Abu Garcia Revo Revo4 Beast Casting Reel Product Review

Reel Review

Abu Garcia's Revo4 Beast is a Beauty

Date:	9/30/19
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.92 - GOOD

Introduction: Abu Garcia has done an excellent job with their generation 4 refresh of their popular Revo low profile casting reel lineup. We've fished just about every model with reviews either published or pending publication. Today, we take a look at the model tailored for throwing big baits. Here's a look at Abu Garcia's Revo4 Beast.

Abu Garcia Revo4 Beast Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	14/205
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	24.5 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	5.8:1	7.3:1
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	8 - 26.5	10 - 33.5
Weight	9.5 oz
Spool Weight	27 g
Handle Length	95 mm
Bearings	7+1
Bearings per Knob	2 bushings
Levelwind Bearings	2
Rated Max Drag (rated)	30lbs
Origin	Made in Korea
MSRP	$279.99

Introducing Abu Garcia's Revo4 Beast

Impressions: Given the more robust makeup of the existing Revo4 lineup, what makes this model different from the rest and more in tune for throwing big baits? Well, when throwing big baits, everything is stepped up in power and one of the first, most natural things to do is to increase the strength of your line. This means going up in pound-test, and to accomplish this task you need a larger capacity reel. The Revo4 Beast comes with 70% more line capacity than a standard Revo.

The Revo4 Beast comes with 70% more line capacity than a standard Revo

Abu Garcia manages this while at the same time, not increasing the size of the reel by very much. I had to go back and forth clutching the non-handle side of this reel and a Revo4 Rocket to be certain, but the Beast is just a hair taller than the other Revo4 platforms. Like the Beast reels of previous generations, the Revo4 model comes with two handle options in the box. I fished it in standard configuration only.

Abu Garcia manages this while at the same time, not increasing the size of the reel by very much

Real World Tests: I loaded our test subject, the 5.8:1 retrieve ratio Beast, with 14lb Sunline Super Natural and paired it with my Abu Garcia IKE Delay series MIKEC710-6 for some real world, on the water tests.

Abu Garcia's Revo4 Beast comes with the company's Infini II brake system providing both magnetic and centrifugal braking

Casting: It doesn't really take much for a reel to be able and cast a big bait. Line capacity is the only real casting requirement otherwise, if a reel can't cast a three ounce bait or heavier, there's no way it's going to even make it to market. What I was curious to find out with this reel, given its relatively small size, is how well it functions casting normal sized baits.

A look at the Beasts's deep spool

To accomplish this task, I simply tied on an underspin, tipped it with a paddletail swimbait, and had at it. Of course, half of the casting equation relies upon the rod on which you mount your reel so fortunately, both components were up for the task.

Standard is the reel's 95mm handle

Abu Garcia's Revo4 Beast comes with the company's Infini II brake system providing both magnetic and centrifugal braking. I've always been of the opinion you use one or the other but not both, so this braking system is not one of my favorites. It works, yes, so objectively speaking, there's nothing wrong with it. I just find it overkill.

Also in the box is this optional jigging handle

Next Section: A Beast of a Retrieve...