Abu Garcia Vengeance Low Profile Baitcast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo

I've only tried bait casting once many, many years ago. I had nothing but frustration with it. Technology having vastly improved, I thought I would give it another try.I didn't want to spend an absolute fortune on a combo rig, but just wanted a decent rod and reel to get started.Abu Garcia is a very well known name among anglers and they have a great reputation.This combo is fairly priced, it showed up in a few days, and I'm excited to spool it up and give it a try. It operates smooth as glass and is pretty solid for such a lower end bait caster. The rod itself is really nice.

I purchased this fishing rod after being lured in by the promises of catching the big one. It looked sleek, shiny, and full of hope—like a noble steed waiting to gallop into the sunset and bring me glory with every cast. I imagined myself standing on the edge of a tranquil lake, reeling in massive fish while a gentle breeze tousled my hair in a cinematic, heroic way. I even envisioned the fish applauding my impeccable technique. How wrong I was.The first sign of trouble came when I attempted to assemble the rod. A simple process, I thought. I twisted the pieces together, but rather than a satisfying click, it was more of a disconcerting creak. The rod sounded like a tired old man getting out of bed, but I brushed it off. “It’s fine,” I told myself. “Every great journey has its bumps in the road.”I took my new rod to the lake, ready to show off my new, highly sophisticated fishing skills. With my tackle box in hand, I approached the water with a deep, spiritual sense of connection to nature. I was one with the lake... until I tried to cast. I made a graceful, practiced motion, envisioning myself as a fishing god. But what happened next will haunt me forever.As soon as I released the line, the rod did something I can only describe as an Olympic gymnast attempting a dismount off the balance beam. It bent in ways that physics surely did not intend. I heard a faint, almost apologetic snap, followed by a deep, resonant sigh that seemed to emanate from the rod itself. I stood frozen in horror as the rod, like a broken promise, crumpled in half. The worst part? It was the first cast. The first. CAST. I had not even begun to fish, and the rod had already failed me.In an act of denial, I tried to hold the rod together, like a child trying to fix a broken toy with glue and hope. But no matter how hard I tried to bend it back into shape, it was too late. The rod had snapped, irreparably, like my dreams of becoming a master angler. At that moment, I wasn’t just holding a broken rod. I was holding my shattered spirit.Let’s talk about the line. I watched as my brand-new line drifted aimlessly into the water, as if it, too, had given up on life. I briefly wondered if I should’ve sent a resignation letter to the lake. The fish, undoubtedly watching from their secret underwater lairs, probably laughed at my misery. I could hear them snickering, like, "Look at this guy with his $40 rod. What a chump."Now, I’ve been fishing before, and I’ve used rods that have seen better days, but nothing could prepare me for this. I thought I could at least maybe catch a fish or have the satisfaction of a good pull on the line. But instead, this rod treated me to an impromptu crash course in disappointment and futility. I was left standing in the water, holding a broken stick, feeling like an absolute fool, while my line slowly sank into the murky depths. If you ever need a metaphor for hopelessness, I would recommend standing in front of this rod after it snaps. It's like watching a puppy look at you with its big sad eyes after you’ve already thrown away its favorite toy. You know it's over, and there’s no going back.Now, let’s address the “durability” of this rod. The Amazon page promises it’s made with “premium materials for long-lasting use.” Well, the only thing premium about this rod was the premium level of disappointment it served up. After five minutes, I found myself holding two broken pieces of what could only be described as a fishing rod-shaped metaphor for all of life’s broken dreams. If this rod was a contestant in a race, it would’ve been the one that tripped over its own shoelaces before even crossing the starting line.To add insult to injury, I did the one thing I swore I’d never do: I checked the reviews. Sure enough, I was not alone in my sorrow. There were others, brave souls who had also invested in this rod only to watch it splinter into oblivion. One reviewer described it as “like fishing with a noodle” and honestly, that felt generous. A noodle at least has the decency to stay together long enough to throw in a pot of boiling water. This rod didn’t even survive the journey from the car to the lake.Now, you might be thinking, “Well, why not just return it?” Oh, I wish it were that easy. But at this point, the rod and I have shared an experience—an emotional journey—together. I can’t just return it, like we’re not tied together in some cosmic bond now. The broken pieces of this rod have left an indelible mark on my soul. It’s like I went fishing and came back with nothing, except a deeper understanding of how cruel the universe can be.I think, in the end, this fishing rod is less about catching fish and more about catching a deep existential crisis. If you're into that sort of thing—if you enjoy staring into the abyss of failure while holding something that looks like it was made by a company that sells its products based on promises of “joy” and “hope”—then this rod is for you. But if you're an actual angler who wants to catch fish, look elsewhere. This rod has the same chances of catching a fish as I have of being on America’s Next Top Model.So here I am, broken-hearted and empty-handed, with nothing but the ruins of my fishing dreams and the broken remnants of a rod that couldn’t even last 10 minutes. If you want a rod that guarantees you’ll feel like a failure by the time you’re done fishing, look no further. This is the one.1 star. Would give zero stars if I could. Please save your money, and maybe invest in a rock to throw into the water. It will disappoint you less.I WILL BE BACK!

This bait caster is really good for the price I love it 😍

Nice and the price indeed was fantastic for a complete reel and rod. Gave to my grandson and he loves it

With the reviews on the combo I was a little hesitant to buy, but made the decision and placed the order. The rod can in without any damage and has proven to be a great combo for the price!

Terrible build quality on both rod and reel. Would return if I could. I’ll give you mine free. Don’t buy.

The Performance at this price point sets the best value for anything in this price point!! It’s super light and fits really comfortably in the hand, so it will cause no fatigue after a few hours of use. I managed to catch my personal best fish with this rod

I bought for my nephew for his birthday!