Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

There have been significant advances made in reel design over the last several years. Today’s reels are smaller, lighter, stronger, smoother and, in many cases, faster than ever before.

Abu Garcia has driven many of these innovations with game-changing models in their popular Revo baitcaster line. It’s impossible not to like the powerful Abu Revo MGX or the speedy Revo Rocket. Both offer performance upgrades that help put fish in the boat.

Let’s fast-forward to today. And tomorrow.

While innovations in baitcasters have been the dominate news in the reel market, there has been some massive upgrades in the spinning market as well. These changes were driven by anglers who demanded platform improvements to take full advantage of breakthroughs, particularly in fishing lines.

When angler acceptance of superlines picked up strength, it was only natural that anglers want to use them to their full potential.

Spinning reels built for 10-pound mono were now being strung with 30- to 50-pound braid and thrust into fisheries that would have been considered insane a few short years ago. Redfish or giant bass with a size 20 or 30 spinning reel? And the craziness goes on from there, in both fresh and saltwater.

The results, of course, were disastrous for anglers with reels that were not designed for the tasks assigned. Part of it is self-inflicted. Anglers grew used to buying low-end spinning gear that was “good enough” in the days before braids. Now, there is growing acknowledgement that there is a need to upgrade to high-performance spinning gear engineered with quality components, including tougher gearing, better drags and rigid frames that can handle the heavy pressure of big fish.

Abu responded to the demand by applying their considerable knowledge and world-class R&D power to the task of building great spinning reels.

The wait was long, particularly for those who caught wind of the spinning initiative. It was also worth it.

Abu unveiled part of it new line of Revo spinning reels at the ICAST show last summer, and now anglers are getting their chance to fish the results of many years of dedicated work.

The top-of-the line model, like in the baitcasting series, is the Revo MGX. It features precision-machined aluminum gears, computer-optimized gear design, magnesium alloy one-piece gear box, aircraft-grade aluminum main shaft, carbon body and rotor, Rocket line management system and spool lip design, and lots more.

Fish one and you’ll notice the improvements immediately. The Revo MGX is smoother, lighter, stronger and just plain better than any spinning reel I’ve every fished. But then, so is the Revo SX, which sells for $159.99.

All reels in the new Revo spinning line are geared a speedy 6.2:1. The MGX size 30 brings in a blazing 35 inches of line per turn! Compare that to the classic Abu Cardinal which is geared 5.2:1 and brings in 20.5 inches per turn.

I’ve become a huge fan of speed. It’s simple math, but not as simple as: cover more water—catch more fish. More inches per turn means more line pickup for quicker hooksets, a huge deal when making long casts or fishing slack-line presentations like jigs, jig worms, grubs or Fluke-style baits.

That’s the other trend – not only are new spinning reels getting stronger, tougher, lighter and faster, they’re getting smaller with the performance of bigger reels. What may have been a standard size for bass fishermen 10 years ago is now one size smaller. Personally, I find myself fishing more size 20s and 30s than 30s and 40s, especially when paired with today’s near weightless rods. I can go lighter with the entire setup and while still maintaining the awesome power, drag and overall engineering of the reel. The Revo MGX20 weighs a mere 6.2 ounces!

Often overlooked, it’s this kind of balance that helps anglers catch more fish – from keeping fatigue at bay to helping us detect bites better. Of course, that makes for a more fun fishing experience!

I encourage you to visit your local retailer and give Abu’s new line of Revo spinning reels a spin. Ask the clerk to put one on a feathery Abu spinning rod. These days it’s nothing to create a balanced combo that weighs under 10 ounces but with loads of power!

About Steve Pennaz

Steve Pennaz excels at finding and catching fish on new waters, a skill developed over 30 years of extensive travel in search of giant fish. His television series, Lake Commandos, Man vs. Lake vs. Man, helps anglers understand the steps to building successful patterns on the water.