Of all fishing products, I think spinning reels are the most difficult to review. If a spinning reel costs over $100, you know it'll be light, you know it'll be smooth, and you know the drag will be pretty darn good.
So at several levels, spinning reels are somewhat equal. Where the separation usually occurs is in durability, and that's why it's so difficult to judge spinning reels right out of the box. I've had some reels implode after a season, but other reels have lasted 25 years and still function fine (with some oil and grease, of course).
Still, you can at least make some initial judgments about a reel's durability based on the materials used and the bearing types.
This review covers the Abu Garcia Sorön STX, a new spinning reel with a unique superline spool that retails for $129.99 to $149.99 (depending on size). I tested the 20 size heavily from mid-August through the fall.
It did heavy duty work on numerous 50-fish smallmouth outings on Lake Erie, it got a serious workout with finesse plastics on inland lakes, and it pulled double duty for smallmouths and walleyes in the Canadian wilderness.
What follows are my observations.
Construction
I'll start with the spool. I've fished a lot of superline over the years, but in terms of spinning, I stick to mostly Berkley FireLine (braid is for my baitcasters). Like everyone, I've had to apply some type of backing to the spool before stringing superline – sometimes a rubberband, sometimes 20 yards of mono, Once I even used my daughter's hair-scrunchie.
The Sorön spool features two elastimetric rings built into the spool, which means you don't need a backing – just string on the superline and go. Pretty cool, and my superline never slipped once.
Materials-wise, the body, body cover, rotor and bail arm are built with a corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy that Abu Garcia calls X-Cräftic. The result is a combination of light weight and durability you'd expect in a reel at this price point.
The drag is Abu Garcia's proprietary Carbon Matrix, which to me seems smoother than other washer-based drag systems. I always get that nervous twitch when a 6-pound smallmouth first sees the boat and takes off like a frightened elephant.
In my several months of use, the Sorön's drag never stuck, and although it's purely a judgment call (as in unscientific), it seemed to take less overall initial force to move. That's especially important when you're fishing superline. With a drag that takes more initial force to start, the fish can put serious pressure on you as it starts a run, which can lead to critical line failure.
The 11 ball bearings are HPCR (High Performance Corrosion Resistant) and the gears are built with corrosion-resistant brass – in both cases, a definite nod toward durability.
Overall, the Sorön appears to be a very well built reel with excellent performance characteristics. I believe it'll stand the test of time for durability. The smart, attractive finish and overall thoughtful design make it, in my opinion, one of the best spinning reels on the market today.
Notable
> The STX 20 holds 130 yards of 8-pound-diamteter line and is geared at 5.1:1.
> Abu Garcia is currently running a special. Buy any Abu Garcia Reel at $74.95 or more and get a free Abu Garcia Jacket (a $60 Value).
> For more information on the reel, or to order, click here.
