The
great thing about bass fishing today is there are so many brands and price
ranges to choose from when you are looking for new equipment. With so much
competition on the market and the great advancements in technology, a solid rod
or reel can be found at just about any budget. Abu Garcia is one brand that
caters to everyone, from the beginner to the seasoned pro. In this article I
will break down three different rods in their lineup as well as the line of Revo baitcaster and spinning
reels designed for all different budgets.
RODS
Abu
Garcia has always been known for reels, but their rod quality and technology
has really evolved over the past few years. There are several excellent rods in
the lineup and they have three great ones to choose from and all of them retail
for less than $200.
Veritas
The
Veritas is a very popular rod and the white rods can
be seen all over the place if you are out on the lake. At a value price of $99.99
they are a great investment, they are lightweight, sensitive and offered in
many different models.
The
recently released Veritas 2.0 was designed to improve
break strength, while also featuring a micro click adjustment on the reel seat
for a more secure fit.
Veracity
While
the bright red colored Veracity is not Abu’s most expensive rod (retail
$149.99), it may be my favorite of them all. They are a step up from the Veritas in terms of sensitivity and also strength.
Another
thing I like about the Veracity is how light and balanced it is. Abu Garcia measures their rod blanks in terms
of tons of graphite. The Veritas is a 30 Ton, while
the Veracity is constructed from 36 Ton graphite. It’s a step up both sensitivity
and performance.
Villain
The
Villain series is an excellent quality rod and looks great as well. The all
black design with black high density EVA foam grips is a stylish look. This rod
retails for $199.99 and features 40 Ton graphite, the highest quality of any
Abu rod and it is very lightweight.
REELS
Abu
Garcia has designed their reels to be a perfect fit for their rods and it is
easy to see when you fish with a paired combo. The rods work fine with any reel
and the reels will match any other brand, but pairing two Abu products is a
perfect fit. The most popular of their reels is the Revo
series and it includes the S and SX in spinning and those and a host of other baitcast reels carrying the Revo
name.
Revo S
The
Revo S retails for $129.99 and in an all-white design
looks and feels great when paired with a Veritas rod.
The baitcast model comes in both right and left
handed and in the popular 6.4:1 gear ratio, while the spinning reel includes
many great components including the X-Craftic alloy
frame and Duragear brass gears. It’s a quality reel
for an entry-level price.
Revo SX
The
next up in terms of pricing is the SX, at $159.99 this is a great value for
what you get. My SX spinning reel has performed flawlessly for two full seasons
and I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a new spinning reel. The baitcast version has nine stainless steel ball bearings and
an additional roller bearing for a smooth retrieve. It can be purchased in both
the 6.4:1 and the 7.1:1 in both right and left handed models. Paired with a
Veracity rod, you have an excellent quality combo for a little more than $300.
Additional Revo
Baitcast Reels
There
are many more Revo baitcast
reels and the lineup includes the Revo Rocket, MGX, MGXTreme, Winch, Beast, STX, Premier, Inshore and even a
JDM lineup. While the large amount to choose from may seem intimidating, it is
because of how specialized these reels are. The Revo
Winch for instance, is a specially designed cranking reel and the Revo Beast is designed for swimbaits and other techniques
requiring large line capacity with heavier line.
Out
of all of these additional Revo reels, the MGX and Revo Rocket are my two favorites. The Revo
Rocket ($299.99 retail) has a 9.0:1 gear ratio and the blazing speed is a
perfect reel for pitching and flipping to maximize how many presentations you
get in a day. The MGX ($349.99 retail) is only 5.4oz and paired with an Abu
Villain is the lightest setup I have ever owned. It comes in high speed retrieves
at both the 7.0:1 and 7.9:1, making it another great reel for pitching and
flipping.
When
looking for a new rod or reel, there are many brands to choose from. With the
emphasis on technique specific rods and even reels there are more choices than
ever. If you are limited by how much you can spend, the current time is a good
one because a great combo can be found for cheaper than ever before. If you are
looking for a top of the line rod or reel, it is also a great time because
companies are making the best products bass anglers have ever used.
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