Abu garica reels - summary of each?

[Bassin_49er]

What are the major difference in the various abu garcia reels? I am thinking of picking one up. Skeet, Toro, Revo etc... - I'm lost!  I currently have a few quantum tour editions and love them but can get Abus for cheap right now... please help!

[Micro]

The Toro is a big reel, intended for saltwater.   It can be used for big bass swimbaits, but otherwise I think its way overkill for bass.

The Revos are bass reels.  They are exceptional reels.  The difference?  Probably best to peruse the Abu website for details.  But the Revo S has a centrifugal brake.  The SX is the mid-priced model with a magnetic brake.  The STX, my favorite, is the higher end model what has a little more refinement than the SX.  The Premier is an ultra-low-weight Revo.  The Skeet Reese is a pretty yellow and black signature model built to Skeet reese's specs - 6.3:1 speed, longer handle, centrifugal brake, yellow and black colors.  The Revo Winch is a low-speed high-power model for deep diving cranks.  

To best help you, what do you want to use it for and how much do you want to spend?

[Bassin_49er]

I have a very deep discount on Garica reels right now so price is not a huge factor.  I am thinking the reel will be for either cranks or flipping.

I love my quantum tour edition - but because of my current discount I want to try a higer end Garcia reel.  Do you know what Garcia reels are similar to Quantum tour edition PTs.

[Micro]

If you are going to use it for cranks and flipping, I'd go with a Revo STX 6.3:1.   It's a compromise, but a good one, IMO.

6.3:1 isn't so fast that it can't handle even big deep diving cranks.  Just crank a wee bit slower.  With the high efficiency gear, you won't wear yourself too much.  It casts like a champ.   And it holds all the line you'll ever need.

The Revo Winch is the Revo built specifically for deep cranks, but I don't think it would make a very good flipping reel.   To get best casting performance, you have to really cast - and that's not flipping.  

The STX pitches and flips very well.   The spool is shallower and easier to get going.   The STX is, IMO, a little more rugged with its aluminum brakeside sideplate (plastic on the other Revos).  The drag is the best in the business.

[Bassin_49er]

Thank you!  What is the major differnece between the stx and Skeet?

[Bassin_49er]

Sorry for another question - would the Abu Garcia Revo Inshore Reel be good to use for fresh water and then salt?

[Micro]

Don't be sorry, ask all the questions you want. That's what the forums are for.

The Inshore would be fine for salt or fresh water.

The only issue I would have with it is the spool. It has a deep spool, versus the shallow spool on the STX. In my experience (I owned a Revo Winch that had the same spool) when it is full of line, the spool is heavy - heavier than a full spool on an STX. Therefore, it takes more to get the spool moving. That's fine for heavier baits. But my experience with the Winch was that it did not cast lighter baits that well. It did not really come into its own until you were casting baits over 1/2 oz. Then it would cast them a mile. But it took effort. That's the reason I don't think its the best choice for a flipping reel. You don't need all that line to flip. And a flipping cast is not the same as flinging a big crank as far as you can.

Neither do you need all that line for cranking. If you are always throwing big, heavy cranks, it has its advantages. But for a reel that is going to pull double duty, I think the STX with its shallower spool will be a better choice. It's a great flipping reel that will serve as a better-than-decent cranking reel.

IMO, for freshawter use, the Inshore would serve well as a heavy-bait reel - like swimbaits.