Abu Garcia REVO IKE Casting Reel Product Review

Reel Review

Don't Let the Elevator Break You Down, Going Crazy with Abu's Revo4 IKE (continued)

Power: The angler's connection to that brass gear is a 90mm swept carbon handle finished off with two bearings per EVA knob. The bearing supported knobs enhance that smooth retrieve, and the 90mm handle gives the angler good leverage while cranking that main gear. The 8.0:1 retrieve delivers good power for general purpose use and can pull a deep diver in a pinch, but It's not a retrieve I personally would rely upon for these duties long term. The 6.6:1 should be able to handle that no problem though.

Spooled with 12lb Seaguar Tatsu FC

Drag: Abu Garcia outfits all their Revo4 models from SX and above with their new Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag system though maximum drag projections vary with each model. The Revo4 IKE's max numbers are projected at 24lbs of drag pressure. For me, what's important is how smooth and consistent this drag resists those hard running fish and from what I experienced, that Carbon Stack Power Matrix drag system delivers allowing you to gradually increase or decrease pressure with that clicking dragstar.

A more standard, TackleTour view of Abu Garcia's Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag system

Design & Ergonomics: Speaking of clickies, the Revo4 IKE comes with all the clickies you want in both the drag star and spool tension knob. The IVCB-6L brakes are adjustable via a ratcheted, external dial, and you can also flip open the sideplate to turn up to six brakes on or off individually. The entire reel tipped our scales at a modest 7.5 ounces, so it's borderline heavy for its size, but really feels pretty light and very manageable once you have it mounted on a fishing rod.

The Revo4 IKE's color shifting paint goes from blue to purple depending on the light

My only real complaint about this reel are the round knobs. I prefer the contoured grips found on the STX to the round, EVA foam knobs found on the STX. What I do really like about this reel, however, is the color scheme. That color shifting metallic paint, that's mostly purple, is very reminiscent of the original Daiwa Alphas reel which is a personal favorite of mine and also the very first review by me that was published here on TackleTour. I still have one or two of those reels new, in box too. But Abu Garcia and Mike Iaconelli have taken that color scheme even a bit further giving the Revo4 IKE, black metal parts instead of silver, so they can add purple anodized accents throughout the reel. It really is like buying a supertuned STX right out of the box.

The 8.0:1 retrieve ratio is offered in STX, but not in left hand. It is available in both left and right with the Revo4 IKE

The non-handle sideplate is attached

Price & Applications: Speaking of which, this supertuned STX with the color shifting paint, purple anodized highlights, swept carbon handle, and available 8.0:1 retrieve in both left and right hand (all upgrades over the STX), is $50 more than the standard STX. If you're a fan of the color scheme the Revo4 IKE is a no brainer because the handle upgrade alone will run you over $50 and the two retrieve ratios are sufficient to help you cover a wide variety of applications.

Ike's motto would have made a great song title for Alexander Nobody

Ratings:

Abu Garcia Revo IKE Casting Reel Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	It's the STX with a little flare	9
Performance	As expected and on par with the reel upon which it is based	9
Price	Given the upgrades, rather reasonable really	7.5
Features	My favorite braking system from Abu, brass gears, Power Matrix Carbon Stack drag system, all the clickies and more	8
Design (Ergonomics)	Very comfortable reel to fish, but I could do without those round knobs	7
Application	Ultimately, more useful even than the STX because of the available retrieve options in both left and right hand!	8
Total Score		8.08
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ The Revo4 IKE's Got the Look. Everything that anglers like about the STX with extra personality	- Not feeling those Round and Round knobs
+ Stand Back - there's an 8.0:1 in lefty
+ Very reasonable price for a souped up package

Conclusion: Abu Garcia, I never meant to cause you any sorrow. I never meant to cause you any pain. I only wanted STX 8.0:1 available in lefty. So I'm happy to see you offering this in the purple IKE. Okay, okay, forgive the melodrama, but when I figured out the Revo4 IKE was essentially a souped up STX and available in that high speed retrieve for left hand models too, I was both confounded and ecstatic. Confounded because Abu Garcia has traditionally offered all retrieve ratios in both right and left hand and since they're making it for the IKE, which is based off the STX, why not supply it to the STX?

Nothing Compares 2 catching a nice fish on a piece of tackle that ignites your enthusiasm.

I was ecstatic because I actually prefer the supertuned IKE over the standard STX anyway (save for the knobs), so it seems to all have worked out in the end. I was disappointed several years ago, when that IKE tuned Morrum never materialized, but Abu Garcia probably knew that a low profile option attached to Ike's name would be a more marketable platform. In the grand scheme of things, the audience for round reels just isn't very strong and of course, the Morrum is already a pricey proposition as is. A supertuned STX is smart because it's higher on the performance ladder than a few other "signature" reels, yet not outrageously priced like a supertuned Morrum would have been. Throw in a color scheme that pays homage to an old favorite and indirectly to that purple artist above, and this reel will have anglers looking for a low-profile reel with plenty of personality to be Delirious with delight.

Looking for a Abu Garcia Revo IKE Casting Reel?

Try TackleWarehouse