The Abu garcia Revo Winch makes use of the same compact profile as the other reels in the Revo series yet is instantly recognizable thanks to a two tone motif in which the frame is traditional silver and the sideplates are a rich blue color. The reel is further accented with gold highlights with the matching spool and drag star, overall the combination gives the reel a simple yet elegant look and feel.
Look under the skin of this reel and it becomes obvious that the engineers at Abu wanted to build a true powerhouse of a reel. Abu garcia Revo Winch comes loaded with a massive pure brass master gear that the company calls “DuraGear” because it is also specially treated for corrosion resistance. Adding to the reel’s corrosion resistant features are eleven HPCR (High Performance Corrosion Resistant) bearings. The entire Revo series already has a reputation for having the strongest drags in their class, and the Winch makes use of the same Carbon Matrix drag system for smooth fish stopping performance.
In the lab the reel felt solid but also was noticeably heavier than both the Quantum Energy and Shimano Curado reels which are also contenders in the shootout. To test the Abu Garcia Revo Winch we head straight for the California Delta and paired the rod with a variety of crankbaits. We actually had trouble finding deep enough water that was vegetation free for our deep crank tests so we also decided to fish a number of Northern California lakes including Clear Lake to finish up our comparisons.
