Casting: The not so secret sauce behind Abu Garcia's Zenon MG-X's casting ability is their coveted Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake, or IVCB for short. Abu actually has a couple different variations of this system and for the MG-X, it is the IVCB-4. The "4" simply describes how many brake arms are on the spool. IVCB is by far, the manufacturer's most free brake system and it is their best for achieving distance. More than that, however, the system responds very well to free and easy casting motions. Conversely, if your casting motion is abrupt, you might run into issues with IVCB - it can be touchy.

Adjustments to the brakes can be made via this external dial

Depending on your rod and line situation, the reel itself will handle baits down to at least a quarter of an ounce (1/4oz), but what I really enjoy about the MG-X is, when using the afore mentioned free and easy casting motion, that it is devoid of that inevitable choked off feeling you can get with some systems that rely on magnets. It doesn't take much to get the MG-X's spool rolling. If you do decide to chuck it, just be aware, you'll need more thumb control to tame the spool.

Pitching Gamakatsu's new Power Drop Hybrid Hook tipped with a Molix RT Fork Flex Jerk Minnow next to some weed beds and boom!

I fished a range of baits from jigs to free rigs to small swimbaits, cranks, and spinnerbaits with this combo and never gave the MG-X a second thought during the cast or pitch presentations of these baits. That means it performed its job flawlessly. I don't even recall having to adjust the brakes once I had the reel dialed in.

Gone are the old EVA knobs and in are these comfortable, oversized rubberized replacements

Retrieve: Nestled within the MG-X's magnesium frame is an aluminum alloy gear that delivers smooth performance with only a hint of that connected feel you usually get with magnesium reels equipped with aluminum gears. Looking inside, there's nothing unusual about the way the reel is constructed, so it doesn't appear as if Abu has intentionally engineered a method to shield or mask that connected feel. It's probably just the result of their choice in actual alloy material.

The MG-X is loaded with 10+1 HPCR bearings

I only really bring it up in case it's important to you. I actually enjoy that connected feel on these lighter reels so I'm missing it with the MG-X. All that aside, the MG-X performs rather flawlessly and is very smooth on the retrieve. That ninety millimeter swept carbon handle is a nice touch too and Abu's choice in slightly oversized, rubberized handle knobs is a switch I've been waiting a long time for this manufacturer to make. I really like the knobs on the MG-X.

Pulling a JackHammer with the 8.3:1 retrieve ratio

As for retrieve ratio, the MG-X is available in two, 6.8:1 and 8.3:1. I have fished both models and am happy to report the handle lengths and knobs on both are identical. Some manufacturers switch handle length and knobs - especially with their higher speed reels, but the MG-X is consistent between variants all the way down to that smooth and refined performance during the retrieve. Oh and yes, the two retrieve ratio options are offered in both right and left hand configuration.

Inside, the MG-X features an aluminum alloy main gear

Power: In terms of power, if you're looking to rely upon a magnesium framed reel with aluminum gears to serve as your cranking reel, you might have a difficult time. For starters, most don't come with the preferred, low gear ratio for deep cranking. The MG-X, however, is offered in a somewhat slower retrieve ratio at 6.8:1. Just the same, it has a little difficulty with deep cranking duties especially if you're trying to pull something like Strike King's 10XD or Bill Norman's DD22. However, it is serviceable with deep running cranks that don't have a lot of resistance in the water like Megabass's DeepSix crankbait. I verified as much with all three of these baits.

Not a reel I'd choose for deep cranking duties, but medium and shallow cranks are entirely within this reel's wheelhouse

Otherwise, in more standard medium and shallow cranking situations, the MG-X in both retrieve ratios holds up perfectly fine. This reel even has sufficient power, when used alongside the appropriate powered rod, to muscle fish out of heavy cover. It's just the long, consistent grind of swimming baits with a lot of natural resistance where the MG-X is not very well suited. Nor, in my opinion, was it really designed to be used in that manner.

The dragstar is ported for appearance, but the design also shaves a few grams saving weight

Drag: At this point, in my Abu Garcia low profile fishing reel experience, I've come to expect all their new reels to be equipped with super robust maximum rated drags of twenty pounds or more. I was surprised discover the Zenon MG-X comes with a maximum rated drag of "only" fifteen pounds (15lbs). Honestly, this was more than enough to suit my style of fishing which is always to have my drag set at appropriate strength in correlation with the line I'm fishing to pull out when a fish surges. Rarely do I fish with my drag buttoned down. If I happen to need that type of performance, I just use my thumb to provide a little extra stopping power.

The MG-X's drag stack featuring carbon washers and dual purpose metal washers that enable the audible drag

Beyond that, for me, it's all about that smooth and consistent pulling performance and the MG-X delivers in that department with no issue. Most reels today use a similar carbon washer drag design, so the variation between reels from different manufacturers is very slight if any. The somewhat surprising feature of note for the MG-X in this department is that the drag is audible. More and more casting reels are built with this feature these days yet it continues to surprise me when discovered. What I appreciate about the MG-X is the way in which Abu Garcia has enabled the feature - with specially designed drag washers rather than a spring loaded, microscopic pin that can pop out and become lost when disassembling the reel.

The reel's dragstar and cast control cap feature micro-click adjustments

Next Section: Design and Ergonomics