ICAST Report: Best Baitcasting Reel
Originally Published on Aug 3, 2011 “From the Docks” NBC Sports
Lure chuckers understand the difference between a good reel and a great reel, and there’s lots of superb models now available from noted brands like Shimano, Quantum, Lew’s, Ardent, Pinnacle and Daiwa. So it says a lot when the latest offering in Abu’s renowned line of low-profile Revo baitcasters, the MGX, left the ICAST show toting hardware naming it New Product Showcase winner after impressing some pretty tough judges.
The MGX combines compact design with an alloy frame and C6 carbon sideplates to produce a high-performance reel that weighs just 5.4 ounces. The only other reel I’ve seen in that weight class is the fantastic 5.3-ounce Daiwa PX Type R low-profile.
Lightweight is important, but it doesn’t trump other important performance characteristics like drag and cast control/distance. The new Revo MGX comes with its Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake system that offers an unbelievable 28 external adjustments. Per ABU, this breaking system allows anglers to cast extremely lightweight baits without problems.
The MGX comes in two retrieve ratios that seem extreme at first, a 7.1:1, which provides 28 inches per turn (similar to other Revo models with 6.4:1 retrieve), and a 7.9:1 model that takes in 31 inches of line with each turn of the handle (similar to other high-speed Revo models with 7.1:1 gearing).
Even with all this performance built in, the first thing you’ll notice about the MGX is its weight: How do they make a reel that is soooooo light?
