Abu Garcia Max Pike Casting Combo 802Xh 8′ 40-120g/Max5LP-L300 L

The Abu Garcia Max Pike Casting Combo 802XH 8′ 40-120g is a specialized, top-of-the-line setup designed for the most demanding pike fishing scenarios. This combo is built to handle the demands of casting extra-heavy lures and fighting the largest, most powerful pike. The reel in this combo is a high-performance, large-capacity low-profile baitcaster, and the rod is a robust, extra-heavy casting rod.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the components and features of this specific combo.

In-Depth Description and Specifications

This combo is part of Abu Garcia’s dedicated “Pike” series, a step up from their standard Max lineup. It features a larger, more powerful reel and a rod built to handle the extreme stress of casting very heavy lures.

Rod Specifications and Features (802XH 8′ 40-120g)

• Rod Length: 8 feet (2.44 meters). This length is a great choice for pike fishing, as it provides exceptional casting distance, allowing you to cover a lot of water. It’s also long enough to provide excellent leverage when fighting a large fish.
• Rod Power: Extra-Heavy (XH). This power rating indicates a rod with an extremely strong backbone, designed to handle the heaviest lures and put the brakes on powerful fish, even in heavy cover.
• Lure Rating: 40-120g. This is a very wide and extra-heavy lure weight range, making the combo perfect for a variety of heavy-duty applications. It can handle oversized jerkbaits, large swimbaits, heavy spinnerbaits, and heavy jigs, which are often used to target trophy-sized pike.
• Action: Fast Action. This action means the rod bends primarily in the upper third of the blank. This provides a sensitive tip for detecting bites and a strong, quick-recovering backbone for powerful hooksets and fighting big fish.
• Pieces: 2-piece design. This is a convenient configuration for transport and storage without sacrificing the rod’s performance.
• Blank Material: Strong and responsive 24T Carbon. This is a high-quality carbon that provides a good balance of sensitivity and the powerful backbone needed for fighting large, aggressive species.
• Guides: The rod is equipped with strong Stainless Steel guides with LTS or SIC inserts. These guides are durable and designed to reduce friction for long casts, while also being capable of handling the heavy braid often used in pike fishing.
• Handle: The rod features high-density EVA handle grips. The EVA material provides a comfortable and secure grip even when wet. The split-grip design also helps to reduce the overall weight of the rod.
• Reel Seat: It is equipped with an ergonomic trigger grip design reel seat, providing a solid connection between the rod and reel and enhancing the angler’s ability to feel subtle vibrations from the line and lure.

Reel Specifications and Features (Max5LP-L300)

The reel in this combo is the Max LP low-profile baitcasting reel, specifically the 300 series. The “LP” stands for “Low Profile,” and the “-L” in the model number denotes a left-hand retrieve. The 300 size indicates a reel with a larger line capacity, perfect for the thick lines and long casts needed for pike fishing.

• Bearings: 4+1 Bearings. This includes 4 stainless steel HPCR (High Performance Corrosion Resistant) ball bearings for smooth operation and 1 roller bearing for instant anti-reverse, which provides solid hooksets without any handle backplay.
• Frame & Sideplates: Constructed from lightweight graphite. This material is durable and corrosion-resistant, making the reel a reliable choice for freshwater use. The reel’s design is compact and ergonomic, fitting comfortably in the palm of your hand.
• Gear System: Features Duragear™ Heavy Duty Gearing. This is a powerful and robust gear system, typically made of brass, that is built to last and handle the strain of retrieving heavy lures and fighting large fish.
• Drag System: Equipped with a Power Stack™ Carbon Matrix Drag System. This is a high-performance drag system that uses carbon washers to provide an incredibly smooth and powerful drag, capable of applying up to 11 kg (24 lbs) of pressure. This is a crucial feature for taming large pike.
• Braking System: The reel uses a MagTrax™ magnetic brake system. This system provides consistent and reliable cast control, essential for preventing backlashes when casting a wide range of lure weights. An external dial allows for easy adjustment of the braking force.
• Bait Clicker: This reel includes a convenient bait clicker or “line out alarm,” which can be turned on or off. This feature is very useful for anglers who are trolling or fishing with dead bait, as it provides an audible alert when a fish takes the line.