gear guide: the load up
Favorite www.favoriteusa.com
What We Tested:
Summit 7’2 Medium Heavy, Extra Fast, Casting
Big Sexy 7’4 Medium Heavy, Fast, Casting
Jack Hammer 6’6” Medium Light, Slow, Spinning
A relative newcomer to the North American rod market, Favorite has
burst onto the scene in a big way this year with a promise to deliver
some of the best rods you can get your hands on. Boldly emblazoned
with the slogan “My New Favorite”, these rods set a high expectation.
And they live up to it. With high quality blank construction, top notch
components and killer looks, these rods are built to turn heads. The
standout for us was the Summit, which has to be one of the most unique
rods we’ve tested. Built with a unique one-piece design, this rod sheds
the ounces by removing bulky handle materials, making this without a
doubt one of the lightest rods we’ve ever seen. And it does it all without
sacrificing power or durability! At first glance we were skeptical, worried
that the lack of hand grip might lead to slipping, but at the end of an
afternoon fishing smallmouth bass in the rain it was clear that this rod
was up to the task. What amazed us most was the sensitivity of this
rod. A lot of manufacturers talk about keeping the hand in contact with
the rod blank, but Favorite took this concept to a whole new level and
it is fantastic. The Summit is available in both casting and spinning
configurations with a variety of actions, so there really is something for
everyone.
We were also impressed with the other rods we tested from Favorite.
The Big Sexy lives up to its name, as attractive as it is powerful. This is a
stout rod, so it may not be for everyone, but throwing hollow body frogs
into thick mats of lily pads and reeds the Big Sexy pulled largemouth
back to the boat with ease. Not a bass fisherman? No problem. The
Big Sexy is a gem on big predators too, so all you pike lovers will find
something worthwhile here.
Our final test rod from Favorite was the Jack Hammer. This one
surprised us a little. We tested a 6’6” medium light version, which at first
seemed a little loose for our liking. Once we got it on the water, however,
we were pleasantly surprised at how versatile it was. Jigging u