ABU GARCIA Medium Heavy Power BMAX3/701MH Max Fishing Rod and Baitcast Fishing Reel Combo, 7 Feet, Black

EDIT:I now cannot/would not recommend this to anyone. Just after my 30-day window from ordering this: "Return window closed on September 5, 2019 - Delivered August 6" (today is Sept 8th) the tip snapped on the rod. This was my first and now last Abu Garcia Rod/Reel. I won't look to dump more money into a company when their first product didn't last but just outside the window. Yes, I could have gotten a lemon, but what comfort is that to me? I'm now out of a fishing setup due to poor quality. I hear LEWS makes good stuff, they will be my next setup now. I comment below about the cheaper combo is still my recommendation for a cheap setup, otherwise look to LEWS or someone else.Original Review:Pretty good medium-heavy combo for the money. You'll be hard-pressed to find other quality for medium-heavy combo at this price. If you're just looking for a baitcaster combo on the cheap I'd recommend the Shakespeare AGLPCBO Agility Low Profile over this. This gives me other options for heavier tackle and line though so that's nice. This rod feels a lot more stiff and since I'm a short person the 7' pole has made some retrieves more difficult (hits the water or vegetation, etc.). People talked about braid on this reel. I've tried 50lb, 30lb braid, 20lb mono and 20lb fluoro. The 20lb mono and 20lb fluoro cast far better than braid. Braid just didn't do well at all for me, but I wasn't using real heavy lures either. This is an ok setup but I actually rarely use it just because my Shakespeare performs much better for me at half the cost.

The combo arrived in a HUGE box, very well packaged. When I took the 7' pole out, I immediately noticed severely bent guides, and the one closest to the reel had a broken & 1/2 missing insert. The box was in perfect condition, so Amazon packaged and shipped a damaged product. Boo Amazon!!! The huge 1 piece rod seems pretty great, aside from arriving damaged. Very rigid and responsive. I own another Blackmax 3 reel & it's very nice, with a magnetic brake on the left, and another tension adjusting knob on the right for more minute adjustments. A very smooth, feature packed baitcasting reel that has been great for me to learn on (there is definitely a learning curve). Good job Abu Garcia. I like it so much, I bought this combo to have a 2nd reel for heavier weight line. I wish I could use it Amazon.

$60 you get more than what you paid for. Luckily my pole tip wasn’t broken, and it came on time. I use my Silver Max and Black Max as a Northern and Muskie pole. They both hold up well to throw out 4 ounce baits and haven’t had any drag issues. The combo is worth it for entry level . Backlashes are the operator’s mistake. Edit: the pole finally broken ona 12 inch bass of all the fish I’ve caught with this thing. I’ve put it through the ringer fishing 150+ days a year with it so I got my use out of it. I still have my second pole and recently caught a 12 pound 39 inch pike with it. I had the drag tight like I was flipping but I was using a jerkbait, and the reel had no problem fighting the fish and flipping it 10 feet out of water. These combo are the best for the $150 price range. I would rather have 5 of this line of rods vs. my shimano SLX series. I’m not saying they have more sensitivity but the durability of the BMax3 has lasted 2 years of fishing for me. Each rod has caught 1,000-1,300 fish this one caught all my Personal Best Fish.

Got this combo for a backpacking trip, so didn't want to spend too much money as there was a good chance of me breaking it. Canoe, camping, woods and drinks don't always mix!Reel is amazing for what it cost! I was extremely surprised! Casts well, good breaking system and holds a fair amount of line being a low profile model. I have about 125 yards of 20lbs braid. Rod is average, not much sensitivity and Im not sold at all on the guides I plan on switching it out, might even put it in storage forever and keep the reel!If you're looking for a combo to get you through a weekend or you're just beginning/intermediate baitcast fisherman.... or you're not crazy about high quality, get it!!

First Bait caster I’ve ever bought. As soon as it arrived I rigged up a Texas worm and started casting in my driveway. Everything was easy to use, with the proper knowledge, and felt good in the hand. I took it out for a quick christening at the river the same day. It casts smooth, the brakes are easy to fiddle with if you have to. I have mine turned almost all the way off, and was still able to learn the ropes with only a few minor bird nests that came right out. Over all, for $70 I’m highly impressed. It is a beginner rod, but I’m a beginner fisherman so it’s a perfect match