On your next trip to Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos, I’d strongly recommend bringing no fewer than five reels. You’ll want four or five combos in the boat at all times, and it pays to have a spare in case something goes awry. You can get by with standard-sized reels with gear ratios in the mid-to-upper range across the board, but if you’re really dialed in on a technique you might want something a little more specialized. Unfortunately, if that requires new reels the temptation might be to break the bank. Chris Martin of Daiwa offered us up information on reels that excel for flipping, cranking and swimbaiting that are also value propositions.
Reels Mentioned
Tatula 150
Discover five bass fishing lures that earned a spot in my boat in 2026, from a Berkley glide bait to a popping frog. Shop these proven baits at Tackle Warehouse.