Are you looking for a new spinning reel? If so, it is a good time because there are several great ones to choose from. Abu Garcia has certainly made spinning reels a top priority with a complete redesign of existing models and the release of my new favorite spinning reel, the Revo MGX. Another new addition to the Abu Garcia lineup is the revamped Villain rod, now called the Villain 2.0. I have had the chance to fish both of them and have come away impressed.
Revo MGX Spinning
As mentioned above, Abu has redesigned their entire spinning reel collection. They have changed the look and feel of all of the models from the Revo S to the Revo Premiere and the new MGX.
Here is quick rundown of the different models:
- Revo S
The entry-level Revo S spinning reel retails for $129.99. It is white and black and that makes it a perfect match for the Abu Garcia Veritas rods. They have improved this spinning reel and it many features I liked including a carbon matrix drag, Rocket Line Management System and Rocket Spool Lip design for better casting. It is also very smooth, lightweight and a good value for this price range.
- Revo STX
The next up is the black and red STX at the $159.99 range. It has all of the same features of the S, but has two more bearings to make it smoother and also has comes in a lighter overall package.
- Revo SX
Usually with reels as the price goes up, the weight goes down and the features go up. The SX does just this and is sold for $199.99 and weighs in between 6.7 to 8.8 oz. depending on the size. It also has 9HPCR + 1RB for the bearings, where the reels that are less expensive have one less bearing than the next reel up in the lineup.
- Revo Premier
The Revo Premier spinning reel comes in at $249.99 and is very light and also has more bearings than the other models. It is built with an aircraft grade aluminum main shaft and has a carbon fiber handle for less weight and more on the cosmetic side. The reel has a total of 12 stainless steel HPCR bearings (11+1). The weight is between 6.4 and 8.4 oz. again depending on size.
Revo MGX
The new member of their spinning reel family is the Revo MGX. This model has been out for a few years in baitcasting, but now there is a spinning reel that is just as smooth, light and stylish. The baitcast version is my favorite of all of the Revo lineup, so this had big shoes to fill to meet my expectations. It has done that and more.
There are several things I like about it including the weight, how smooth it is and how it pairs with the Villain 2.0 rods. The aluminum frame and alloy gearbox keep this reel below 6.8 ounces for both sizes offered, the 20 and 30. Understandably, the flagship spinning reel does cost more than the others and it retails for $299.99.
Villain 2.0 Rods
I’m glad that the Villain 2.0 came out and replaced the old version. I had two of the rods and loved how light and sensitive they were, but honestly never used them because of the handle design. It was a great looking rod, but comfort was not one of its strong suits. The new version fixed all of the old problems and is just a better rod overall.
Features
Compared to the first version of the Villain, the Villain 2.0 looks about the same with nice black styling and EVA foam grips. Both versions are very lightweight and feature 40 Ton graphite and titanium frame guides that keep it light and sensitive. The real difference is the real seats. They are much more comfortable and are made by Fuji.
Models Offered
The Villain 2.0 is available in eight different models for baitcast and eight more for spinning and it retails for $199.99. The two that I have been fishing with are the 7’6”, heavy baitcasting and 7’, medium-light spinning rod. They are both solid rods. I have used the baitcast version for jighead swimbaits almost exclusively and it handles 3/4-oz jigheads with an attached swimbait with ease. It casts great and is very light for a rod of this length and action. The spinning version is perfect for a dropshot; but I believe. it will work well for many other finesse techniques.
It can be hard to decide on a model when shopping for a new rod or reel, but many companies have a reel to meet just about anyone’s budget. You really can’t go wrong with any of the new Abu Garcia spinning reels as they are all excellent and much better than what a comparably cost reel a few years ago were. The same can be said of rods, there are so many companies making good rods and it comes down to budget and what is important to you.
Advertising