I am a master of backlashing modern low-profile baitcasters, particularly those with all the bells and whistles designed to prevent backlash.
When I had only Ambassadeur 5000’s with hardly any anti-backlash device except my thumb, I rarely got a backlash, but as soon as the low-profile reels arrived with all their smart technology for preventing backlashes, things went south for me and stayed there. Either I set them too light and got stupendous, fatal backlashes, or too heavy and lost a lot of casting distance, to the point that I mostly switched to spinning tackle for freshwater fishing and stuck with my round reels in saltwater.
To be sure most serious bass anglers and many others get along fine with most low-profile baitcasters, but I’d guess there are quite a few of us who don’t, based on the continuing efforts of reel makers to incorporate more anti-backlash tech into their reels.
The new Abu Garcia Revo X and SX VoltIQ reels appear to be a great leap forward for those of us who are a bit fumble-thumbed when it comes to handling low profile reels.
I’ve been fooling with the SX model here on Guntersville for the last couple of weeks, and have had only one backlash—though I admit that one was a doozy. But in general, if you don’t get optimistic and set the digital cast control to the expert settings, these reels appear to be pretty much backlash-free with typical bass lures in the 3/8 to ¾ ounce weight range.
For lighter stuff like the FFS minnows, most will still prefer spinning tackle, but otherwise, if you have an issue with backlashing baitcasters the VoltIQ could be the answer, in what qualifies as a mid-priced reel these days at around $200 for the carbon frame X model, $250 for the aluminum-framed SX.
Most low-profile reels have magnetic or centrifugal brakes, and these work well for thousands of anglers with well-trained thumbs. But the VoltIQ, per the company, digitally measures spool revolutions multiple times a second and adjusts braking to keep the spool from over-running—sort of A.I. for baitcasters.
The reel has 10 digital settings on the left sideplate (in the right-hand crank model) and if you crank it up to 10, you’ll need a lure in the 3/4 to 1-ounce range to get much casting distance, though you’re very unlikely to get a backlash.
Go the other way and set it at 1 and you’d better be careful because it will definitely go FFFT if you try casting a quarter-ounce bait into the wind, particularly with lighter braided lines.
But, within a few hours of picking it up, I was able to throw most lures as far as I can chunk them with spinning gear of similar dimensions, with the added benefit of greater accuracy in casting to docks and shoreline cover and more drag power plus the ability to handle heavier lines, including braid from about 25-pound test upwards. (Thinner braid tends to dig into the spool on baitcasters, in general.) Best overall setting for my moderately-educated thumb was a 4 with a half-ounce lure—good distance, good accuracy and no backlashes.
The electronic cast control system is sealed inside the sideplate, has no batteries to change or recharge, and is said to be good for the life of the reel.
The one feature I wish it did not have is the faint electronic “ping” when you fire a cast. While it’s no more annoying than the “whirr” of a conventional spool, it seems like that would be something engineers could eliminate easily.
Beyond the electronics, this is a nice example of the Revo line, with a 9+1 bearing system that makes retrieves among the smoothest at any price. The frame on the SX is aluminum alloy with carbon composite sideplates, the drag is exceptionally smooth, even when cranked up near the 25 pound max, and the 90mm bowed aluminum handle has oversized knobs for cranking leverage.
They’re available in 6.7:1 and 7.3:1 gearing, and the spool holds 85 yards of 12-pound test mono or fluorocarbon, or a similar length of 30-pound test braid. (This would be on the low side for some saltwater applications, but it’s plenty for nearly all freshwater fish.)
Overall, the VoltIQ line (pronounced “Voltic”, by the folks at Abu) is a useful step forward for anglers who need a bit of help in avoiding backlash in a durable workhorse baitcaster for all around freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing.
– Frank Sargeant, Editor of The Water Wire
Frankmako1@gmail.com