I'll give an answer to the original question, one of each. 

My favorite reel is ZPI Alcance.  This reel has the fastest spool and greatest cast distance of any off-shelf reel I've purchased (ok, the shelf is JDM).  Right now, it rides my back-up box, with 2 spare spools, 12-lb Tatsu, shallow spool with X-braid, and ready to go in my MM niche with 20-lb 832 - it's ready to plug into 3 niches, BFS to MM. 

The Korea factory reel has magnesium spool with titanium spindle, and tuned mag-brake cam. 

I'm planning to match this reel full-time with a Waterloo Carbon Mag rod, but next year when I can swing the pennies.  I suspect this will become my favorite rod, too. 

 

In the meantime, my favorite rod, ML light-in-hand Toray graphite, matched with my braid-raced Zillion, is 13Fishing Omen Green. 

 

a few thousand answers?  It certainly seems the OP was fishing for diversity.

 

On topic replies are, well, on topic. 

4 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Welcome to the forum.  And for resurrecting a thread that asks this question a lot (favorite rod or favorite reel). 

72k+ members - about 500-1000 active the last six months or so...

 

You're gonna get probably a few thousand answers...for me, it depends on what technique I'm using at the time...so there's 3 rigs I'd call 'favorite' at this point.

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

Look at it this way, John...4 years is recent compared to some that have been resurrected in the past year.

It's always a good time.

Gen1 Quantun Smoke 7' m/f  casting rod. 

I will play here...My go to all around rod, I use a Shimano SLX DC, and a Duckett rod which happens to be the Jacob Wheeler signature series 7'2 MH. I can skip with it, I can pitch with it, I can do a lot with it. It is my favorite setup in my arsenal besides my frog setup. 

Dobyns Champion XP 684c with a Shimano SLX XT 7.2:1 lefty is my favorite combo. I've had it like 2 months or so and it's just amazing.

My favorite casting outfit is a shimano slx mounted on a 7’ med powered Wright & McGill rod I bought at my local Wal Mart. My favorite spinning combo is either a bps panfish elite rod with a Piscifun Carbon X 1000 size reel (replacing with a Legalis LT) or a Cortland CTR 6’-3” light powered x-fast rod which I haven’t quite found a reel for yet, although I’m leaning towards a Shimano nasci fc?. Although I have better options these combos are fantastic for the local pond that I’ve been hitting this year and they make me quite happy.

4 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Gen1 Quantun Smoke 7' m/f  casting rod. 

Very underrated line of rods!

I have a H/F that’s my punch stick

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Metanium MGL 2020 and Shimano Poison Adrena. 

16 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Metanium MGL 2020 and Shimano Poison Adrena. 

the tough part is deciding between the 6'11m+ and the 7'3mh....

 

scott

Shakespeare excursion 6’ medium spinning with pflueger Trion 20. 

3 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

the tough part is deciding between the 6'11m+ and the 7'3mh....

 

scott

I have the 73MH and can't even explain in words how much I love it! It can do just about everything. No experience with the 611M but i don't use rods shorter than 7' 2". 

3 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

I have the 73MH and can't even explain in words how much I love it! It can do just about everything. No experience with the 611M but i don't use rods shorter than 7' 2". 

agreed....but if you ever go below 7'2" the PA 6'11m+ is magical.  problem is you have to buy another 20 met.

 

scott

 

 

5 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

agreed....but if you ever go below 7'2" the PA 6'11m+ is magical.  problem is you have to buy another 20 met.

 

scott

 

 

You're absolutely right! That reel has ruined me.... 

5 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

...they make me quite happy.

You can't ask for much more than that.  ?

Right now, St Croix Legend Glass 7'2 M/M. It is just too much fun to fish. Normally my answer would be some dropshot stick probably. I love feeling a loaded up fairy wand with a 4lber on the end of it. Orochi XX Whipsnake or Zodias 7'0 ML/F. Both aesthetically awesome rods. 

9 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

I'll give an answer to the original question, one of each. 

My favorite reel is ZPI Alcance.  This reel has the fastest spool and greatest cast distance of any off-shelf reel I've purchased (ok, the shelf is JDM).  Right now, it rides my back-up box, with 2 spare spools, 12-lb Tatsu, shallow spool with X-braid, and ready to go in my MM niche with 20-lb 832 - it's ready to plug into 3 niches, BFS to MM. 

The Korea factory reel has magnesium spool with titanium spindle, and tuned mag-brake cam. 

I'm planning to match this reel full-time with a Waterloo Carbon Mag rod, but next year when I can swing the pennies.  I suspect this will become my favorite rod, too. 

 

In the meantime, my favorite rod, ML light-in-hand Toray graphite, matched with my braid-raced Zillion, is 13Fishing Omen Green. 

 

a few thousand answers?  It certainly seems the OP was fishing for diversity.

 

On topic replies are, well, on topic. 

That ZPI Alcance is such a good looking reel, looking forward to seeing the rod when you get it.