In search of new Abu Baitcaster

[SPTOGFLUKEJIGR]

Hi Lep,
Seeking your opinion for a new Abu baitcaster for fluke. Planning to use 10 or 15lb braid mostly shallow water fishing.
Probably using on a M or ML slow pitch rod, looking to go as light as possible

Been looking at the Revo X. Any Suggestoins?
Thanks!
SP

 

[Leprechaun]

Does the Revo X still come in a "Winch" model, with around a 5:1 retrieve ratio? If so, that's the one to look at. If not, I highly recommend the Tatula 150P as an excellent choice. I bought one a few seasons ago, and liked it so much I bought a second for another of my setups. Ironically, it replaced a Revo Winch Gen3 - which was the "turkey" of the Revo series. Gen3 had the aluminum main gear and balky free-spool thumbar - both of which I hated. The Gen4 and now the Gen5 addressed both of those issues, with a brass main gear and completely redesigned thumbar assembly. I still think the Tat 150P is the better reel though, so there's that. . .

And why an M or ML SPJ rod for shallow water? I would go L or even XL all day long.

 

[Leprechaun]

Answering my own question - yes, Gen5 Revo X is available in a 5.4:1 gear ratio. Don't know if its still called the "Winch," but its the one you want.

 

[SPTOGFLUKEJIGR]

Gen5 Revo X is available in a

Thanks, yes, that is the Revo X that I was looking at. I noticed some of the LI Tackle shops (not sure If I'm allowed to mention names??) have posted a few videos recently coming from ICAST 2025 showing the new Revo BEAST 200 with very nice Power knob handles. The beast has brass main gear, I'm not sure if the Revo X has a brass gear. This year I purcahsed an Okuma Kumodo 273 baitcaster. It has a stainless steel main gear, priced similair to a Lexa and Tranx, I was very surprised by the quailty. No issues with Nantucket Fluke, local fluke, sea bass and had plenty of tog fishing in Rhode Island the last few weeks. Metal frame reel. So far only season # 1, but I'm thinking about buying another one

Okay- so please give me some suggestions on L and XL rods. I have used a L power spinning rod, fast action and had a difficult time feeling the jig on the bottom. I never tried an XL rod. Open to hearing your suggestions. This past July I fished the ROSIE in Moriches for the first time. Casting 1/4 oz jigs with Jerk shads most of the day. Fabulous boat, great crew and excellent local sharpie anglers. I held my own but certainly wasnt as dialed in as the locals that fish that boat daily/weekly. Great crowd. Most of them showed me the gear they were using, most I noticed had Medium, 8-14lb fast action rods, fresh water style bass rods. Again open to your suggestions on L and XL rods.
Thanks again.
SP

 

[Snapprhead27]

Thanks, yes, that is the Revo X that I was looking at. I noticed some of the LI Tackle shops (not sure If I'm allowed to mention names??) have posted a few videos recently coming from ICAST 2025 showing the new Revo BEAST 200 with very nice Power knob handles. The beast has brass main gear, I'm not sure if the Revo X has a brass gear. This year I purcahsed an Okuma Kumodo 273 baitcaster. It has a stainless steel main gear, priced similair to a Lexa and Tranx, I was very surprised by the quailty. No issues with Nantucket Fluke, local fluke, sea bass and had plenty of tog fishing in Rhode Island the last few weeks. Metal frame reel. So far only season # 1, but I'm thinking about buying another one

Okay- so please give me some suggestions on L and XL rods. I have used a L power spinning rod, fast action and had a difficult time feeling the jig on the bottom. I never tried an XL rod. Open to hearing your suggestions. This past July I fished the ROSIE in Moriches for the first time. Casting 1/4 oz jigs with Jerk shads most of the day. Fabulous boat, great crew and excellent local sharpie anglers. I held my own but certainly wasnt as dialed in as the locals that fish that boat daily/weekly. Great crowd. Most of them showed me the gear they were using, most I noticed had Medium, 8-14lb fast action rods, fresh water style bass rods. Again open to your suggestions on L and XL rods.
Thanks again.
SP

Not to high jack. But this is my set up for those 1/4-1/2oz jigheads with the jerkshads.

Daiwa Tatula XT 7'3" Medium Fast Spinning with a Ultegra 3000.

I also have used it for weakfish with a 2 oz diamond jig and for Tog

 

[Leprechaun]

There's no end to the rods out there that would meet your needs. But offering rod recommendations on-line is a difficult matter because everyone's idea of the "Perfect" rod is about 80% subjective vs 20% objective. First, if you are concerned about casting leadheads out from a drifting boat, then stick with the spinner. This is not the strong suit of any baitcasting setup. It can be done, but an underhanded flip is about all you can expect to accomplish on a headboat, no "wind up and let it fly" type casting is allowed or even safe.

There's no end to what's available in the lighter rod world, and so Snapprhead's suggestion above is as good a place to start your investigation as any. Me, myself? I'm partial to Palmarius's rods and to Shimano's Grappler line as well.

If you can hold off 'til next Spring Dan from Palmarius is normally at both the Ward Melville High School show and the NJ SW Fishing Expo in Edison, NJ - which I never miss. He usually has his rods on sale at the shows with a steep discount and so that's where/when I buy mine. That's what I would recommend doing.

If you want to see some of Dan's rods in action - try Raf Sowi's YT channel Raf Sowi Outdoors for a good idea of Dan's stuff being put to work. I've met Raf, who happened to also stop by Dan's booth at the NJ Show same time as I was there with my buddies, and had a fascinating back and forth discussion on rod design with him that took a good half hour. Smart guy.

As far as the new 2025 Revo beast 200, yeah, nah. Not with the 7.3:1 gear ratio. if I were going there, I'd look into putting the slower Winch gears into it - but then that kind of thing is what I enjoy doing. I know, I'm not normal, but it is what it is - I like my gear to be perfectly tuned to my preferences, so there's that. What with the cost of that new Beast plus the cost of a set of 5.4:1 gears, you could probably buy TWO Tatula 150P's for that kind of money - if you know how to shop reel prices. Hint: the place to look hard rhymes with "Eee-Pray."

I would STILL recommend the Tatula 150P over that Beast 200 (without the afore-mentioned gear change) - newest reel version or not.