Abu Garcia Revo Gen4 Revo4 Premier Baitcasting Low Profile Product Review

Reel Review

Abu Garcia Puts It All Together in the REVO 4 Premier

Date:	2/8/20
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.83 - GOOD

Introduction: It's no secret to our audience that my approach, when fishing for a new rod or reel to add to my lineup, regardless of manufacturer, is to begin with the flagship model. Whether I decide to purchase that top end model or not is irrelevant. I just want to know what the manufacturer in question is capable of making and offering before I make my decision. So it is apropos that we've finally landed on the day where we take a closer look at Abu Garcia's Fourth Generation refresh of their flagship, low profile casting reel. Here is our official, and long overdue, look at the REVO, Gen4 Premier.

Abu Garcia Revo4 Premier Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	12/145
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	12.6 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	6.6	7.3 (RH Only)
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	12 - 26	13.5 - 29
Weight	6.1 oz
Spool Weight	11 g
Handle Length	90 mm
Bearings	10HPCR+1
Bearings per Knob	2 bearings
Levelwind Bearings	2 bearings
Rated Max Drag	24lbs (Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag)
Braking System	IVCB-6L (centrifugal)
Origin	Made in Korea
MSRP	$299.99

The "fauncy" Revo4 Premier

Impressions: I have a running sort of joke with my daughter whenever we encounter a restaurant, item of clothing, or situation that's more embellished than the norm, I say the word "fauncy." I don't recall from where it emanated, but it's simply a slapstick attempt at embellishing the word "fancy" for emphasis. Well, the first thing that came to mind when I pulled the new REVO Premier out of its box was this reel is "fauncy."

The Premier's spool as 12.6 cm³ of capacity

As with previous generations, the gen 4 size and shape of the Premier is the same as that of its siblings. The differences are in finish. The Premier features a glossy, semi-metallic black finish with gold highlights and comes with a very attractive, swept carbon handle capped off with contoured EVA foam knobs. It's not overstated or garish, nor is it super obvious that this is a flagship model. It's just fauncy.

It also comes standard with this 90mm carbon handle

Real World Tests: The color scheme on this reel is special enough to where I couldn't just put it on any old fishing rod. I had to find a stick that would properly reflect the sophistication of this reel. Digging through my collection, I uncovered my trusty Daiwa Tatula TAT721HFB. The black and gold highlights of this rod are a perfect match for the new Premier. I spooled the Premier with some twelve pound Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon in green and brought it along on a few test trips this past Spring.

Spooled with some green, Sunline Sniper FC

Casting: The Premier is outfitted with Abu Garcia's IVCB-6L brake system. This is a centrifugal based brake system with six flying brake arms that a can be individually adjusted to be on or off by simply pressing them into the spool or flipping them out. It is a very easy, yet delicate adjustment.

IVCB-6L brakes power the Premier's casting performance

Once set, there is a secondary adjustment to fine tune the braking system via an external dial on the non-handle sideplate. This dial moves a plate either towards or away from the spool internally to restrict or let free the flying brake arms.

The brakes can be fine tuned via this dial

The end result is very free casting and pitching but a spool that does require the assistance of your educated thumb. It is a very easy system to help you experience that professional overrun, and is best handled with smooth and fluid casting motions rather than herky, jerky, quick snaps of your rod tip. Once you grow accustomed to casting with these brakes, it's as if someone took the training wheels off your spool. You can really wing your baits.

The gen 4 REVO Premier is available in two gear ratios, but only one of these (6.6:1) is available in both left and right hand retrieve

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