I’ve tested several of the new, ultra-low profile bass fishing reels on the market and although they feel great in my hands, many of them have lacked the power I’d expect for such a lofty price tag. I’ve even had a few become inoperable after just a few months of heavy use.

With those experiences in mind, I spent a long time testing the Abu Garcia REVO ALX. I wanted to look beyond the sleek exterior and, for lack of a better term, put it through some abuse. After countless casts and lots of hooksets, I think this reel has some really nice features and plenty of backbone for handling big fish in demanding situations.

Below are my full thoughts on it.