New Gear - August 2006

Offshore fishing gear can be pricey, but you don't have to break the bank to haul in that trophy tuna. Available in sizes from the 15- to 40-pound class, Contender lever-drag reels from Pflueger ($90 and up) feature four stainless-steel bearings and an oversize Tritek washer in the drag system. The cold-forged, anodized aluminum spool spins smoothly, and the Smart-Click system means the reel's clicker only engages when line is pulled off the spool—not while reeling. We trolled with the G20L and found that the reel had plenty of cranking power. Pflueger; (800) 347-3759; www.pfluegerfishing.com