I recently received a package from XXX-Stream Tackle, Inc. out of Florida. They're trying to break into the steelhead and salmon market on the West coast and wanted to know how their reels would stand up to the tests that we could throw at them. Before agreeing to test them I wanted to do a little research as we all know the market is already flooded with tons of reel manufacturer's.

First of all, who's Doug Hannon and why is his name plastered all over the reel and advertising for them? We'll as it turns out Doug Hannon is "The Bass Professor"! Not just a name, but this dude is the real deal. From tournament wins, to the record for the most largemouth bass over 10lbs (over 800 and counting), to inventing the weedless electric trolling motor, to hosting his own TV show, to being on ESPN for over 15 years. How did I NOT hear of him? We'll that's an easy one... I don't fish for Bass.

Not being shy, I was able to get Doug's phone number and gave him a call. When I asked him about the WaveSpin Reels you could just hear the enthusiasm in his voice. This is his baby! He explained to me he wanted to come up with a reel that not only eliminated tangles, but also added distance to your cast. With the spool design Doug came up with he claims to have found both. Apparently Field and Stream agrees as they awarded the WaveSpin Reels "Best of the Best 2008" for new technology.

So... let's give it a shot!

Right out of the box the reel drew my interest, although more in a peculiar way. The spool definitely catches the eye and is unlike any other spool I've seen. An attractive reel with good color scheme it would look nice on the river. The handle is also an eye catcher. The design is very similar to that of a Van Staal, over sized and well balanced.

I tested the DH 3000 - rated for 220 yards of 8lb mono or 30lb braid. 8+1 Stainless Steal Ball Bearings, Graphite Body, Dead Stop™ Anti-Reverse, exclusive no tool/quick strip/split spool and of course the "WaveSpin" spool for longer casts and no tangles.

Weighing in at 10 ounces it feels very much like the other reels in this class I enjoy using, the Team Daiwa™ Sol and the Shimano Stradic.

The oversized handle feels very nice and without line or a load it's very well balanced and smooth.

I loaded the reel up with 30lb braid and teamed it up with one of my favorite float rods.

Casting: I found casting to be a breeze. The line came off the spool very smooth and I never felt the "waves" interfered with the line flow like I thought it may while looking at it. But then it hit me!

As for the long distance casts, I'm really not sure now much of an advantage this reel gave me. I rarely give the hail Mary or heave ho cast, but for testing purposes I thought I better. Yes it did cast far, but I didn't bring another reel to compare against. I didn't feel this was an important factor in casting but for those of you that do, this reel is sure to please.

Tangles: Well, I didn't have any tangles so it did work, but then again with a spinning reel I don't get that many tangles anyway. But for those that do have troubles with tangles, below explains how the WaveSpin system works and how it will eliminate those pesky tangles when they do occur.

How WaveSpin™ Eliminates Tangles During the retrieve, on traditional spinning reels loops are inevitably formed when small increments of slack line are reeled onto the spool. With a standard smooth spool these loops often crawl together forming a hair pin or even a twisted loop that overhangs the spool lip (fig. 1). During the cast, a high-speed, high-energy line is pulled tight against the spool lip, engages the loop and snatches it and all the line spooled on top of this loop off in the form of a "birdnest." With WaveSpin, as a loop forms across the face of the spool, it is forced to exit and re-enter the spool through the paths of least resistance as a single, tight loop at the base of the waves (fig. 2). In the cast, as the line skims harmlessly over the peaks of the waves, it never contacts the loops hidden safely down between the waves. Loops leave the spool unnoticed in the normal sequence of the cast and tangles are completely eliminated.

Drag: One of the most important factors in a reel is it's drag system. The WaveSpin boasts the "Exclusive Nano Drag, the worlds smoothest and strongest drag". Now if I could only hook a fish. And there it is! After about an hour of playing and experimenting I decided to really concentrate and it paid off. I switched from my "go to" jig and put on a nice little cluster of eggs. Although I was fishing for summer runs, it just happened to be an nice teener Chinook that decided he wanted to play tug of war. I may have had 30lb braid as my main line but I only had 8lb fluorocarbon leader. This bad boy DID NOT want to come in. I had several line screaming runs which is what I wanted. The drag system was as advertised, nice and smooth. I was finally able to coax the little guy in, removed the hook, revived him and let him go off on his journey.

For under $100 bucks this is a great reel. For those that have problems with tangles I'd seriously look at this reel to help eliminate them and enjoy your fishing experience even more. One recommendation would be to purchase a spare spool for $30. I always carry a spare spool with whatever reel I'm using and recommend the purchase of one since a spare spool is not included. You can purchase the reel and spare spool directly from www.wavespinreel.com.