There are many baitcasting reels in the $150 price range these days. I gave one of them — the Abu Garcia Revo SX Gen 4 — a recent workout. With so many of them boasting comparable features, I was curious to see if this Abu offering could stand out among its competitors.
I used the Revo SX Gen 4 for about a month, fishing with it every weekend. I used lures ranging from a 1/8-ounce jighead — to see how or if it was possible to cast such a light lure — to a 1 ½-ounce punching rig. I found the reel easy to adjust, and I was able to use it under various conditions.
The Revo SX Gen 4 is light, weighing in at 7.7 ounces. That’s the result of an alloy frame and carbon side plates. But that doesn’t mean Abu skimped on the reel’s internal components. The gear design — including a brass main gear — gives the reel enough beef and torque to handle big fish. But that’s not the only thing that sets this reel apart for its competitors. Its drag caught my attention, which is plenty solid and buttery smooth.
The Revo SX Gen 4 comes with a whopping 24 pounds of drag. Most bass fishing reels have drags between 11 pounds and 16 pounds. While that’s respectable, they can slip under demanding conditions such as flipping, pitching, and punching. The Revo SX Gen 4’s drag held tight when fish tried to wrap my line around bushes and trees or when I winched in a 5-pounder, along with 10 pounds of weeds, while punching. The drag worked equally well when hauling in fighting smallmouth with light line. It was smooth and forgiving. It wasn’t sticky or uneven.
On the water, the Revo SX Gen 4 is smooth and responsive. The spool braking system is impressive, probably the best I have ever used. As with most new reels, it took about 20 minutes of fishing before I had the cast controls adjusted to my liking. Once I did, I didn’t need to re-adjust them much as I switched between lures and techniques. Casting was impressively smooth and backlash-free, even when casting light lures long distances. The quiet retrieve is creamy and gentle, comparable to reels at higher price points.
I could tell that Abu put considerable time and effort into the creature comforts of the Revo SX Gen 4. The compact bent handle, star drag, and low-profile design are ergonomic, making it comfortable in my hand. I like that the grips are thinner than the bulky ones on the earlier Abu Garcia Revo MGX. It’s a more comfortable fit for me and contributes to the reel feeling like it was custom-designed for my hand. That makes a huge difference during a day of slinging heavy swimbaits.
Other features on the Revo SX Gen 4 include ten stainless steel bearings — nine ball bearing and one roller bearing — a multidisc Carbon Matrix drag system, and an upgraded Infini-Brake system. Abu offers it in 6.6:1 and 7.3:1 gear ratios. It is available in the right- and left-hand retrieves and comes with a one-year limited warranty.
The Revo SX Gen 4 stands out in the sea of baitcasting reels available for about $150. It handles various lure types and presentations, so it’s appropriate for many applications. When you’re ready to purchase your next baitcasting reel, it's worth consideration.