I just spent a couple days at Kerr Lake in Va and had a chance to try out my new poles. I put cheap Zebco bait casting reels on them and they worked out great. They were even better when I got home and found that little knob on the side that lets you put tension on the reel. It sure will elimanate a lot of rats nests. Fishing was lousy but did get a few in the 3/4lb range. Every one of them was caught on a very small silver spoon with a shiner.