New Revo Inshore Reel from Abu Garcia
Monday, July 09, 2007

The low-profile Revo reel has been a bona fide hit for Abu Garcia, and there's an easy way to come to that conclusion: Abu can't make enough of them. Not bad for a new reel just introduced late last year.

With this success still fresh, Abu Garcia isn't resting on its laurels. InshoreFan.com has learned that at this week's ICAST fishing-industry trade show, Abu will be launching an inshore saltwater-specific Revo model called, appropriately, the Revo Inshore.

The original Revo (S, SX and STX) was introduced as a freshwater bass reel, but like so many other things from the bass world, it caught on in the inshore market too. It was designed as a sleek, distinctive low-profile reel with a fast retrieve, smooth drag and Abu Garcia's trademark long-term reliability. It also has innovations like the Infini Spool II in the STX model, where the spool is separate from the drive train to minimize friction for optimal performance.

To find out more behind the new Inshore model, InshoreFan talked to Abu Garcia's main man behind the reels, Gary Morgal.

InshoreFan: What central idea was behind the Revo reel originally, and why are you expanding the line now, meaning so soon?

Morgal: The American fisherman and global fisherman has been asking us to get involved in the low-profile market. We make round reels that are durable, rugged, and have a history of high quality and high performance. But over the last 7 to 10 years, we hadn't spent much time and energy developing low-profile reels that could wear the Abu Garcia name on it. But about 2 years ago, the market was demanding it, so we decided, Let's make best low-profile reel we can possibly make.

Revos have been an almost unprecedented success for Abu Garcia. With that success, we get a lot of customers asking us whether we plan to make this or that (variation on the original Revo). We have two new models (coming out, the Inshore and Premier), but people (want a lot more). We're getting a groundswell of input from the anglers about what they'd like and why they'd like it. We're trying to respond to their needs and desires, and bring them the products they're asking for.

Here's a closeup of the Revo Inshore.

Why create the Inshore model?

We found that a lot of anglers, like the Watts brothers, were using Revos for speckled trout and redfish. We said, 'You know, that's a great reel but it's built for bass. It's not really for saltwater, and doesn't have some of the components we'd like to see (for saltwater use).' So we asked ourselves, What would be the best (Revo) reel we could make for the inshore market?

We took the (original Revo) reel, and looked at what changes we'd have to make in it to make it a saltwater reel. One is that it has X-Craftic alloy in it. It's not proprietary - it comes out of the automobile industry. It's a component they're putting in their frames that will make (the frames) virtually corrosion-resistant. So we have that, which is unlike all of the other aluminum-frame reels (which) all corrode in salt spray.

The anglers also said, 'You know how redfish pull - give me something I can really crank the drag down on.' So we built the Revo Inshore with a 24-pound maximum drag. That's almost double anything else on the market.

Along with the Revo Inshore and Revo Premier (a lightweight reel geared to the bass market - Ed.), we'll be coming out with other models too. As this (reel) family evolves, it's like a family tree. It starts from a trunk and goes to a branch and another branch.

Aside from being corrosion resistant and a more powerful drag, are there any other inshore-specific situations that the Revo Inshore addresses?

These reels are designed to handle braided line - you can get more yardage on them.

What rods, if any, are the Revo Inshore ideally paired with?

Fenwick designed a series of rods called the Fenwick Intracoastal series, that are available right now for shipment: three spinning and three casting from 6' 6" to 7' 6". They have blue graphics, and the Revo Inshore has a blue spool.

Fenwick also has the Inshore Series, with six more targeted actions to inshore species like redfish, snook and speckled trout.

(Editor's note: Abu Garcia and Fenwick are sister companies.)

When will Revo Inshores be available at retail?

August or September of this year.

Are you taking steps to address the availability issues with current Revos?

Well, it's kind of a catch 22. If we push the factory to start popping out more reels without doing the quality check, we run the risk of putting out a reel that is sub-standard. We're kind of like the Marines: We'd rather have a few good reels instead of a lot of bad reels.

We've supplied and shipped more (Revos) than we have any other reel in the history of Abu Garcia - and it's not just the U.S. Everybody in the world wants this reel. So it's not that we're not trying to make them as fast as we can. But the Abu Garcia name is built around quality, durability and reliability, and we're not going to compromise that for increased production.

Anything else you want to mention about the Revo Inshore?

Get one because you won't regret buying one. We're not about putting hype out. This is a really good reel. Our customers are telling us that so we're happy.

Notable

> MSRP on the Revo Inshore is $229.99.

> It is available in right- and left-hand retrieve with a 6.4:1 ratio, and holds 175 yards of 12-pound line.

> Each reel comes with two handle choices: a power handle and a paddle handle. Revo Inshores also have the Infini II spool for longer casts.

> The Revo Inshore has seven ball bearings vs. the STX's 11. Morgal said: "You can get a bearing that costs a nickel or one that costs $2.00. In our higher-end reels (including the Revos), we are putting the better bearings in."

> Abu Garcia likes the X-Craftic alloy so much that it'll be incorporating it into other Revos. Re: the Revo Inshore, other corrosion-resistant parts include a stainless steel crankshaft, brass gears and Abu's carbon matrix drag.

> For more info on Abu Garcia products, check out AbuGarcia.com.

> To check out the Watts brothers talking about the new Revo Inshore, just click below: