Turning on 11 bearings, the Zenon is icy smooth with a robust drag. However, our Zenon’s transmission proved itself solid. That is, each component was shrunk, and any extra material was eliminated to reduce weight while remaining strong.Īt first blush you’ll notice the diminutive gear box, one seemingly too small to house anything of any significance. Design engineers focused on minimalization when building the Zenon. (Photo by Brian Carlson)īilled as the world’s lightest spinning reel, the 20-series Abu Garcia Zenon, at just 4.9 ounces, is a true marvel of modern reel engineering and impressed testers across the board. Tackle Test 2021: Best Spinning Reels Editor’s Choice: ABU GARCIA ZENON The Abu Garcia Zenon wowed testers with not only its incredible weight of just 4.9 ounces, but also its smooth operation.

Click here to read Tackle Test 2021: Baitcast Reels.

Click here to read Tackle Test 2021: Baitcast Rods.

Tackle Testers filled out scorecards on the water, and results were tabulated and reviewed at the end of each day. The following report details what we learned and highlights some of the best new spinning gear available. Days of testing, followed by weeks of in-depth analysis, provided valuable insight into this year’s lineup of spinning rods and reels. Last winter, the Game & Fish Tackle Test Team hit eight bass waters in Florida to evaluate many of these new offerings in real-world conditions. This gives spin-fishing anglers the ability to paint precise presentations that attract the attention of pressured bass.įans of finesse techniques will be happy to know that rod and reel manufacturers introduced some fantastic spinning gear for 2021, and with a few notable exceptions, affordability seems to be the dominant theme. First and foremost, right-handed anglers can cast and work baits with their dominant hand when using spinning gear, unlike baitcasting combos which are typically held in the left hand. Spinning combos have several subtle mechanical advantages over baitcasting gear.

The popularity of Japanese-refined techniques, such as drop-shotting, spy-baiting, Neko-rigging and flick-shaking, has led to a legion of finesse-fishing enthusiasts who rely on spinning gear to catch tight-lipped bass. Spinning rods and reels are by design uniquely qualified to handle light lines and petite bait weights. This reel, however, continuously dishes out smooth drag without any hesitation which has resulted in a perfect hookup ratio throughout my testing.Bass anglers across the country depend on spinning gear for their finesse-fishing chores. I particularly liked how the drag doesn’t surge throughout the fightâ€”when a spinning reel’s drag surges, it puts unneccessary pressure against the fish and can cause them to come loose with a simple shake of the head. The hybrids and stripers have been biting pretty well lately, and while I prefer to target bass, I couldn’t help but put this reel against the long, aggressive runs of these fish. It handles most lure weights with ease and makes tangles an afterthought when fishing in high winds. I’ve made a concerted effort to test the Abu Garcia REVO SX with everything from lightweight shaky heads to flat-sided crankbaits and it has passed all my tests with flying colors. It has the muscle to coax fish away from cover, but plenty of finesse when you’re fighting larger fish in open water. The drag starts without any hesitation and operates with exceptional smoothness as the fish surge towards deeper water. To put it to the test, I’ve purposely been targeting hybrid and striped bass with this reel and the results have been excellent. Even with stiffer fluorocarbon line, you won’t have to deal with any of those obnoxious wind knots or line loops when fishing in inclement weather. I’ve used a lot of reels in the past that are prone to enormous, random backlashes throughout the day but I have not had a single issue with the REVO SX. A combination of the Rocket Spool Lip Design and the Everlast Bail system allows the line to lay flat and compactly on the spool regardless of your preferred technique or lure weight. You’ll also quickly notice this reel’s spectacular line management system. You’ll be able to crank on big bass with absolutely zero flex anywhere in the frame of the reel while enjoying its comfortable ergonomics. While it may sound like a bunch of fancy speak to some, it essentially translates to a rock-solid frame that maintains an impressive degree of weightlessness.

Anglers of all skill levels will appreciate the Insert-Molded C6 carbon body design and the one-piece aluminum gear box of the REVO SX Spinning Reel.

Abu garcia revo x spinning fishing reel