This past week Abu Garcia leaked details pertaining to the USDM version of the Revo MGX that was first spotted at the Osaka 2011 fishing show.
This new Revo due to hit the market later this year will weigh in at 5.4 ounces placing it in direct competition with the much emulated Daiwa Steez and the lightweight Shimano Core 50mg7. A combination of a new frame material Abu Garcia calls “X-Mag”, carbon side plates, an aluminum main gear, carbon fiber handle and eva knob implementation help bring the weight down from the 6.7 ounce top of the line Revo Premier. A new braking system dubbed IVCB-IV (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake), supplants the dual cast control Infini Brake System found in the premier.
The compact form factor led to the creation of unique gear ratios for the MGX which include a 7.9:1 high speed model which delivers similar inches per turn as other 7.1:1 reels on the market(~31 ipt). The reel will also include Abu Garcia’s HPCR™ bearings(9+1), Infini II™ spool and Carbon Matrix™ drag system.
With an MSRP of $349.95 this will be Abu Garcia’s most expensive USDM Revo to date. It will be interesting to see how this reel stacks up against the other lightweight powerhouses currently on the market as well as Abu Garcia’s current high-end reel the 2010 Revo Premier. As a fan of lightweight high performance bait-casters I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on one.
G.C.
The USDM Revo MGX
IVCB-IV BRAKE SYSTEM
Close up view of the JDM Revo MGX (image from Purefishing Japan)
The JDM Revo LTX is the sister reel to the MGX and features a shallower spool for pitching lighter baits.
Organization remains an integral part to being successful out on the water. Many outings really begin at home; hours, days, sometimes even months before a big trip. Like most bass anglers I keep my tackle organized with Plano 3700 and Falcon FTO style boxes. Reels are easy as cases are relatively cheap and easy to acquire. Rods, however, in my experience have been more a of a challenge. Trying to find that perfect rod rack that suits one particular needs can be challenging. As my collection has grown so has my need for a large rack to manage multiple rods. Down scaling and trading in certainly helps cut down this “problem”. However, its always nice to see whats available in my arsenal at a glance and get what I need quickly and efficiently.
I’ve owned Bass Pro Shop, Cabelas, and other various racks over the years. Pretty much all were overpriced, cheaply “made in china” assemblies that didn’t quite fit my needs. This is all changed last month as I was cruising eBay and located a seller dubbed “Rods @ Rest”. With multiple options abound Jeff Williams constructs various models of rod racks at an affordable price.
The model I was most interested in was his original freshwater rod rack made with cabinet grade plywood that held 34 rods without reels (18 combos). I liked the design however I just wished it could have been a little bit bigger. After a few quick emails Jeff had shipped me a newly created “extra large” model that has a capacity of 52 rods or 26 combos!
The rack arrived well packed and was very easy to put together with a Phillips head screwdriver. One can tell that a lot of forethought was implemented in the design, from the mortise and tenon type joints and countersunk screws to the nicely sanded finish. I particularly like the implementation of the casters on both ends as they can be added/removed easily should the owner decide to keep the rack in one place.
My rack was constructed with unfinished cabinet grade plywood. Which I’ll most likely choose to finish or paint at a later date. Jeff, however can create a more elegant looking rack with higher quality wood, hand rubbed finishes, and custom logos should you so choose.
I’ve been enjoying my rack since the day I got it and appreciate that Jeff has combined his passion for fishing and woodworking to produce an American made product that many bass anglers can enjoy. My quest for that perfect rack has ended! Keep up the good work Jeff!
Check out Rods @ Rest on eBay
G.C.
Jeff’s Original Freshwater Rack vs. the “XL” model
The XL model holds 26 combos!
Or up to 52 rods!
Daiwa is a company that always pushes the envelope when it comes to fishing reel design. Progressive aesthetics, performance, ergonomics and durability all come to mind when thinking of their top end product offerings.
The latest buzz by the company pertains to the new Daiwa T31016H TW. Debuting as a prototype at Osaka 2011, this reel features numerous design enhancements sure to please a number of enthusiast bass anglers.
The reel debuts a new feature from Daiwa known as the T-Wing System (TWS). An re-evolution of the traditional level wind system found on majority of baitcasters on the market today, this feature incorporates a “T” shaped line guide and specialized clutch system. Upon disengaging the reel, the reel hood opens and moves the line to the upper portion of the T shaped line guide allowing increased line flow. After the reel is re-engaged for retrieval the line is pushed back down into the lower portion of the T guide and wound onto the spool in a conventional manner.
Alongside this novel new casting system Daiwa also introduces an all “Zaion” chassis. Which is a first for the company as this carbon based composite material has only been utilized in its spinning reels until now. Touted as possessing the same desirable characteristics as magnesium, with a higher strength, and without the worry of corrosion. Daiwa has slowly been pushing this as the ideal material for future high performance fishing reel construction.
The stylistic cues of the T3 are a carry-over from the Z2020 albeit smaller profile. Magforce 3D is also incorporated into the design facilitating greater range of adjustment over Daiwa’s traditional implementation of Magforce V or Magforce Z. Much like the existing Daiwa braking systems Magforce 3D has a spring loaded inductor travel into a user varied magnetic field. However, unlike its predecessors Magforce 3D allows the user to change the baseline position of the side plate induction field further inbound or outbound depending on the casting application.
Other features include the much emulated swept handle and drag star implementation as well as an 8 bearing system and Daiwa’s “digigear” digital gear design optimization.
The pending worldwide release date for this reel is late 2011.
Hopefully, a USDM version will be released as well.
G.C.
