iCAST Review: Garcia’s Revo Reel — Good, but WAY Pricy
Bob McNally 07.03.16
While the old adage “you get what you pay for” has plenty of merit, a price tag of $500 for a bait-casting reel designed chiefly for catching largemouth bass is a big stretch for all but the fattest wallets.
The new 4.5-ounce Revo MGXtreme bait-caster by Abu Garcia debuts at the 2016 iCAST international tackle show in Orlando, and it’s impressively built with high-end components. It touts corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearings, carbon matrix star drag system, titanium-coated line guide, and aircraft aluminum main gear.
One interesting feature is a bent carbon reel handle with round cork knobs that can be changed out to more standard EVA-foam knobs.
The Revo MGXtreme casts easily, has a good feel with solid components, a good drag, and is as light as bait-casters come.
But many anglers would be better served with a different, rugged, $100 bait-casting reel and using the extra cash to fund fishing trip expenses. Locating a few vintage “red” Garcia Ambassadeur 5000 or “gray” 5500C models on ebay may be even better money spent.
