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

Date:	12/13/20
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.08 - GREAT

Introduction: Going back a decade where they teased us with the re-introduction of their top end round reel, Abu Garcia had been working with Mike Iaconelli on a signature set of reels. The Morrum, made it's official debut at ICAST 2013, but there were no signs of an Iaconelli variant. Maybe he was just too demanding, maybe the move was just too bold? Whatever the reason, at ICAST a season ago, the wait was over as the manufacturer proudly displayed the result. Here is our look at the Abu Garcia Revo IKE, a casting reel that just screams, Take Me With You.

Back in 2010 Abu Garcia and Mike Iaconelli teased us with the idea of an Ike tuned Morrum reel.

Abu Garcia Revo IKE Casting Reel Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	12/145
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	12.6 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	6.6:1	8.0:1
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	12 - 26	15 - 32
Weight	7.5 oz
Spool Weight	19 g
Handle Length	90 mm
Bearings	10SS + 1 roller bearing
Bearings per Knob	2 bearings
Levelwind Bearings	2 bearings
Rated Max Drag	24 lbs
Origin	Made in Korea
MSRP	$249.99

In 2018, they delivered on the promise of an Ike tuned reel, but it's not a Morrum, it's a Revo

Impressions: If you'd rather we cut to the chase and just give you the real down low on the Abu Garcia Revo IKE Casting reel, this is essentially the Revo4 STX with a fancy, color shifting finish and swept carbon handle. Is that enough to warrant the $50 uptick in price? That's what we're here to find out.

Abu Garcia's Revo4 IKE is basically a supertuned STX

Just another manic day on the water

Real World Tests: Once this reel landed, I wasted little time spooling it with some 12lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon and matching it up with a G.Loomis NRX 852C JWR. You'd think the shifting purple paint of this reel might clash with the NRX, but in the sunlight, the Revo IKE has its moments of looking blue too.

Among the upgrades is this 90mm swept carbon handle...

...finished off with round EVA knobs

Casting: Everything I mentioned in the Revo4 STX review applies to this reel too with regards to casting. They are essentially the same reel with the exact same braking system and performance is as expected - the same. Abu Garcia's IVCB-6L braking system is very free and allows for distant casts, but anglers need to be aware, it can be sensitive to cross and headwind situations, so you need to monitor it with your thumb accordingly. Once you dial yourself into the nuances of this system, it performs as well as any braking system on the market.

The reel's braking system is Abu's top end IVCB-6L

You can set the brakes internally with IVCB-6L and then fine tune with this external dial

Retrieve: The one aspect where the Revo4 IKE departs from the STX is in retrieve ratio options. Where the STX is available in three different retrieves in right hand retrieve, and only two in left hand, the Revo4 IKE is offered in only two for both right and left hand. These two ratios are 6.6:1 and 8.0:1. Did you catch that? The one retrieve missing from the STX in left hand is 8.0:1, and I lamented this fact in that reel's review, but you can get it here with the Revo4 IKE!

The reel's main gear is made of brass

8.0:1 is the model I fished for this reel's review and like the STX, that main gear is made of brass delivering a smooth, confidence inspiring feel as you turn that handle. This is probably the most significant upgrade across the Revo4 lineup - that switch from an aluminum main gear in order to save weight, to the smoother, more durable brass.

Round reels are great for nostalgic anglers, but a low profile Ike tuned reel was the smarter choice

Next Section: Power and Plenty of Personality...