Skipping: Another close quarter presentation technique is skipping. I'm not as adept with this technique, but having less line on the spool when trying to skip a bait somewhere is a very good thing for me because I can't get past one or two attempts at this presentation without having some type of overrun situation. Having less line to fluff certainly helps me to avoid those catastrophic overruns. Results will certainly vary here depending upon your skill level of course.

The SX SS is an 8.1:1 reel - yet another option in the SX lineup

Power & Retrieve: Keeping in mind the only difference between this reel and a standard SX, most of my comments in the power and retrieve area have already been made in the Revo5 SX's review from last year. However, an interesting wrinkle is the actual gear ratio of this model, 8.1:1. It's a ratio not offered in the standard SX, so that's a bit of a perk.

Internals of this reel are the same as the standard SX, although the SX SS has an audible drag

Drag: The makeup of the drag in the Revo5 SX SS is also unchanged from the standard model save for one feature. This reel has an audible drag. I wasn't expecting that, so when my drag sang on that first catch, it caught me by surprise. In fact, I fish so many reels each year, I had to go back and verify that my standard SX did not have an audible drag. I was relieved to discover I remembered correctly and it does not.

A shallow spool reel with the trademark, robust Abu Garcia drag stack

Design & Ergonomics: The Revo5 SX SS has the same shape, profile, even handle length of the standard SX. The primary difference is that shallow spool which holds the appropriate amount of line for close quarter presentations. The spool becomes even more beneficial if you use line smaller than 0.330mm in diameter opening the reel up to more general application techniques.

Standard Revo5 SX (left) vs the new SX SS (right)

The one downside to the spool is I didn't find a way to fasten my braid to it directly to help avoid the occurrence of phantom drag. I'm skeptical the little diagonal ports in the spool provide enough friction to prevent it. In my case, I was fortunate to be able and re-use line from another reel where I had a leader attached. I simply trimmed the leader, attached it to the SX SS's spool with an arbor knot, and filled the reel that way - quick and easy backing to avoid phantom drag.

Retail for the Revo5 SX SS is the same as the standard SX at $189.95

Price & Applications: Retail for the Revo5 SX SS is the same as the standard SX at $189.95. It is a reel intended for close quarter presentations with roughly 50lb braid or 12lb fluoro or mono. If you choose to spool it with line smaller in diameter, then the SX SS opens up to more of a general application reel. It has the added flexibility of handling some finesse applications as well so long as you're comfortable with the centrifugal brakes. Most BFS reels these days have magnetic brakes for tighter control.

Conclusion: A shallow spool reel for close quarter presentations is an interesting idea. Even more intriguing however, is the prospect of loading a reel like this with twenty to thirty pound braid and using it for general applications that are just a step above finesse. Spinning reels have always been sized according to the intended application and gauge of fishing line, so why not casting reels?

If you're putting a combo together for pitching and skipping around visible structure, Abu Garcia's Revo5 SX SS is worth some serious consideration

We get some of that with the 100 to 300 and more size designations, but the options are not really as prevalent or automatic as they are with spinning reels. Aftermarket spool options are also limited to specific models, so as more and more manufacturers offer options like this, perhaps it's only a matter of time before spool depth becomes a buying option when selecting your new reel. For now, if you're putting a combo together for pitching and skipping around visible structure, Abu Garcia's Revo5 SX SS is a good option at the sub $200 price point.

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