Anyone who has spent time behind a spinning or casting rig searching for the big bite understands the importance of quality equipment.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned tournament professional, a good rod and reel can be the difference between a successful day and a tired story about the one that got away. Recent advances in technology and computer-aided designs allow manufacturers to produce rods and reels that outperform those from years past.

Every year, Outdoor Life assembles an expert panel of fishing guides, engineers and fin junkies to test and evaluate the newest rod and reel offerings. This year’s panelists, with more than 190 years of fishing expertise among them, assembled in the Mississippi Delta in September to put the newest equipment through its paces. Here’s what we found.