With his “Never Give Up” attitude, professional bass angler Mike Iaconelli and Abu Garcia®, have been hard at work developing a full offering of “Ike approved” products for young anglers just learning to fish all the way up to youth anglers with more advanced skill levels.  The series takes into account versatility and skills growth for aspiring anglers and includes the Abu Garcia Ike Dude Spincast and Spinning combos for beginners starting as early as age 8, the Gen Ike EZ Cast Combo for first time low profile baitcast anglers and the Gen Ike Spinning and Low Profile Combos for mid-level anglers.

“When a system with levels is created, it allows children and adults alike to want to do better and continue growing,” said Abu Garcia Vice President of Marketing Jon Schlosser. “Abu Garcia products are known for giving anglers what they need to fish to win, and these products naturally fit the need for kids to see progress in their growth as anglers.”

Iaconelli has a proud history of involvement with youth anglers and outreach efforts to get kids into fishing, so expanding on the program with Abu Garcia to help grow the skills of young anglers was an ideal next step for an already accomplished and influential angler.

“It’s my mission to get more kids fishing and building their love for the outdoors, so I couldn’t be more excited about the new Gen Ike series. I think kids who are just trying out fishing for the first time or are looking to develop their skills are really going to have some fun with them,” said Iaconelli.

Beginning with the Ike Dude, these combos offer cutting edge design and precision performance for anglers ages 8 and up. The Ike Dude combos feature quality components paired with signature “Ike” graphics. Offered in both spinning and spincast versions, the Ike Dude combos are lightweight and pre-spooled making them ideal for a beginner.

Once youth anglers have mastered spinning or spincast, they can progress into the world of low-profile reels. Due to the learning curve that comes with mastering the low-profile reel, Abu Garcia and Iaconelli designed the Gen Ike EZ Cast Combo. This combo is designed for developing anglers who want to learn how to use a low-profile, bait-casting reel without the mess and frustration caused by backlashes. The trademarked Anti-Backlash System™ allows for Tangle Free™ casting and can be turned off once the angler is comfortable with casting which makes it easy for them to transition to the next level.

Finally, the Abu Garcia Gen Ike combos are designed for mid-level anglers who aren’t kids anymore and who want to be using modern equipment with appealing cosmetics. These combos feature quality components and are available in low-profile and spinning models.  The Spinning combo features a three ball bearing plus one roller bearing system with a lightweight graphite body and rotor. Gen Ike Low-Profile Combos features a four stainless steel ball bearing plus one roller bearing system with a machined aluminum spool, compact bent handle and recessed reel foot for maximum durability.

Abu Garcia Ike Youth Series Specifications:

Ike Dude Spinning Combo
MSRP: $39.99

  • 2 Ball bearings
  • Pre-spooled with 8lb. line
  • Lightweight graphite body and rotor
  • Aluminum spool
  • High-density EVA grips
  • Lightweight composite blank

Ike Dude Spincast Combo
MSRP: $34.99

  • Stainless steel cone and line guide
  • Pre-spooled with 6lb. line
  • High-density EVA grips
  • Lightweight composite blank

Ike EZ Cast Combo
MSRP: $49.99

  • Features Anti-Backlash System™ and allows for Tangle Free™ casting
  • 3 Bearing system
  • Pre-spooled with 10lb. line
  • Aluminum handle
  • Soft touch handle knobs
  • 6-foot Medium action rod
  • High density EVA handles

Gen Ike Spinning Combo
MSRP: $49.99

  • 3 Ball bearings plus 1 roller bearing
  • Pre-spooled with 8lb. line
  • Lightweight graphite body and rotor
  • Machined aluminum spool
  • Everlast™ bail system
  • Slow oscillation
  • Rocket Line Management™ system
  • Rocket Spool Lip Design™
  • 24 Ton graphite with high density EVA grips
  • Texas rigged hook keeper for all bait applications

Gen Ike Low Profile Combo
MSRP: $69.99

  • 4 Stainless steel ball bearings plus 1 roller bearing
  • Pre-spooled with 10lb. line
  • Machined aluminum spool
  • Power Disk™ drag system
  • Duragear™ brass gear
  • MagTrax™ drag system
  • Compact bent handle
  • Recessed reel foot
  • One-piece graphite frame
  • Graphite sideplates
  • 24 Ton graphite with high density EVA handles