Smith Super Strike

SMITH’s Super Strike is a baitcasting rod designed around the enjoyment of casting and working topwater plugs. Each model uses a different taper and material to bring out the action of the plug. The 6-foot 6-inch GO-102 is a long rod designed for sending plugs to a target from a distance. It combines a slow taper that bends from the butt section with the distinctive elasticity of a carbon blank. While providing the torque needed for long casts, this topwater plugging model produces a delicate action in which the rod tip makes the plug struggle and wriggle.

The FO-55L features a one-and-a-half-piece construction made from a glass-and-carbon composite and, as a lightweight version of the FO-60, is designed for accurately placing lightweight plugs in tight spots. It is 5 feet 5 inches long, with light power, a moderate action, and a lure weight rating of 5–12 g. By contrast, the GO-102 is 6 feet 6 inches long, with light power, a slow action, and a lure weight rating of 10–21 g, and features a two-piece carbon construction. Both models feature a single-grip design, and their different lengths, materials, tapers, and lure weight ratings allow them to be selected for applications ranging from working lightweight plugs at close range to topwater plugging with long casts.