If there is one baitcasting reel that can be described as a Rocket, it is the Abu Garcia Revo Rocket Baitcaster. With a 10.1:1 gear ratio, every turn of the handle spins the spool 10.1 times and brings it 41 inches of fishing line.
That is unbelievable and gives the angler so much more control and speed in lure retrieval that you will certainly see an increase in hookup rates.
I was shocked when I first heard about reels with a gear ratio over 10:1. Coming from more old fashioned reel designs, this sort of gear ratio is incredible. But the real question I had was ‘is it worth it?’ and does it help you catch more fish.
This reel is one of the top of the line options by one of our favorites of Abu Garcia. I have put together this review to highlight some of the features and the disadvantages of this new release.
Let’s get started!
- 10+1 stainless steel HPCR bearing system
- Rocket 10.1:1 gear ratio
- Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag system
Table of Contents
Quantitative Score
One measure that I don’t have in my scoring system is versatility, which the revo rocket would score low on. It is an incredible specialist, designed for buzzbaits for bass. It is not something that you can switch lure types and fish species very easily.
10.1:1 High Gear Ratio
The number 1, prime feature of the Abu Garcia Revo Rocket is the gearing system. I have never seen a real with such a high speed gear ratio which results in an extreme retrieval rate of 41 inches.
This makes flipping and dragging much faster and for bass anglers who have a preference to buzzbaits or soft plastics, this is a real advantage.
For active fishermen who have limited time in the day to cast, this gear ratio lets you put your bait in front of as many fish as possible.
It also allows you to skip your sinking bait across the top of structure that bass like to hide in such as underwater logs, seaweed, or sea grass beds.
The other advantage of the 10.1:1 gear ratio is when the fish swims towards you – if you don’t have a fast enough gear ratio you can lose tension on the line and the fish can spit the hook. This is critical for aggressive fighting fish and I’m sure it has happened to all of us at one point in time. The Revo Rocket eats up all the slack line in a few cranks of the handle.
10+1 Bearings
There are also not many reels available on the market that come with 10 bearings and a roller bearing. This gives the reel incredibly smooth retrieve and when you consider the sheer quantity of line that is being retrieved and the speed of the spool’s rotation this is impressive.
It also comes with a EVA knob on the handle that is contoured. This is a new design that the industry is moving towards away from the more stock standard paddle design. It gives a combination of comfort and non-slip even during wet conditions.
I also want to mention the styling in the design. Take a look at this reel – it is absolutely gorgeous, particularly with the combination of matt black stainless steel handle, EVA grip, red frame and the oversized gearing.
Lightweight – 7.3 Ounces
For many lightweight baitcasting reels you lose out on something – maybe performance, durability, or drag. This is not the case with the Revo Rocket. At only 7.3 ounces, it still comes with an 18 lb maximum drag system which will handle most fish. It has legitimate power that cannot be ignored.
It can also fit 175 yards of 10 lb mono, so you don’t miss out on line capacity either. Switch that to a 20 lb braid fishing line and you can increase that to 195 yards.
This is done through the latest technology that premium reel manufacturers like Abu Garcia can offer such as their Duragear, DuraClutch, Infini Braking, Gull Wing Sideplate, and X2-Craftic Allow Frame – these may just sound like marketing terms but they add up to significant performance and power at this incredible light weight.
The bearings (and the handle and other key components) are stainless steel which gives it superior corrosion resistance, so it will handle saltwater fishing for years to come.
Features
- 10 stainless steel HPCR™ bearings + 1 roller bearing
- Rocket Gear Ratio of 10.1:1
- X2-Cräftic™ alloy frame and sideplate
- Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System™
- D2 Gear Design™
- Duragear™ brass gear
- DuraClutch™ design
- Infini™ brake system
- Infini II™ spool
- Gull Wing™ sideplate design
Pros
- The high gear ratio is ideal for fast moving spoons and gives you more control
- Very lightweight considering the features packed into this reel
- Corrosion resistant stainless steel construction
- Comfortable oversized EVA handle knob
Cons
- The high gear ratio makes it very difficult to fish with slow moving lures like a deep diving crankbait
- Can pull a lot more drag on the reel than other gear ratios – you need to be aware not to pull the hook out of the mouth of a soft lipped fish species
Alternative Competitor Comparison
I also like to look at what else you could get in the same range to compare its performance, price, and value for money. In this case I have picked the Lew’s Hypermag Baitcaster. This is another high gear ratio baitcaster that is designed for bass. Let’s have a look at their stats.
| Features | Abu Garcia Revo Rocket | Lew’s Hypermag |
| Gear Ratio | 10.1:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Weight | 7.3 oz | 5.4 oz |
| Retrieve Rate | 41 inches | 30 inches |
| Max Drag | 18 lb | 20 lb |
| Ball Bearings | 10+1 | 10+1 |
| Price Range | $$$ | $$$ |
I can judge pretty clearly from the specs above that the extra gearing needed to get that retrieve rate in the Revo Rocket have added some overall weight to the reel. There is also a slight but insignificant different in the max drag between these two reels.
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket Video
Want to see this in action for yourself? Have a watch of this official Abu Garcia showcase video to see it performing:
- 10+1 stainless steel HPCR bearing system
- Rocket 10.1:1 gear ratio
- Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag system
Specifications
If, like myself, you are a numbers guy – then have a look at the specs for both the left and right handed models of the revo rocket:
| MODEL NUMBER | REVO4 ROCKET-L | REVO4 ROCKET |
|---|---|---|
| ANTI-REVERSE FEATURE | Instant Anti-Reverse | Instant Anti-Reverse |
| BEARING COUNT | 11 | 11 |
| BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB | 190/20 140/30 100/50 | 190/20 140/30 100/50 |
| BRAKING SYSTEM | Magnetic/Centrifugal | Magnetic/Centrifugal |
| DRAG MATERIAL | Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber |
| DRAG TYPE | Star Drag | Star Drag |
| GEAR RATIO | 10.1:1 | 10.1:1 |
| MAX DRAG LB | 18lb | 8.1kg | 18lb | 8.1kg |
| MONO CAPACITY YD/LB | 175/10 145/12 100/17 | 175/10 145/12 100/17 |
| PRE-SPOOLED YD/LB | Not Pre-Spooled | Not Pre-Spooled |
| RECOVERY RATE | 41″ | 104cm | 41″ | 104cm |
| REEL HANDLE POSITION | Left | Right |
| REEL SIZE | LP | LP |
| REEL SPOOL MATERIAL | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| WEIGHT | 7.3 oz | 7.3 oz |
Conclusion
The Abu Garcia Revo Rocket Baitcasting is an exciting machine and makes me interested to see what else Abu Garcia have been developing lately. The new technology coming out of these big manufacturers is just staggering.
A few years ago I would never have imagined that I would ever need a 10.1:1 gear ratio reel with this kind of retrieve rate…. and I possible don’t need it but I certainly want it.
The amount of control it gives the angler is extreme. The Revo Rocket certainly won’t be my primary reel, but it will be added to my collection so that when the situation arrises I will have it ready to go.
If you have used a Revo Rocket yourself and can add any thoughts please leave a comment with your wisdom below.
Happy fishing!
Last update on 2022-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
