15 lb drag |
| Shimano Stradic FM Spinning Reel | $234.99 to $264.99 MSRP by size | C3000XG: 6.4:1, 20 lb drag, 7.9 oz |
PENN Battle IV Spinning Reel
A full-metal saltwater spinning reel with PENN's Hydro Armor sealing. PENN's own size chart puts the 2500 to 4000 sizes squarely on trout, flounder and redfish.
Read the review →Shimano Stradic FM Spinning Reel
A lighter, smoother premium spinning reel that won Best of Category for freshwater reels at ICAST 2023, and that testers also use in saltwater.
Read the review →Bass Rods
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod | $135 to $165 (stcroixrods.com) | SCII carbon blank, 10 models from 6'6" to 7'11" |
| Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod | About $60 (uglystik.com) | Graphite/fiberglass blank, one-piece guides, 10-year warranty |
St. Croix Bass X Casting Rod
St. Croix's value bass line: technique-specific casting rods on an SCII carbon blank with aluminum-oxide guides and a cork/EVA split grip.
Read the review →Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
The classic tough, cheap rod. A graphite and fiberglass blank built to take abuse, with a 10-year warranty.
Read the review →Fishing Line
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond Braid Braided Fishing Line | 300-yard spools from $24.99; bulk spools up to $144.95 (beyondbraid.com) | 4- and 8-strand, 8 to 150 lb, 300 to 2000 yd |
| Seaguar InvizX Fluorocarbon | From $30.00 on seaguar.com | 100% fluorocarbon mainline, soft and low memory |
Beyond Braid Braided Fishing Line
Braided line from a Miami company. Lone Star Adventures has an affiliate deal with Beyond Braid. The facts here come from Beyond Braid's own product listing.
Read the review →Seaguar InvizX Fluorocarbon
A popular freshwater fluorocarbon mainline. Fluoro sinks and is hard to see underwater, which is why bass anglers use it for bottom baits and as a leader. It complements braid rather than replacing it.
Read the review →Soft Plastics
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Yamamoto 5" Senko | 10-packs at most tackle shops; bulk packs $34.99 to $64.99 (yamamotobaits.com) | 5 in, 10 count, salt-impregnated stickbait |
| Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ | $5.49 per pack (zmanfishing.com) | 4" (5-pk), 5" (4-pk), 6" and 7" (3-pk), ElaZtech |
Gary Yamamoto 5" Senko
The stickbait that started the category. A heavily salted soft plastic that falls with a slow shimmy, rigged weightless, wacky, Texas or on a shaky head.
Read the review →Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ
A paddle-tail swimbait made of Z-Man's stretchy ElaZtech plastic, a staple for redfish and speckled trout.
Read the review →Fishing Kayaks
Vibe Sea Ghost 105 Fishing Kayak
A sit-on-top fishing kayak built to take a motor, with a real stern transom, bow and stern motor mount options, and a molded-in battery compartment.
Read the review →Fish Finders
| Product | Price | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv Fish Finder | Check current listings (FishFinderLab notes the price gap to the plain Striker 4 is small) | 4.3" screen, CHIRP + ClearVü, built-in GPS |
| Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4 | About $700 to $770 at retailers | 7" screen, MEGA side and down imaging, GPS |
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv Fish Finder
A compact GPS fish finder with traditional CHIRP sonar and ClearVü down imaging, sized for kayaks and small boats.
Read the review →Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4
A 7-inch fish finder that adds MEGA side imaging, so you can scan structure off both sides of the boat instead of only underneath.
Read the review →Guides
Braid, fluoro or both?
How to pick line type and pound test for Texas bass and bay fishing.
Read the guide →