Received the Winch one fishing trip ago. Used on fresh water lake for bass.
First impression was that though like the STX and the top of the line Premier, all of which have the same 11 bearings, the Winch was more free running.
They all share the same centrifigal braking system to avoid back lashes, but the STX and Premier also have magnetic brakes for use when throwing into a cross or head wind. Even with the magnetic set to Zero, it may be that there is still an influence on the freedom of the spool.
The Winch also has the longer handle, like the Skeet Reese model, and some of the salt water reels.....it hauls line beautifully with no fatigue.
Super product at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended. Abu Garcia Revo Fishing Reel (WNCH, 12/175)
I bought this reel at Bass Pro Shops. I also have a ABU Revo S ($130). The Winch is a better-built reel than the S.. it's smoother and more solid feeling; it has more bearings too. I also fish Shimano Curado reels and they too are a very good reel and I think the REVO line is comparable and offer more options (price-wise). I also wrote an original review, but have since revised it after use and wear. This is a very good reel.
This is a very well-built reel - solid and smooth. I love the action and smoothness of it. However, I do have a few quibbles before I can sing the remaining praises.. First of all, this reel is not the sexiest reel in the REVO line-up (it has too many different colors and finishes - doesn't look good by itself; but is doesn't look too bad on a rod). The "Winch" logo looks like it came from an 80's airbrush artist. Also, there is lack of a side adjustable brake unless you remove the side-plate; just a preference for me - It has the internal pin-style adjustment (which is easy to use, but old-school to me). So, for my $200, I want a side-adjustable reel (without having to remove the side-plate - so, a magnetic design should be employed instead of the centrifugal one on the the current Winch). Recently, I had trouble casting this reel due to lubrication issues (or lack thereof).. The spool/gear actually/somehow came out of cog, because of my lack of lubing it up; and it wouldn't barely cast 30 feet.. So, I took the spool out and followed the spec lube instructions in the manual. Like any other reel, the Winch needs a regular lube job (with high grade reel oil - not W-D 40 or spray style lubes). After oiling all parts/spool and lubing the worm gears, this reel casts a mile. The screw to remove the side-plate is deceiving, in that it seems like it's part of the construct of the reel; rather than being an actual release. However, this is not the case; the screw is a spring-release for the side plate (and it's on the opposite side). This is actually a good back-up design, which would keep you from losing the side-plate in the lake, if you improperly re-attach it. Lastly, the gear ratio at 5.4.1 is a slower ratio compared to many modern bait casters, and the paddle handle is pretty large; both of these things make it feel kinda funny when your trying to reel a fish in and your spinning the large handle so fast.. It just takes some time to adjust to and get used to it. This reel is great for long casting, and deep cranking applications - so it shines for large deep-divers - you'll be much less tired using the Winch for this application. Additionally, it has a TON of power to horse in fish from long distances where lots of line is out. This is an excellent slower presentation reel, and after use and proper maintenance, I've really come to love the Abu Garcia Winch.
Overall, and as stated before, this is a very well-built, and a very smooth reel. It has versatile capabilities, and it's slower 5:4:1 gear-ratio will have it's place in your arsenal. Perhaps, winter bass fishing with jerkbaits, or slow rolling spinner bait in the early spring; or slow working, or swimming a jig in the heat of summer in the depths; or working a large swimbait post-spawn; or deep cranking. These are some of the slower strategies I use and the Winch The REVO line of reels offer the S, Winch, SX, and TORO series. Each offer more bearings than the Shimano Curado series reels. And, more bearings generally mean a smoother, longer casting reel. I've heard the Shimano use the finest bearings in the world, so perhaps more may not mean better/best. Anyway, as for the REVO's, I think these are game competitors (perhaps better than Shimano). The Winch, has 24 pounds of brake (nearly 2x that of a Curado or most other reels out there), so you can really turn that up if your using a 12 pound mono for your application. If using braid, then you can back off the drag (as to not tear the hood straight through the fishes mouth. Just a preference for me, but the colors need to be updated on this reel - can't go wrong with silver or black. Some tournament guys (who fish in a hurry) may not prefer this reel for flipping or pitching. So, I would go with the REVO SX in a higher gear ratio (7:1:1) for flipping and pitching applications. The higher gear ratio will enable you to burn the lure back if no fish are next to that stump or hole in the grass. The Winch will surely get the bait back to you, but wouldn't be as efficient and take more of your time to get the lure through neutral water coming back to the boat. This is subjective, but I would gladly use this in very heavy cover, or with braid in flipping/pitching apps. This ugly duckling is really a beautiful swan and a professional quality reel!'
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