The REVOlution Continues, Abu Garcia’s New Gen 3 Premier

[KCL655321]

No, this is where I differ from you, I don't go into threads about things I don't have experience with or have a strong dislike for just to talk crap about it. I don't go out of my way to dismiss someone's opinion or act like they don't know anything because they think Chronado E series are sliced bread, even though I think they're nothing special from my time on the water with one, but if it's your thing, good for you.

And where are these "many people" that share your opinion about the Gen 3 Revos? You mean the couple of people that played with them in store & decided they didn't like them without even using them on the water? Talk about seeing what you want to see. The overall consensus is that these are quality reels & you're the minority and you've had a negative outlook on these reels ever since they've been announced, complaining about the gears, carbon sideplates, gearbox, etc. I get it, you don't like them & your perfectly welcome to voice your opinion & I and everyone else is welcome to voice how much they disagree with it going by their experience with the reels, got it. Welcome to the ignore list.

[bstuckey]

I find the reviews on TT to be very objective and spot on accurate. The TT staff obviously takes the time to accurately represent whatever they are reviewing. As far as the bickering between members of TT I have no time for it.

[Pegasus]

No, this is where I differ from you, I don't go into threads about things I don't have experience with or have a strong dislike for just to talk crap about it. I don't go out of my way to dismiss someone's opinion or act like they don't know anything because they think Chronado E series are sliced bread, even though I think they're nothing special from my time on the water with one, but if it's your thing, good for you.

And where are these "many people" that share your opinion about the Gen 3 Revos? You mean the couple of people that played with them in store & decided they didn't like them without even using them on the water? Talk about seeing what you want to see. The overall consensus is that these are quality reels & you're the minority and you've had a negative outlook on these reels ever since they've been announced, complaining about the gears, carbon sideplates, gearbox, etc. I get it, you don't like them & your perfectly welcome to voice your opinion & I and everyone else is welcome to voice how much they disagree with it going by their experience with the reels, got it. Welcome to the ignore list.

First of all is Chronarch so this tells me that you are talking out of your rear end I never mentioned this reel in this post to begin with and I know exactly what I am talking about or you have something to say about the Chronarch D7 you must be an IDIOT.

[Quillback]

Today I did an actual on the water test to compare "smoothness". I compared a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Premier, a Gen 3 STX, a Zillion 100, and a Red Zillion anniversary model. Also threw a Curado 50E for a bit. Here's my rankings as far as "smoothness".

#1 Gen 2 Premier

#2 Gen 1 Premier

#3 (A three way tie) Zillions and the Gen 3 STX.

#4 Curado 50E

As a note the Gen 3 did exhibit "noise" on a high speed retrieve. Usually I'm concentrating on catching fish so I didn't notice it in the past, but being in test mode today, I did notice it for a bit, but got back to fishing and it became a non-issue.

I'm going to have to send my Zillions off to get super-tuned, thanks you sons of guns, for bringing up this lack of smoothness issue to my attention. I was a happy fisherman until now, now I have smoothness sensitivity. Thanks again..

[Quillback]

Lol....I just sold the last of my zillions and got some lighter reels as replacements. Included are two stx reels. Love them so far.

Yep the Zillions are over priced, heavy assed pigs. I have 4 of them, unfortunately. They've been relegated to chunk and grind stuff like cranks, blades and heavy jigs. For the finesse stuff, it's Abu all the way!

[Tokugawa]

So...Dec 21st is the first day of winter. Can we just hold off until then?

[KCL655321]

So...Dec 21st is the first day of winter. Can we just hold off until then?

First day of winter, don't you mean first day of the end of the world?

[jeb]

No, this is where I differ from you, I don't go into threads about things I don't have experience with or have a strong dislike for just to talk crap about it. I don't go out of my way to dismiss someone's opinion or act like they don't know anything because they think Chronado E series are sliced bread, even though I think they're nothing special from my time on the water with one, but if it's your thing, good for you.

And where are these "many people" that share your opinion about the Gen 3 Revos? You mean the couple of people that played with them in store & decided they didn't like them without even using them on the water? Talk about seeing what you want to see. The overall consensus is that these are quality reels & you're the minority and you've had a negative outlook on these reels ever since they've been announced, complaining about the gears, carbon sideplates, gearbox, etc. I get it, you don't like them & your perfectly welcome to voice your opinion & I and everyone else is welcome to voice how much they disagree with it going by their experience with the reels, got it. Welcome to the ignore list.

First of all is Chronarch so this tells me that you are talking out of your rear end I never mentioned this reel in this post to begin with and I know exactly what I am talking about or you have something to say about the Chronarch D7 you must be an IDIOT.

LOL! Dude, he knows what he typed in. It's a play on words, a combination of two Shimano reel names.

KCL, we gotta' go fishing together. You sound like my kind of fisherman. Ever want to head south and fish some in the winter, look me up. I used to live in MN. It's an easy drive from Iowa to NW Ark.

[muskyhunter]

Lol....I just sold the last of my zillions and got some lighter reels as replacements. Included are two stx reels. Love them so far.

Yep the Zillions are over priced, heavy assed pigs. I have 4 of them, unfortunately. They've been relegated to chunk and grind stuff like cranks, blades and heavy jigs. For the finesse stuff, it's Abu all the way!

The zillion's aren't bad but there are reels better suited for my needs.

I just picked up a Pixy R, T3, 2 STX Gen 3, and another core.

[KCL655321]

KCL, we gotta' go fishing together. You sound like my kind of fisherman. Ever want to head south and fish some in the winter, look me up. I used to live in MN. It's an easy drive from Iowa to NW Ark.

That would be awesome. I get the feeling we'd get along just fine out on a trip to the lake going by what I've read from you on here. My family has a place 45 minutes south of Overland Park KS I get down to several times a year, I know NW AK isn't that far from there. Have to see how things work out for the year(money & travelwise) & if I could swing it, would love getting on some of NW AK's bass waters with some good company. Definitely have to try & figure out if I can swing it & maybe get a hold of you if it's feasible.

[Buck2thPerch]

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

No, he did not. He said "Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox."

Also, he has actually put time on the water fishing one, which is different from you or Steezman.

You are correct as to what Zander stated:

Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox.

However, I have to disagree as you can see Zander stated this first:

Abu’s new gearbox delivers in the performance metrics but for some anglers that have a particular preference for the way a low profile baitcaster feels in hand may find the gearbox distracting, or in some cases uncomfortable.

Then Zander elaborates more on the Gearbox:

Those that are most likely going to notice and take issue with the gearbox ergonomics are “transition” casters. Those that like to hold the reel in palm when casting with the right then pass the outfit over to their left to retrieve. I personally often do this and while I do detect the enlarged gearbox it doesn’t affect the way I fish to any great extent, or my overall appreciation for the reel as a whole. At the end of the day this may or may not be an issue for you, and it really comes down to the way you personally fish and palm your reels.

Here is what Steezman stated in his initial thread:

One big problem for ME anyways is that when mounted on a GL2 that was my test rod, the SX, STX, & premiers gear box is sticking down WAY to low to be comfortable. I could not find a comfortable way to palm the reels without getting my fingers crunched in there behind the gear box. I did try the MGX for comparison and that was less intrusive but still not comfortable.

Here is what I stated:

I think Steezman's initial complaint about the gearbox and I agree with him, is for people who casts with thier right arm and then switch the rod to the left arm and reel right handed. The gearbox would definitely be cumbersome and uncomfortable to say the least. If you are traditional "Cast left arm reel right handed" or "Cast right arm and reel left handed", you will probably not notice the gearbox since it is not an intrusion during palming of the cast.

And I elaborated more….

Again, no one bashed the reel's performance. All that was said was that the reel's gear box is too big and is hindering palming and comfort. If a person does not like how the reel palms and how it is not comfortable, that is the first thing that will turn said person away from purchasing the reel regardless if the reel casts 20miles and has 50lbs of drag with 100 bearings. And that right there would be the problem in that person's perspective. This is exactly what Steezman was stating. I too would not want a reel that in use, by the end of the day, would cause me blisters or aches in my hand. But again, everyone has thier opinion about what comfort and palming is. You may like the reel's esthetics but to another person, the reel may be the worst esthetically.

This issue is about esthetics not performance. So experience in using the reel is a moot point and irrelevant. I would never want a reel that is awkward and hard to palm - BOTTOM LINE.

Isn’t what Zander stated about the Gearbox the same thing what Steezman and I have been stating all along? Again, granted Zander used the reel and worded it a bit differently. But he is saying exactly what we said. However it goes back to what I stated above in the thread. Why buy an awkward and uncomfortable feeling reel? Most people will shy away from purchasing any type of products that is awkward and uncomfortable before even using it. Maybe some people can look past the awkward and uncomfortable feel of a reel but I for one, cannot. I’ll stick to the Gen2 STX’s and my high end Daiwas.

The whole point behind Steezman’s post is, to warn people of the Gearbox before purchasing the reel only to find out the Gearbox is an issue. That is all. It was clear and simple.

And for those that have no issues with the Gearbox – More power to you and in your fishing arsenal! But to those that have this issue, you are not alone.

[jeb]

KCL, we gotta' go fishing together. You sound like my kind of fisherman. Ever want to head south and fish some in the winter, look me up. I used to live in MN. It's an easy drive from Iowa to NW Ark.

That would be awesome. I get the feeling we'd get along just fine out on a trip to the lake going by what I've read from you on here. My family has a place 45 minutes south of Overland Park KS I get down to several times a year, I know NW AK isn't that far from there. Have to see how things work out for the year(money & travelwise) & if I could swing it, would love getting on some of NW AK's bass waters with some good company. Definitely have to try & figure out if I can swing it & maybe get a hold of you if it's feasible.

Just drop me a PM. Mid-March through early April is a busy time for me, otherwise I'm pretty flexible. KC is about 3.5 hours north of me, so an easy drive. Out of state Ark licenses are very reasonable, too.

[jeb]

Isn’t what Zander stated about the Gearbox the same thing what Steezman and I have been stating all along?

No, it's not. You said:

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

Nowhere does Zander say it was an "issue" for him. Only folks that have not actually owned one of the reels have said that it's an issue.

Might there be some that do have an actual issue with them? Sure, I'd guess there may be. But so far, that has not been the case with any reviews or feedback I've seen on the Gen3 STX or Premier by folks that have actually owned and used the products.

[Buck2thPerch]

Isn’t what Zander stated about the Gearbox the same thing what Steezman and I have been stating all along?

No, it's not. You said:

I see Zander had the same impression and issue with the big gear box as I did.

Nowhere does Zander say it was an "issue" for him. Only folks that have not actually owned one of the reels have said that it's an issue.

My apologies but owning the reel has nothing to do with knowing a reel's ergonomics and esthetics. You can tell right away when you are in the store when you mount a demo revo reel onto a rod. You do not need to cast the reel to discern an ergonomics and esthetic issues. If I was complaining about how the reel performs and don't own one, you have every right to call me out on it.

If it wasn't an issue for him explain this:

Most anglers, including myself, are okay with how the reel feels in hand, though I do find myself holding the reel a little differently with my fingers split around the bulbous gearbox.

I Think Zander noticed the "bulbous" Gearbox and had to palm it differently - wouldn't you say? Otherwise, he wouldn't even have mentioned it.

Nor this:

I personally often do this and while I do detect the enlarged gearbox it doesn’t affect the way I fish to any great extent, or my overall appreciation for the reel as a whole.

The way Zander explained holding the reel is the exact way I held it. Of course it did not hinder him as much but he also did not specifically state "No problems at all" rather he said "to any great extent". Also upon casting, I had to hold my rod and reel down lower because the pretruding gearbox. This affects my casting and comfort. Thus to me, the Gen2 Revos were more comfortable.

Zander acknowledges the Gearbox issue and open mindedly addressed and noted it in his review. A very good and valid point to mention. Otherwise he would have not even said anything about it. Zander stated it best right here and this is what we have been saying all along:

At the end of the day this may or may not be an issue for you, and it really comes down to the way you personally fish and palm your reels.

Might there be some that do have an actual issue with them? Sure, I'd guess there may be. But so far, that has not been the case with any reviews or feedback I've seen on the Gen3 STX or Premier by folks that have actually owned and used the products.

At least we agree that the Gearbox can and is an issue with some people. But again, you do not have to own the reel to know how it will palm as this is easily done in a store - BPS, Cabelas, Ma & Pa's Tackle etc.

So enough with this Gearbox debate.

Overall, great review by TT again pinpointing all the pros and cons and little details.

[KCL655321]

You gearbox people about got me. When that other thread was being debated, I went out the next day & threw some jerk & gliding baits and the gearbox was a bit in the way for downward twitching. It wasn't issue whatsoever for t-rigs/jigs I'd been using it for, where I rested my fingers on the gearbox just like I would on my other Revos. It was really bothering me, but then I realized I don't palm like that when I work walking/popping baits on my other Revos, so I put my index finger in front of the reel & other fingers behind like I normally do for tip down twitching & it was as easy & comfortable as can be to get my rhythm.

This reminds me of my brother buying a new Dodge truck(2010, not new, new) last week. The front seat head rests slant forward at an angle & when he first got into it, they would push your head forward like an overaggressive cell mate. After fretting for a couple of minutes, he put the backrest back from it's fully forward position & all of the sudden the head rest was not an issue & was perfectly comfortable seating. There's no mechanical adjustment for the gearbox, but it's not an overly burdensome thing to work around unless you're mindset is made up about it already. The G3 gearbox is significantly different than the standard LP out there & if you're so used to standard & unwilling to give it anything more than a quick feel, then the G3s aren't gonna be for you.