Vendetta—The Next Generation…
Sounds like a movie title or new version of a video game, right? Wrong. This is a rod series from Abu Garcia that addresses the question of “What next?”
I can’t address why the company chose the name, Vendetta, for this series of rods, but I can speak to the next-generation theme. For anyone who has been fishing very long, one thing is apparent: fishing rods keep getting better and better, and each new iteration pushes the boundaries of quality in rods that don’t break the bank.
Abu’s Vendetta series of rods, at least the model I have, is proof of that. This 9 ½-foot, ¼- to 1-ounce lure, medium-action rod is rated for 10- to 20-pound line. It’s a light rod with enough flex in the tip to feel a soft bite and enough strength in the butt to tame a chinook in current.
Having said that, this series of rods was designed specifically for the guys who fish with line-counter reels, so the rods are designed more for trolling applications than for those who like to beat the banks.
That doesn’t mean that they won’t work in the latter application, because they will, and the price-point makes them even more attractive.
The one I have is a good mooching rod, works well with floats because of its length, handles plugs fairly well with its soft tip and does most things well enough that it could be an all-around rod for the experienced fisherman, and it’s an ideal rod for the beginner.
I don’t think I would use this rod for pulling a heavy diver, but then again, because of the price tag, I could buy a different model for heavy-duty use. There is a series of Vendetta Counter Cast rods in length from 7 feet, 10 inches to 10 feet, 6 inches. The rods come in either medium or medium-heavy actions, and somewhere in the series is a rod that will handle just about any steelhead or salmon technique—with the exception of sidedrifting and center-pin trotting.
The rod has EVA handles, and a trigger reel seat. But unlike a lot of lower-end rods, it also sports quality guides in abundance. This 9-foot, 6-inch rod has 11 guides plus the tiptop. The guides are stainless steel with zirconium inserts.
For more information, go to: www.abugarcia.com and do a search for “Counter Cast”.