On the plus side, when you hook into a fish, the EVA foam knobs are very easy to find and grasp as you battle your catch. The drag on the Aurora tested out in our lab at a maximum of eight (8) pounds of pressure and on the water, it proved smooth throughout the lower range. We weren’t able to hook into anything really significant to test the smoothness of the upper range, but we imagine there should be no issues there.

New on this reel and borrowed for the US version as well is a Daiwa-esque swept handle.

We’ve fished the Aurora since about mid-summer and the finish shows no premature signs of wear. Other than the afore mentioned issue with the knobs, we have no durability concerns with this reel.

The EVA knobs are both comfortable and smooth in operation, thanks to two bearings under each knob.

Of course, the biggest question I usually have with any high dollar reel is whether or not the manufacturer included the positive reinforcement of micro-click adjustability on the spool tension knob and drag star. Since Abu Garcia offers this feature on all our previously reviewed Revo’s, I had little doubt the Aurora would have this feature as well and indeed it does.

Unfortunately, they are easily pitted if you don't take care when laying your rods down on deck.

Overall, the Aurora is a very comfortable and enjoyable reel to fish. It’s amazing what shaving a couple of ounces can do for a reel. When compared to the only other Revo I have fished extensively, the SX, the Aurora feels like a magnesium reel!

The Revo Elite Aurora weighs in at a very comfortable 6.9 ounces.

So now the bad news, if this article has piqued your interest and pushed you off the fence, you better act quick. Reportedly, the Abu Garcia Elite Aurora was made in limited quantities, and though we’re unsure as to the exact number, the reels appear to be increasingly difficult to find. One would think, in the current economic climate this might not be the case, but the fervor of an enthusiast, it seems, knows no bounds.

The Aurora is equally at home tossing soft plastic swimbaits...

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Pluses and Minuses:

...as well as spinnerbaits. It's a fun reel to fish.

Conclusion: The limited edition, limited production bass reel market in Japan is no longer a single manufacturer space. In cooperation with Office ZPI, Abu jumped into the fray several years ago with the AE74. Just recently, Evergreen International showed what they can do with a spinning reel in the Opus-1 and Opus-1 Nero. Now Abu Garcia is making noise once again with several limited run interpretations of their popular Revo lineup. What does this mean for the avid enthusiast? Time to work on that addition to the storage space. Collecting these limited run reels can be a very fulfilling experience. Actually getting out to fish them can lead to serious addiction. Though the current exchange rate may make such an acquisition quite painful, the Revo Elite Aurora is a welcome addition to my arsenal and one no self respecting enthusiast should overlook.

TackleTour would like to thank JapanTackle.com for making this review possible.