Posted 7/22/2016 9:38 AM (#824517) Subject: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 663
Based on the popularity of the Revo Beast series I'm curious how many guys will have an interest in the new Revo Rocket (7.6:1 with 42" line pickup). What application do you have in mind for that type of reel. Of course great for picking up slack line and a powerful gear system should hold up to lots of abuse but wondering if the trend to faster reels is a temporary fad or a long term trend.
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Posted 7/22/2016 10:07 AM (#824522 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Location: Contrarian Island
to me I could see using it on my big nasty that I throw big plastics with...I use a tranx hg now and love it but the lower profile might be a bit more comfortable...
Posted 7/22/2016 2:12 PM (#824553 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI
For me, not that interested but I haven't ventured into the hyper speed reels yet either. I'm sure its good at what it was designed to do though if somebody is looking for that sort of thing.
Posted 7/22/2016 4:41 PM (#824571 - in reply to #824568) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota
High speed reels are great.ive been using the Tranx HG for years. Hard to tell by the pitcher but if it's smaller then the Tranx and just as strong and tuff for the price they will fly off the shelf.
Posted 7/22/2016 8:54 PM (#824592 - in reply to #824585) Subject: RE: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 218
Maybe not outdated necessarily but no longer in production. In the last couple years Abu Garcia has been reinventing their series of "big game" reels. Making them stronger, smoother, and more reliable with each new generation.
Posted 7/22/2016 8:57 PM (#824593 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 218
After I posted my initial question, what do you know. Keith tells me about a video that he and Steve already did featuring the Rocket. Hadn't really considered this for slop fishing but it makes perfect sense. http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/07.18.2016/8814/Fishing.The....
Posted 7/23/2016 5:10 PM (#824650 - in reply to #824612) Subject: RE: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO
ajrod88 - 7/23/2016 9:29 AM
Zib - 7/22/2016 12:43 PM
If it was offered in a left hand modeled I'd be ordering one now.
I Want a Lefty as well!
+3 Even before seeing Steve's video, I was ready to respond with the same application. I spend a lot of time in the slop. Getting the bait up and moving is key. I haven't ventured into the hyper-speed reels for muskie fishing as of yet, but absolutely believe in its value for this technique.
Posted 8/5/2016 4:04 PM (#826287 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1283
Rocket is awesome. Bought one at the Musky shop and didn't touch a beast all week. Handled big blades easy just a bit more effort then the Beasts or S. Speed was worth it. I was the only one that caught fish and had follows.
Posted 8/5/2016 4:31 PM (#826292 - in reply to #826287) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 153
Location: Storm Lake, IA
achotrod - 8/5/2016 4:04 PM
Rocket is awesome. Bought one at the Musky shop and didn't touch a beast all week. Handled big blades easy just a bit more effort then the Beasts or S. Speed was worth it. I was the only one that caught fish and had follows.
you must have some impressive forearms and stamina. For the masses of people the rocket is not a big blade reel. I thought it was awesome for 8's but even 9's pulled like a mule for me. 8's aren't a breeze either but was worth it considering the speed it packed.
Posted 8/5/2016 5:00 PM (#826296 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1283
Na I'm not a big guy. But if you fish a lot it def wasn't bad. I started off with a single bladed 8 at 1.5 oz and just kept working my way up to dbl10s. Also threw mag rubber with it and 10" mantas. Ya the big blades were not effortless but they didn't make me want to change baits either. I also had 2 beast 60 hs a beast a Toro S and a couple NACL 5,4s on the boat. Never put down the rocket in favor of easier casting. Yes it's more work but not that much more. My old Tranx Hg wasnt any easier and less comfortable.
Posted 8/5/2016 5:31 PM (#826298 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1283
The Rocket basically has the same ipt as a tranx hg. I't similar in effort and is a lot more ergonomic and much lighter. I didn't even change the paddle handle. It's a very smooth reel even with big blades. I used it on a Big Nasty if that makes any difference
Posted 8/7/2016 9:51 PM (#826475 - in reply to #826292) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 233
Location: Iowa
I totally agree. I bought a beast hs and its a great reel; I really like it. Its great for double 8s but I would not want to throw 9's or 10's with it at all for any period of time. I couldn't imagine using that rocket for throwing big bucktails, not me anyways.
Posted 8/8/2016 12:34 PM (#826515 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 400
Location: Metro
I am interested what people have to say about this reel after a year. Wish I would have been in the know a little bit more when I bought my beast. Absolutely love my beast but the reason I got it was for the HS. Then this comes out and it is much faster than the beast. I really wanted to have a HS reel so that I could throw big rubber and not spend so much energy on trying to reel the extra line up.
Posted 8/8/2016 4:17 PM (#826533 - in reply to #826515) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1283
Musky952 - 8/8/2016 12:34 PM
I am interested what people have to say about this reel after a year. Wish I would have been in the know a little bit more when I bought my beast. Absolutely love my beast but the reason I got it was for the HS. Then this comes out and it is much faster than the beast. I really wanted to have a HS reel so that I could throw big rubber and not spend so much energy on trying to reel the extra line up.
Posted 8/10/2016 12:26 PM (#826775 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa
So I have a Toro Beast in the 4.9:1 and a Toro S in the 5.4:1. I was thinking of adding another beast in the 6.2:1 until this rocket came out and now I'm torn. I just sold a Curado 300EJ which was 6.9:1 that I used for small bucktails and topwater blade style baits. Do I replace that with a Beast 6.2:1 or the Rocket 7.6:1?
Posted 8/11/2016 6:30 AM (#826868 - in reply to #826296) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander
achotrod - 8/5/2016 5:00 PM
Na I'm not a big guy. But if you fish a lot it def wasn't bad. I started off with a single bladed 8 at 1.5 oz and just kept working my way up to dbl10s. Also threw mag rubber with it and 10" mantas. Ya the big blades were not effortless but they didn't make me want to change baits either. I also had 2 beast 60 hs a beast a Toro S and a couple NACL 5,4s on the boat. Never put down the rocket in favor of easier casting. Yes it's more work but not that much more. My old Tranx Hg wasnt any easier and less comfortable.
[/QUOTE
Looking for a blade reel for my son, need speed for 8s and couple hours per day for 10s. He doesn't really like my Tranx hg because of size. If the rocket compares with ease of retrieval to the Tranx hg I'll buy one tonight.
Posted 8/11/2016 10:16 AM (#826906 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1283
Been a couple years since I had my Tranx HG and remember is not being nearly as easy as I thought it would be. So with that said after using both Beasts for a season I did not find the Rocket with the paddle handle to be that much more effort then the Beast HS. Put the Power handle on the Rocket the other day and since its to hot to musky fish here Ill take it to the bass pond and test it out tomorrow then report back. So far I will say they are very comparable with Ergos going to the Rocket by a landslide.
Posted 8/11/2016 3:36 PM (#826960 - in reply to #826954) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 239
Location: Madison, WI
Hodag Hunter - 8/11/2016 2:47 PM
I appreciate the review. Will be waiting for your reviewing after the test with power handle.
If it makes you feel any better I have a Beast 60 HS with one weekend of fishing on it which i would be happy to trade you if you get the Rocket and decide you wish you had the beast HS
Posted 8/11/2016 9:31 PM (#827002 - in reply to #826960) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander
Thanks for offer but have a Beast HS already. Looking for a reel comparable to Tranx HG without the size. This reel will be for my 15 year old son and he doesn't like the Tranx size.
Posted 10/23/2016 9:22 PM (#834513 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1209
I was told "that the high gear ratios in a reel like this make the teeth smaller cause there has to be so many more making it questionable for heavy/extended rubber use" I threw jr cowgirls (9's) most of a day with it and it wasn't bad, couldn't imagine show girls being bad at all except you will have to add some lead to them to keep it in the water
Posted 10/23/2016 11:42 PM (#834522 - in reply to #834513) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Fishysam - 10/23/2016 9:22 PM
I was told "that the high gear ratios in a reel like this make the teeth smaller cause there has to be so many more making it questionable for heavy/extended rubber use" I threw jr cowgirls (9's) most of a day with it and it wasn't bad, couldn't imagine show girls being bad at all except you will have to add some lead to them to keep it in the water
The reel was actually designed for big rubber, big jerk and twitch baits, and burning double 8 and 9 sized blades, and will hold up fine. Some guys like it for 10s, simply slowing down a bit because you can keep 'em right up on top without reeling like a madman, but it was too much work for me; the Beast low speed does a better job and keeps 'em burning along fast enough for my taste. The gearing is ABU's 'Duragear' heavy duty, and when discussing the reel with ABU's design team before release, they said it should handle the big stuff just fine. Ours have been flawless, and we've had them since Spring.
'couldn't imagine show girls being bad at all except you will have to add some lead to them to keep it in the water'---That's a fact, Fishysam, I find myself blowing out medium blades easily with this thing. Gotta learn the bait's limitations or weight it down some. It casts light baits well, too.
Lube it when you take it out of the box and it'll treat you well.
Posted 10/24/2016 8:39 AM (#834531 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 51
Thank you for the feedback. I was on the fence about the rocket and the beast high speed. I might just get the beast high speed as I will be using it on a rod that i will be twitching smaller jakes/grandmas/shallow raiders in the 6-8" range as well as running those showgirls.
Posted 10/24/2016 8:54 AM (#834534 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
The Rocket does a great job on jerk and twitch baits, you can nearly get any action you want just using the reel. That said, if you are looking for reasonable speed instead of zoom, the high speed beast does a great job, you won't be disappointed.
Posted 10/25/2016 7:57 AM (#834602 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 241
If this reel will handle Magnum Bulldawgs, I'm in. Not the retrieve, but the strain on the thumbbar and the cast. That's all I want it for, a one-trick pony.
Posted 10/25/2016 9:44 AM (#834614 - in reply to #834602) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
backdraft - 10/25/2016 7:57 AM
If this reel will handle Magnum Bulldawgs, I'm in. Not the retrieve, but the strain on the thumbbar and the cast. That's all I want it for, a one-trick pony.
Will it?
Backdraft
The build heavy duty quality is the same as the beast, so short answer is yes.
Posted 10/27/2016 7:42 PM (#834903 - in reply to #824517) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 246
I agree with you Steve, I've found this reel is not the best for 10's since no matter how slow I reel it still feels as if I'm working too hard. Love it for jerks, rubber and smaller bucktails.
Posted 11/6/2016 5:24 AM (#835705 - in reply to #827002) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River
Hodag Hunter - 8/11/2016 10:31 PM
Thanks for offer but have a Beast HS already. Looking for a reel comparable to Tranx HG without the size. This reel will be for my 15 year old son and he doesn't like the Tranx size.
There is none, sorry.. That's like looking at the Arctic Cat 1100 turbo and saying, I'd rather get something in a 600 platform that will be comparable to the Turbo. There is no Tranx competitor that is nice and small and compact.
Posted 11/6/2016 12:41 PM (#835730 - in reply to #835705) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
JakeStCroixSkis - 11/6/2016 5:24 AM
Hodag Hunter - 8/11/2016 10:31 PM
Thanks for offer but have a Beast HS already. Looking for a reel comparable to Tranx HG without the size. This reel will be for my 15 year old son and he doesn't like the Tranx size.
There is none, sorry.. That's like looking at the Arctic Cat 1100 turbo and saying, I'd rather get something in a 600 platform that will be comparable to the Turbo. There is no Tranx competitor that is nice and small and compact.
My opinion of course.
The Rocket will do the job very well with anything but 10s, and will handle them ok, if you learn the reel is fast, so one needs not try to rotate the handle at Mach 6. I had a heck of a time adjusting to the 10s, always was working too hard and blowing 'em out.
Good alternative for folks who like the compact design. B-Rad (The Esox Whisperer), a pro guide at AML, used the rocket all day this week fishing with Keith and I and said several times it was the best match for him he's ever fished with.
Of course it's not a Tranx, ABU has so far chosen not to build a megladon sized salt/muskie reel.
Posted 11/6/2016 3:02 PM (#835739 - in reply to #835730) Subject: Re: New Abu Revo Rocket
Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River
sworrall - 11/6/2016 1:41 PM
JakeStCroixSkis - 11/6/2016 5:24 AM
Hodag Hunter - 8/11/2016 10:31 PM
Thanks for offer but have a Beast HS already. Looking for a reel comparable to Tranx HG without the size. This reel will be for my 15 year old son and he doesn't like the Tranx size.
There is none, sorry.. That's like looking at the Arctic Cat 1100 turbo and saying, I'd rather get something in a 600 platform that will be comparable to the Turbo. There is no Tranx competitor that is nice and small and compact.
My opinion of course.
The Rocket will do the job very well with anything but 10s, and will handle them ok, if you learn the reel is fast, so one needs not try to rotate the handle at Mach 6. I had a heck of a time adjusting to the 10s, always was working too hard and blowing 'em out.
Good alternative for folks who like the compact design. B-Rad (The Esox Whisperer), a pro guide at AML, used the rocket all day this week fishing with Keith and I and said several times it was the best match for him he's ever fished with.
Of course it's not a Tranx, ABU has so far chosen not to build a megladon sized salt/muskie reel.
Yep, good info here Steve. I am a Garcia guy myself I love my Beast and I have been a huge advocate for the Toro S.. I am looking forward to getting a rocket next summer (tax season more likely) to try.
New Abu Revo Rocket
