13 Fishing Inception G2 Baitcast Reel 7.3:1 Right-Hand

The 13 Fishing Inception G2 is a tournament-bred baitcaster that punches well above its price. This is the 7.3:1 right-hand model, a do-everything gear ratio that covers most of what a bass angler throws in a season. Fast enough to burn a spinnerbait or pick up slack on a jig hookset, controlled enough to work a squarebill or a Texas rig without racing the bait home.

13 Fishing built the G2 series after spending time with Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle, and it shows in the details. The 22 lb Bulldog drag is the headline. That's a lot of stopping power for a reel this light, and it comes with an Alert Drag Clicker so you hear line paying out when a big fish decides to run. The aluminum star drag gives you fine control over that pressure, which matters when you're pulling fish out of heavy cover on braid.

Weight is where you feel the money. At 6.9 oz, this reel palms comfortably through a long day of pitching and casting. Your wrist will thank you around cast number 500. Inside, you've got 8 ball bearings and a Low Friction 6-Way Braking System that lets you dial in your cast for the conditions. Crank the brakes up on a windy day to kill backlash, back them off when you're throwing light stuff into calm water and want maximum distance. The Arrowhead Line Guide System is a small touch that makes a real difference, its shape reduces friction as line drops onto the spool so it feeds out faster and casts farther.

The gearing is built to last a grueling season. The Ti Armor aluminum drive gear and the H.A.M. hardened brass drive gear are paired with a Gen II Hard Anodized Worm Gear, so the guts hold up to repeated hard hooksets and the grit that comes with a full year of travel and fishing. This isn't a reel you baby. It's a reel you fish.

Handling touches round it out. The Beetle Wing Rapid Access Side Plate pops open fast when you need to adjust the brake system or clear a bird's nest, no tools and no fumbling. EVA Tech handle knobs stay grippy when your hands are wet or slimed up from a livewell. And the Integrated Hook KeepR gives you a dedicated spot to park your hook between spots, so you're not digging a treble into your rod's finish or your thumb.

Who's this for? Freshwater bass anglers, mostly. This is a bass boat and kayak reel, at home flipping docks, cranking, and throwing moving baits. It holds 135 yards of 12 lb line, a sensible mono or fluoro capacity for most techniques, and braid users can pack more on. If you're chasing bass in tournaments or you just want a competition-grade reel without the flagship price tag, the G2 is a lot of reel for the money.

What it's not: this is a freshwater setup. Baitcasters like this aren't built for the corrosion load of offshore saltwater duty, so keep it in the lakes and rivers where it belongs. Rinse it after a day on brackish water and it'll last you years. Pair it with a 7 foot medium-heavy rod and you've got a versatile combo that handles the bulk of a bass angler's tackle box.

Setting it up is simple. Spool it with 12 to 15 lb line to start, set the spool tension knob so a bait drops slowly when you thumb off the spool, then use the external 6-way braking to fine-tune. Give it a few casts in an open yard or across open water before you're fishing tight cover. Once it's dialed, this reel is smooth and quiet, and that 7.3:1 retrieve makes short work of covering water.