Matt Allen of TacticalBassin has opened his 2026 spring gear review with two major releases at the top of the list: a rebuilt G. Loomis IMX Pro rod line and the first US launch of Shimano's Vanquish spinning reel, both of which he and co-host Tim Little put through a spring of testing before pronouncing them worth the upgrade.
Allen framed the list as a filter across a spring of heavy product turnover. "We have been hard at work this spring," he said. "We find a lot of junk and we find some absolute gems. So, what we've got here today for you are some of those gems. These are items that have been surviving the testing, surviving the abuse, catching fish, improving our fishing, and they really stand out from the crowd."
The IMX Pro is central to the discussion because it is central to the hosts' own rod rotation — MBR, JWR, crankbait and swimbait versions have all been staples in their fishing for years. Any revamp of a staple rod risks breaking the feel that got it there in the first place. "When we caught wind that it was being revamped, we were both excited and nervous because what happens when a line of rods gets revamped? Change happens," Allen said.
His verdict after spring testing: the new IMX Pro is a step forward rather than a reset. He reported a noticeable improvement in sensitivity, flagged a subtle palm-swell adjustment on the spinning handle that improves cork contact, and emphasised that the rods continue to be built in Woodland, Washington. The line-up itself has shifted: a number of older outlier models have been discontinued, while nine new models have been added, including what he described as the first-ever BFS-specific rod G. Loomis has produced in the IMX Pro range — a significant signal from a US-based rod builder about the direction of the finesse category.
The reel side of the review turns on Shimano's Vanquish, which arrived in the US in January 2026 after years of being available only through Japan's domestic market. Allen described the Vanquish as Shimano's flagship finesse spinning reel, distinct in feel and purpose from the company's power line. Imports had long existed on the fringes of the US finesse scene, but without domestic support — no parts, no warranty — those builds were hard to recommend. "The Vanquish is the highest end in that finesse family of reels," he said, explaining that the US launch finally puts the reel within reach of anglers who want a top-tier finesse spinning set-up without the import hassle.
Taken together, the two picks define what the review argues a serious bass angler should consider this spring: a rebuilt flagship rod line that doubles down on made-in-US manufacturing while adding a BFS model, and a long-awaited finesse reel arrival backed by proper US support. For anglers building out a 2026 kit rather than tinkering with last season's, that is the starting point Allen is recommending.
