What's Next for Skeet Reese... The N2 Signature Rod Series

Total Score: 8.25 - EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD

Introduction: At the conclusion of 2025's bass fishing season, the legendary, Skeet Reese, weighed in his last fish as a professional angler. A force for over forty years in the competitive fishing scene, with close to thirty of those at the national level, Reese's two most famous accolades came in 2007 when he earned BASS Angler of the Year, and in 2009 when he won the coveted Bassmaster's Classic trophy. So, what's next for Reese? Well, we're unsure if he's a fan of Disney, but before his retirement from the tour, back on April 1, 2024, Reese announced the official launch of his own tackle brand, Reese Fishing.

On April 1, 2024, Reese wasn't fooling when he announced the launch of his new tackle company, Reese Fishing

Let's face it, this is not a new, trailblazing path. There are a lot of pro anglers who have and continue to start their own brands. But this is Skeet Reese we're talking about. He of the once wild, bleach blonde hair who later abandoned that look by shaving his head, only to eventually return to his dark brown roots years later. He's a high energy, fiery, go-getter, so if his goal is to create a brand where, among other things, he crafts fishing rods for the serious angler, you better believe he's bold enough to put a statement like that on his sticks for everyone to see. However, the ultimate test of how serious any rod manufacturer may be is right here - sending your product to TackleTour. Here's our first, detailed look at the Reese Fishing Next 2 sticks.

Late in 2025, he launched his N2 line of fishing rods

Impressions: Grasp one of Reese Fishing's N2 sticks, like the 764C and you'll discover they are relatively light and well balanced, and surprisingly crisp. Trace the handle's lines with your eyes over the custom designed reel seat, up to the reel seat hood and you'll discover a metal cap with the inscription "Meticulously Crafted For the Serious Angler." That's a bold statement to put in front of someone like me inviting even closer scrutiny than what otherwise might occur. Bold and brash, just like Reese himself.

The motto, "Meticulously Crafted For The Serious Angler" is stamped across the accent ring at the top of the reel seat hood

However, as bold and brash as Reese may be, he's also a very successful, seasoned bass pro who knows you can't force the bite. You need to fish to the conditions and in the rod manufacturing world, a lot of times, that means to keep your product accessible at a reasonable price point, you need to compromise. How do you accomplish that? One method is in your decision in what to use for the guides. Reese Fishing's Next 2 series features components by SeaGuide instead of the standard Fuji. These SeaGuide XOs feature 316 stainless steel frames with silicone nitride inserts. In the spirit of being meticulous, I looked it up and silicone nitride rates 15-20 GPa on the Vicker's Hardness scale. SiC, Fuji's reasonably priced high end insert (as opposed to Torzite) is rated 25-28 GPa, but Alconite (more commonly found on rods similar in price point to Next 2) is rated at 12.7-14.7 GPa.

Guides are by SeaGuide and feature SS frames with silicone nitride inserts

What does that mean in layman's terms? Guides with silicone nitrade inserts are actually harder and more durable than Alconites. What's more, if these rods had Fuji Alconites on them, I'd expect the price point to be closer to $299 instead of hovering around $250. Throw a set of SS/SiCs or Ti/SiCs on them and we're entering Enthusiast territory. Not that I'd complain, but hardly the intelligent path to follow if your goal is accessibility. With the decision to abandon Fuji and go with the more prudent SeaGuide XOs, that's exactly what Reese Fishing's Next 2 rods are - accessible. Not a bad tradeoff.

The first bait I threw on the N2 755C Glass, of course