While every aspect of bass fishing gear is evolving, one piece of hardware that recently caught our eye was Shimano's new top of the line (so to speak) casting reel: the Calcutta TE DC (about $500).

If your reels squawk and refuse to cast as far as they once did, they're long overdue for a thorough cleaning. This should be done annually to every reel in any serious bass angler's arsenal. It ...

Specs Reel Size: 4000 Gear Ratio: 6.2:1 Line Capacity: 12/195 Max Drag: 24 pounds Pros Lightweight but powerful Smooth drag Sealed body for improved durability Cons Expensive You’re looking at ...