Iconic fishing magazine names its top two new reels of 2020

When tackle testers from iconic angling and hunting magazine, Field & Stream, publish their findings, anglers in the US take note.

In its latest Best of the Best feature, the magazine deivers its verdict on the top reels in the market, naming Daiwa’s Kage LT (main picture) and Abu Garcia’s REVO EXD (below) as the most innovative and outstanding models if their kind of the year.

Tester, Peter Robbins, says of the Kage LT, which is available only from dealers: “With a butter-smooth drag, flex-free body, and silky retrieve, this $200 spinning reel performs like it costs three or four times that.

“The LT stands for Light and Tough, and this reel is both, featuring a high-density Zaion body that’s 20% stronger and 50% lighter than reels made of traditional materials. Daiwa’s Air Bail and Air Rotor systems further decrease weight. Still, the reel feels capable of handling bonefish, steelhead, and giant trevally, so you can be sure that no hard-pulling smallmouth is going to faze it.

“There’s no start-up resistance on the drag when a fish takes off with your lure, which means you’ll lose fewer on the hookset, and the reel stays smooth and consistent throughout the fight to help ensure that hooks won’t work free from a fish’s mouth. A unique premium cork handle knob looks sharp, feels good in the hand, and is a nice finishing touch.”

Of the Abu Garcia Revo EXD, he says: “This 6.7oz beauty comes in two gear ratios—a slow-grinding 5.4:1 and a speedy 8.0:1—to accommodate a range of fishing techniques, and you get a total of 11 bearings for smooth operation. As lightweight as the EXD is, the Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag provides up to 20lb of power, giving the Revo EXD unbeatable versatility; you can finesse fish and ­power-crank equally well when using it with the proper technique-specific line.”