It is unbelievable to me how many different brands of rods and reels are on the market today. All of them boast how great their products are and how they will stand up to the biggest, baddest fish in the water, and do so in the harshest conditions Mother Nature has to offer. The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of these manufacturers are full of — well, to keep it clean, let’s just say hot air (we are a family-friendly publication, you know).

Most of us who grew up here or have lived here in Southwest Florida for a while found out the hard way that not every rod and reel can handle every fish. Also, some rod and reels can’t handle our harsh saltwater environment at all, even though the manufacturers’ advertising would have us believe otherwise. I remember my first rod and reel: A Zebco 202 combo. Man, was I happy when my dad gave me that combo. I also remember the first fishing trip I went on with it, and the Skyway Bridge snook that destroyed my prized gift in about 10 seconds. It took my dad half an hour to get me to stop crying. FYI, that was the only fish ever hooked on that reel.